Thistledown track report

NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - Construction of five new wooden barns, which will accommodate 180 horses, began at Thisteldown Monday. The new barns will raise the total stall space here to 1,730. The barns are expected to be completed by early September.

* Jane Magrell has been riding here with varying degrees of success since 1986. She has sustained more than her share of injuries over the years, but keeps bouncing back, and now she leads the rider standings here with 15 wins. Last Saturday she won three races. She also has had several two-win days.

Magrell will have to keep up her torrid pace, because it's crowded at the top of the standings. Jeffrey Skerrett is one win behind, and breathing down his neck is Mike Rowland and Luis Gonzalez, each with 13.

"I'm really excited," Magrell said. "Everyone else seems to be real excited for me. A lot of trainers are helping me out and I'm doing the best I can."

The race for leading trainer is just as tight as the jockeys' race. Miguel Feliciano and Andrew Konkoly are in a dead heat for the top spot.