LEXINGTON, Ky. - Dr. Jimmy Henning, professor of agronomy at the University of Kentucky, has what seems to be a peaceful profession, researching and teaching about pasture grasses and similar topics.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - After nearly a month of pursuing theories that resulted in dead ends, researchers said Thursday that the wild black cherry tree is responsible for the mare reproductive loss syndrome that has swept central Kentucky farms this spring and caused at least 1,200 abortions in broodmares.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The younger stallions are having all the success in this year's Triple Crown, as Maria's Mon sired Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos in his first crop of foals and Thunder Gulch got Preakness winner Point Given in his second crop. Among the placed horses, Thunder Gulch also sired Invisible Ink, who ran second in the Derby. These results are good news for America's stallion corps.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - First mycotoxins in the grass, then caterpillars, and now researchers are wondering if cherry trees may have contributed to the syndrome that has caused at least 1,200 early- and late-term abortions in broodmares in central Kentucky.

As theories abound, the bottom line on Wednesday remained the same: No one has identified a cause for the mare reproductive loss syndrome.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Topped by a $270,000 Thunder Gulch colt, Fasig-Tipton's Midlantic 2-year-old sale ended Tuesday with a 6 percent gain in gross revenue but a drop in average price.

A larger catalog boosted the two-day auction's total revenue, with 268 horses selling for $8,529,400, but the average price declined by 6 percent to $31,826. Last year, the auction sold 239 juveniles for $8,054,800, an average price of $33,702.

A $270,000 Thunder Gulch colt was Tuesday's session-leader on the final day of Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's May sale of 2-year-olds in Timonium, Md.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Irish stallion Darshaan, a top European sire and French champion 3-year-old in 1984, was euthanized Monday in Ireland after exploratory surgery revealed he had ruptured part of his small intestine.

Darshaan, a 20-year-old son of Shirley Heights and the French mare Delsy (by Abdos), is best known for his progeny that raced in Europe, but his runners also enjoyed major successes in the United States. Foremost among them was Kotashaan, North America's Horse of the Year and champion turf horse in 1993.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Some central Kentucky grass samples have tested negative for mycotoxins, leading a prominent equine nutritionist to question the theory that toxins produced by fungus are responsible for the deaths of at least 1,200 late-term foals and early-term fetuses in the past month.

Dr. Steve Jackson, a nutritionist whose clients include some of central Kentucky's major farms, said Tuesday that a variety of pasture samples he had tested by Trilogy Laboratories in Missouri have proven negative for any mycotoxins.

As of 4 p.m. on Monday, a $190,000 Boston Harbor filly was the top seller at the opening session of Fasig-Tipton's May Midlantic 2-year-old sale in Timonium, Md.

Gleefully, a Grade 3 winner last year in California before retiring for a broodmare career, will return to racing.

Gleefully fell victim to the Kentucky foal crisis and will re-enter training after losing her first foal, sired by Breeders' Cup Classic winner Awesome Again. Trainer Eric Kruljac said Gleefully was 45 days into her term at a farm in Lexington when she aborted. Gleefully was scheduled to return to California on Friday and begin training for a late-summer comeback at Del Mar.