Etc . . . .

Leo C. Shirley, the racing commissioner of Michigan from 1968 to 1975 and a past president of the National Association of State Racing Commissioners (now the Association of Racing Commissioners International), died Oct. 13. He was 93. . . . Special Rate, a stakes-winning half-brother to millionaires Tates Creek and Sightseek, will enter stallion duty at Key Ranch in Salado, Texas, in 2006. By Pulpit out of Viviana, Special Rate was acquired privately by Phil Leckinger and Jerry Hardin from Juddmonte Farms and will have his stud fee announced later this month. . . . The Horse Farm Workers' Educational Assistance Fund has awarded 37 scholarships for the current school year to the sons and daughter of full-time employees at 27 central Kentucky Thoroughbred farms. The fund also provided one grant for an employee of Winter Quarter Farm for additional training related to his work with horses.