OCEANPORT, N.J. - Here comes the money.
Monmouth Park kicks off its 50-day summer meet Saturday with a 13-race card worth a combined $812,000.
Monmouth will average $1 million for the season that runs through Labor Day, more than tripling last year's purses.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Arlington Park dropped the "Arlington International" moniker several years ago, but the suburban Chicago racetrack still dabbles in global positioning. The American 1000 Guineas, run for the third time on Saturday, came into existence in 2008 under just such international flag-waving, but the race still seems to be in a developmental phase.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Caracortado, who finished seventh in Saturday's Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, has returned to Machowksy's stable at Santa Anita and could start in the current Hollywood Park meeting.
Machowsky said the $100,000 Affirmed Handicap over 1 1/16 miles on June 19 is a possibility.
Caracortado finished 10 1/2 lengths behind winner Lookin At Lucky in the Preakness. Ridden by Paul Atkinson, Caracortado was racing with Lookin At Lucky on the turn, but could not sustain the rally and faded from contention in the final furlong.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - One was good enough to run in the 2009 Kentucky Derby. Another beat the 2009 Kentucky Derby winner in a rich prep race. Yet another teamed with the undefeated two-time champion Zenyatta in a recent workout.
Chocolate Candy, Kelly Leak and Aitcho have achieved success at various levels in their careers. What they need in Friday's seventh race at Hollywood Park, an optional claimer over 1 1/16 miles, is a win, which could lead to a start in the $500,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on July 10.
AUBURN, Wash. - Top-end Beyer Speed Figures at Emerald Downs have declined markedly in recent seasons, a point underscored Sunday when Noosa Beach received a 95 Beyer for his track-record-tying performance in the Seattle Handicap.
Noosa Beach ran six furlongs in 1:07 to equal the standard set by Atta Boy Roy last September. But while Atta Boy Roy's effort earned a 102 Beyer, Noosa Beach's Beyer Speed Figure, computed by Andrew Beyer himself, came back about two lengths slower.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Last year, Josie Carroll had an embarrassment of riches in the filly and mare ranks with Careless Jewel, Serenading, and Smart Surprise showing the way.
But with Careless Jewel's status still in doubt after she suffered a leg injury a couple of weeks ago, and Serenading and Smart Surprise retired to the breeding shed, Carroll will be looking for others to step up.
That process could get a boost this weekend as Carroll plans to send out Authenicat in Saturday's $125,000 Ballade and Redverse in Sunday's $150,000 La Lorgnette.
MIAMI - Steve DiMauro knows he doesn't have the numbers to compete for leading training honors here this summer, especially considering he has his stable split again this season between Calder and Monmouth Park. But DiMauro is enjoying his current reign atop the local standings, having won five races during the open three weeks of a meet that will continue through mid-October.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Three weeks into the Arlington Park racing season, Frank Calabrese has reminded followers of the circuit that his operation will win races during the meet, regardless of which trainer - or combination of trainers - is saddling his stock.
Philadelphia Park plans to add Friday twilight cards and reduce live racing on Sundays during a 10-week period this summer.
Starting Friday, May 28, and continuing through the end of July, live racing will be held Friday, Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday.
All Friday programs will begin at 4 p.m. There will be Sunday racing on May 30, Father's Day (June 20), and July 4.
The Bensalem, Pa., track experimented with twilight cards last summer and it turned out to be popular.
Lone Star Park officials will seek approval at a stewards' hearing Thursday for new procedures for horses loaded into the starting gate wearing blankets. The move comes after an incident that led to Saturday's fourth race being declared a no-contest. One starter, Rocks and Rings, broke from the gate in the blanket she was loaded in and shed it while crossing over to the lead in the first turn of the one-mile race.
The blanket flared out before sliding off her and hitting the ground, with one of the horses hitting the rail and another jumping over the equipment as it fell.