Etc. . . .

The appeal by the connections of Falbrav to overturn the victory of High Chaparral in the Irish Champion Stakes and award the race to Falbrav was denied Monday by the the stewards of the Irish Turf Club. Falbrav's trainer, Luca Cumani, and rider, Darryll Holland, claimed that High Chaparral, who crossed the line a neck in front of Falbrav, had repeatedly fouled their horse in the Group 1 race at Leopardstwon on Sept. 6, but the stewards held that the interference was not enough to warrant disqualification. . . . For the fifth consecutive year, jockey Mario Pino has reached the 200-victory plateau. Pino, 42, hit the mark Sunday at Laurel Park aboard Yo Billie Bateman. . . . The Meadowlands and Monmouth Park have applied for a total of 141 Thoroughbred racing dates in 2004, according to the tracks' owner, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. Under the dates plan, Monmouth would hold a 72-day meet from May 29 to Sept. 5, and The Meadowlands would hold a 69-day Thoroughbred meet from Sept. 6 to Dec. 11.