CHICAGO - Veteran trainer Roy Houghton has seen too many rodeos to look at horses with anything other than cold-eyed realism. A colt he trains named Lui Luhuk seemed at least a little like an Illinois-bred stakes prospect winning his last two starts of 2008 by a combined 9 1/2 lengths. But Houghton still wants to see more.
"I don't know," Houghton said, when asked how far he thought Lui Luhuk might be able to rise. "He ain't beat nothing worth more than $15,000 yet."
Despite yet another delay in the anxiously awaited Aqueduct video-lottery terminal project, New York Racing Association officials say the lack of revenue from that facility won't affect its ability to conduct live racing for at least the next 18 months.
Churchill Downs has partnered with the world's largest network for breast cancer awareness and activism, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, on numerous initiatives surrounding the Kentucky Oaks to raise funds and awareness for the disease, including encouraging fans to wear pink.
NEW ORLEANS - A herpes quarantine in December, a spike of morning breakdowns in January, and a global economic crisis - through it all, Fair Grounds has been able to maintain its lofty 2008-2009 purse structure, and on the eve of Louisiana Derby Day, the meet highlight, track officials are satisfied with the ongoing season.
Leading rider Alejandro Medellin padded his lead in the jockey standings with a big weekend at Sunland Park.
Medellin booted home four winners on Saturday - Dont Ask Why ($23.20), Perrys Queen Bug ($12.40), Sincy's Wonder ($3), and He's Thorny ($4). He added another four-bagger on Sunday with Adelita's Gold ($4.80), Tricky Deeds ($5.40), Crowning Victory ($5.80), and Bound to Be ($5.20) to bring his number of wins in the Thoroughbred division of the meeting to 54.
Bevys Best, a three-time stakes winner last year from five starts, was named top older Nebraska-bred of 2008 at last weekend's awards dinner sponsored by the Nebraska Thoroughbred Breeders Association.
Bevys Best, trained by Larry Staroscik for owner Tim Munson De Pascua, captured the Ogataul and Budweiser-Tondi stakes at Fonner and the Amadevil Stakes at Columbus.
The 2009 edition of the John Franks Memorial sale of 2-year-olds, set for March 22 at Evangeline Downs, has a catalog of 218 horses, a 14 percent increase from last year's total of 191.
The sale begins at noon in the paddock area. A preview gallop show is scheduled for noon on March 21. Both the preview show and sale are free and open to the public.
The Ohio Racing Commission has given Beulah Park permission to run four stakes at its current meet, but the remainder of the Ohio stakes schedule is still under advisement, according to Ed Vomacka, racing secretary for Beulah Park and River Downs.
"They are looking at possibly changing some of the accredited stakes to registered and then perhaps raising the value of the remaining accredited stakes to $55,000," said Vomacka.
Costa Rising, a top Louisiana-bred who finished fifth as the 1-2 favorite in last weekend's $75,000 Gold Cup at Delta Downs, was found to have a lower respiratory infection following the race, said his trainer, Glenn Delahoussaye. The horse finished 7 1/4 lengths behind winner Snug.
"It's an unfortunate thing, but it happens," Delahoussaye said. "I'd like to go back and get a do-over, but you don't get do-overs in racing."