ARCADIA, Calif. - A light drizzle was falling on the backstretch late Thursday morning as Richard Mandella sat at his office desk, teasing the stable cat and working on his deployments and flanking maneuvers.

"Clare, let's try this," Mandella said, addressing exercise rider and crack office manager Clare Byrnes. "Dutrow said he wouldn't come if it was raining. Call him up. Tell him you're from the weather service, and you heard he was concerned. Tell him it's raining, inch and a quarter, maybe more. Tell him if the horse is in the air, they better turn the plane around."

NEW YORK - If you've been taking a long winter's nap through the 2005 racing season so far, it's time to wake up. You can get caught up pretty quickly, because there is more important stakes racing around the country this Saturday afternoon than there was in all of January and February.

Between stakes-stuffed cards at Gulfstream and Santa Anita, and Afleet Alex's surprise appearance in the Mountain Valley at Oaklawn, there is practically an embarrassment of attractions in four different divisions: the 3-year-olds, 3-year-old fillies, handicap horses, and turf milers.

ARCADIA, Calif. - It feels like hanging with an ex-president. A beloved ex-president. You know, one of those guys with a face chiseled on the side of a mountain.

"Eddie D., lookin' good!"

"We miss you, Eddie D."

"Hey, Eddie. When you coming back?"

At each salutation, as he wades through a racetrack crowd, Eddie Delahoussaye delivers a wave, a smile, a nod - sometimes all three - stopping occasionally for a brief conversation or an autograph. He could run for mayor tomorrow and win in a waltz.

Most horse owners, trainers, bettors, and fans perceive that the widespread use of illegal drugs is ruining the sport. Yet for years and years, leaders and regulators of the Thoroughbred industry have failed to address the problem in any meaningful way.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Any day now, the racing game once again will surrender its heart and soul to the idea that there is nothing more important than running in the Kentucky Derby. It is inevitable, and unfortunate, since there is ample proof in every direction that a Thoroughbred's life does not end at the tender age of 3.

ARCADIA, Calif. - This time last year, the racing world was aflutter over the idea that "Seabiscuit," a movie about a racehorse, was up for honors as best picture of the year, and nominated in six other Oscar categories as well. Chris McCarron, who served as race choreographer and consultant on the film, went so far as to throw an Oscar night party at Santa Anita Park, in hopes of a happy ending.

NEW YORK - When 48-1 Senor Guapo held off 28-1 Spearsville to win the ninth race at Sam Houston on Feb. 17, while odds-on Nekoda Gold salvaged a dead heat for fourth, the tote board lit up the Texas night with some baffling exotic payoffs:

$2 trifecta 11-9-all: $7,040.20
$2 superfecta 11-9-2-5: $186,686.80
$2 superfecta 11-9-2-12: $93,344.40

NEW YORK - It has been almost as long since there has been a change in the lineup of Eclipse Award categories for equine champions as it has been since we had a Triple Crown winner. In 1979, the year after Affirmed was the last to wear the crown, the Eclipse category for best grass horse was split into male and female divisions. That decision has allowed more than a score of additional grass specialists to be named champions, while sparing voters such impossible cross-gender choices as Cozzene vs. Pebbles in 1985, Sky Classic vs. Flawlessly in 1992 or, just this past year, Kitten's Joy vs.

ARCADIA, Calif. - At a certain point the total becomes impressive, and simple birthdays turn into milestones. Chalk up another one for Noble Threewitt.

ARCADIA, Calif. - In December of 1996, native son Hunter S. Thompson was presented the key to the city of Louisville, a quaint and touching moment for a writer who once paid twisted tribute to his old hometown in a magazine piece called "The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved."