VANCOUVER, British Columbia - It didn't take long for jockeys Isaias Cardenas and Amadeo Perez to make their presence known at Hastings. In just his second mount of the meet, Cardenas guided Epic Melody to a win in the second race of the meet, which opened last Saturday. Perez closed out the weekend with a win aboard $66.60 longshot Rainbow Dash for trainer Frank Barroby. Barroby was recently inducted into the local horse racing hall of fame for both his record as a jockey and a trainer. He has also had a hand in developing some of the leading riders at Hastings.

George "Cotton" Margetson, 59, a former owner and trainer at Delaware Park, died April 25 in Little Rock, Ark.

In addition to owning horses by himself and in partnership with Old Coach Farm, Margetson was a trainer for more than 15 years and operated a business transporting Thoroughbred racehorses all over the United States. He was also a board member of the Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.

LOUISIVILLE, Ky. - Doubles Partner remained unbeaten on grass, and looked like he could be a factor in the best 3-year-old turf races of the summer in winning the by 1 3/4 lengths late Friday afternoon at Churchill Downs.

A $450,000 yearling owned by WinStar Farm LLC and trained by Todd Pletcher, Doubles Partner looked little like a stakes horse in the first three starts of his career: He was last of 11 in his career debut at Saratoga, finished a distant third of just six horses second time out at Belmont, and was seventh for an $80,000 claiming price last fall at Keeneland.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Local officials and Churchill Downs said Friday afternoon that contingency plans are in place to deal with the potential for heavy rains and severe weather during Saturday's Kentucky Derby program. Officials are expecting a crowd of 150,000 at the track.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - There's a mid-card surprise Sunday at Lone Star Park.

The sixth race will serve as the first start of the year for both Sing Baby Sing and Golden Yank, who are among the best older horses on the grounds. Orphan Brigade is also part of the field for the allowance sprint, which comes a month after the 9-year-old put up one of the year's best Beyer Figures.

"It turned up very tough for just an overnight allowance," said Jack Bruner, who trains Sing Baby Sing for the meet's leading owner, Tom Durant.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Out of necessity more than anything else, trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. paired jockey Paco Lopez with Arson Squad. So far, it's been a match made in heaven.

For the second time in four weeks, Lopez guided Arson Squad to victory in a graded stakes, this time to a 2 1/4-length score in Friday's at Churchill Downs. Flying Private finished second by 1 1/2 lengths over Enriched. He was followed in the order of finish by Prom Shoes, Chocolate Candy, Cool Coal Man, Macho Again, Friesan Fire, and Bullsbay.

Penn National Race Course will offer a track-record $1.2 million in stakes purses this season.

The central Pennsylvania track has scheduled 15 stakes, including seven restricted to statebreds.

Last year, Penn had 12 stakes worth slightly more than $1 million.

As usual, the season's highlight will be the $200,000 Pennsylvania Governor's Cup. The 38th running of Penn National's most prestigious race is part of a six-stakes package over two nights at the end of July in what is billed as the Summer Racing Festival.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Rafael Bejarano, who through Thursday led the nation's riders in earnings this year, has gained the mount on Rail Trip for the $100,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap at Hollywood Park next Saturday.

Trainer Ron Ellis said the decision was made by owners Mace and Samantha Siegel. Bejarano will be the second jockey to ride Rail Trip in the 5-year-old gelding's career. Jose Valdivia Jr. was the previous rider of Rail Trip, who has won 6 of 9 starts and $787,790 in a career highlighted by a win in the Hollywood Gold Cup last summer.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Rachel Halden, a longtime assistant to Roger Attfield, has trained her own stable at the last two Woodbine meetings. But she has returned to a supporting role here this year and will be running an eight-horse barn as an assistant to trainer Bill Mott, who has stalls here for the first time.

The partnership was born when Halden was at Payson Park this winter, working with trainer Ian Black.

Jim Lawson, who has been active in the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry for some 30 years, has been appointed chairman of the board of the Jockey Club of Canada.

"Jim Lawson has the industry knowledge and experience to help lead Canada to its rightful place in international Thoroughbred racing," said Dick Bonnycastle, who is retiring from the chairman's post.

Lawson, a member of the board of directors of the Woodbine Entertainment Group, manages the Jim Dandy Stable of his father, Mel Lawson.