Etc. . . .

Steve Habel, a freelance turf writer based in Austin, Texas, was sentenced to two years in prison Monday by a San Antonio area district court on charges of theft. Habel, who between July and December of last year forged and cashed 37 checks totalling $22,375 from a dormant account of the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America, Texas Chapter, also paid $2,500 restitution, was fined $1,000, and has a lien on future earnings payable to the chaplaincy. . . . Channing Way ($4.40) battled on the front end with Hadl and had enough left late to hold off Onslaught by a neck and win the $50,990 Elie Destruel Handicap on Monday at the Sonoma County Fair. For Channing Way, who clocked 1:09.45 for six furlongs, it was her eighth victory in 12 starts.