TUCSON, Ariz. - This is about a new book, which some in racing thought could never be written, others hoped would never be written, and more contend should never have been written. It has been, however, and will fuel the fires of racing debates for long to come.

It is "Headless Horsemen: A Tale of Chemical Colts, Subprime Sales Agents, and the Last Kentucky Derby on Steroids." It was written by Jim Squires, former editor of the Chicago Tribune, master of Two Bucks Farm in Versailles, Ky., and breeder of the 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos.

DEL MAR, Calif. - It was never clear why "integrity" had to be part of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance in the first place. Isn't the safety part a big enough job? And if you get the safety part right, doesn't integrity follow?

DEL MAR, Calif. - Hameildaeme, the name of a good filly who runs in Saturday's Del Mar Oaks, is tough enough to pronounce, and it takes forever to type. Riding her, though, is a special challenge unto itself.

"She does have her quirks," trainer Jamie Lloyd said. "And when she does something wrong, there's not much underneath to hang onto."

"Little things can set her off," said her jockey, Danny Sorenson. "She's just a finicky little filly."

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - A year ago, the ancient and honorable Alabama Stakes at Saratoga effectively decided the nation's 3-year-old filly championship. Proud Spell, the Kentucky Oaks winner, held off Music Note, the Mother Goose winner, in a thrilling stretch battle. By season's end, the two fillies' records were as close as the margin of a nose that separated them in the Alabama, and Proud Spell was the champ.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Did you know that the first Marlboro Cup in 1973 was originally designed as a match race between stablemates Secretariat and Riva Ridge? Of course you did.

Ah, but did you know that the 1975 match race between Ruffian and Foolish Pleasure first left the drawing board as a three-way among classic-winning colts, and the filly was not invited?

Yes, we remember that one, too, along with all the other arbitrarily arranged showdowns featuring headline horses of the moment, down through the years . . . .

DEL MAR, Calif. - Jenine Sahadi stared into the stall at the sleek bay mare and scowled. The sleek bay mare, named Gotta Have Her, pinned her ears and scowled back. Sahadi was fretting over a training issue - to school or not to school. The bay mare was merely imitating her trainer.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - At their best, Hall of Fame ceremonies accomplish two things. They not only recognize the very best individuals in a sport for the excellence of their lifetime achievements, but they also provide an opportunity for those being honored to use their moment in the spotlight to try to encourage that sport to do the right things.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - In case you hadn't heard, it has been widely reported in recent days in these parts that the recession is over, the bloodstock market is booming, and happy days are here again.

DEL MAR, Calif. - By the time I found out that Emerald Downs was staging wiener dog races on Friday to kick off its big Longacres Mile weekend, it was too late to put my 8-year-old dachshund Angel on the same plane with Southern California's Mile runners Awesome Gem and Trumpet Player Jay to ship north for the big event.

The first time Bob Baffert drew a large amount of national attention was Kentucky Derby week of 1996, when he took Bob and Barbara Walter's Santa Anita Derby winner Cavonnier to Churchill Downs for the big show. Baffert and Cavonnier were at one end of the barn. Champion Unbridled's Song and Jim Ryerson were at the other. While Ryerson conducted grim press conferences that mainly dealt with his colt's cracked hoof, Baffert babbled on like a kid at Christmas, lightening the mood.