River Downs track report

The racing community and staff at River Downs are working hard in their quest to be the leading fundraisers for the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund. Donations to the MacBeth Fund, which aids injured and disabled riders, will be collected at racetracks across the country Saturday as part of "Jockeys Across America Day."

Among the items offered to the highest bidder in an auction here will be a dinner for four at A.J.'s Roadhouse, prepared by jockey Chris Herrell.

Herrell, currently fourth in the standings, has a culinary arts degree from Sullivan University in Louisville, Ky.

Ron Powell, a former leading trainer at River, will offer one bidder the opportunity to choose one horse among several in his barn and become that horse's "honorary owner" for a month. Powell will pay for all training expenses and the winning bidder will receive 50 percent of any earnings the horse accumulates during that month.

A racing memorabilia auction will also be held. Racing secretary Ed Vomacka has donated several historical programs from his private collection, including those from the centennial Kentucky Derby in 1974; the 1975 match race between Foolish Pleasure and Ruffian; and the 1978 Belmont Stakes, when the Triple Crown was last won. The entire list of auction items can be found on the River Downs website at www.riverdowns.com.

- James Graham, a 24-year-old apprentice rider from Ireland, won his first race in the U.S. in Tuesday's seventh race, aboard B. J. Star.