Horses will be running for less money when the New Year begins Friday. The New York Racing Association instituted a purse cut that averages out to 7 percent. Overnight stakes that were worth $65,000 will now be worth $60,000. The purses of most other races were cut from $1,000 to $3,000.

According to P.J. Campo, NYRA's director of racing, NYRA's handle for the year was down approximately 12 percent, necessitating the purse cut.

"There was no way we could maintain the purses at that level,'' Campo said.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Buddy's Saint got a lot of attention for his 4 3/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes here at Aqueduct in November, but little was made of the effort turned by runner-up Peppi Knows.

NOTEWORTHY PERFORMANCES

The "Chalk of the Week" award is shared by Sir Beaufort winner The Usual Q.T. ($2.80) and maiden-claiming winner Bullfighter ($2.60). Another perfect trip by The Usual Q.T. resulted in his sixth straight, an easy victory Dec. 26 at a mile on turf. Jim Cassidy trains The Usual Q.T., whose tactical speed and finish makes him a top contender - possibly the favorite - in the $300,000 Sunshine Millions Turf on Jan. 30 at Gulfstream Park.

ARCADIA, Calif. - The $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap is intended to be the showcase race for older horses at the prestigious Santa Anita winter-spring meeting. It's a Grade 1 run over 1 1/4 miles and has a history that dates back to the 1930s.

This year, the race will be run March 6. It may take that long to find a suitable field.

ARCADIA, Calif. - A slow start and a full belly may have kept In the Slips from winning the Grade 3 Miesque Stakes at Hollywood Park in her U.S. debut on Nov. 29.

Trainer Jeff Mullins has spent the last month working with In the Slips to prevent a recurrence in Friday's $65,000 Blue Norther Stakes at Santa Anita.

In the Slips raced at the back of a field of eight in the Miesque Stakes and stormed home to miss catching The Mailet by a half-length in the one-mile turf race.

Portland Meadows canceled its Wednesday card because of poor track conditions caused by inclement weather. The track also canceled its final two races on Tuesday because of heavy snow and high winds.

Racing was scheduled to resume on Monday, with first post time 12:40 p.m.

Grand Slam Andre overtook Lydia's Last Step in the stretch to give his trainer, Steve Asmussen, his third win in the Riley Allison Futurity at Sunland Park since 2001. He scored by three-quarters of a length in the $107,000 race run on Tuesday.

Grand Slam Andre ($4) settled off the pace in the early stages of the 6 1/2-furlong stakes, dueled with Lydia's Last Step in the lane, and went on to cover the distance on a track rated good in 1:18.59.

Will Farish and trainer Steve Asmussen have a promising Texas-bred sprinter on their hands in Valid Code, who earlier this month won the $50,000 Yellow Rose over such established female sprinters as Wrenice, Stealth Cat, and Annie Savoy. With the win, she improved her career record to 4 for 5. Valid Code came into the race off back-to-back allowance scores in Oklahoma.

"She ran two dynamite races at Remington, and we were excited about trying her with Texas-breds," Asmussen said. "Now she's a stakes winner."

Jockey Tim Doocy has set no timeframe for his return to riding after sustaining multiple fractures in a training accident earlier this month, but said there is a "pretty good chance" he will miss the Oaklawn Park meet that opens Jan. 15.

"I'm just going to take it a day at a time," he said Tuesday.

General Quarters did not win his comeback race on Saturday at Fair Grounds, but his return to the races following a long injury layoff could easily be called a success. Racing at a six-furlong distance shorter than his best, General Quarters finished second by a half-length to heavily favored Tempo Five, who in his most recent start had finished second to Euroears in the Thanksgiving Handicap.