Jockey Chris Fackler is 900 miles from home but having a great time at Beulah Park. Fackler, 18, hails from Boelus, Neb., where his parents are part-time trainers. He began riding in June 2007 at the Lincoln State Fair and has ridden at all of the tracks in Nebraska.
"My folks both trained some, and I had a lot of friends who were grooms and knew a lot of trainers," Fackler said. "I have always been light, so they talked me into trying it. It seemed a nice fit."
MIAMI - Big Drama would have been the odds-on favorite if he were to start here Saturday in the $150,000 Jack Price Juvenile. Instead, the most accomplished 2-year-old based in south Florida this summer will await greener pastures - as in the $750,000 up for grabs in the Grade 3 Delta Jackpot on Dec. 5 at Delta Downs.
Big Drama completed a sweep of the open division of the Florida Stallion series with a five-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile In Reality Stakes here Oct. 18. He previously captured both the six-furlong Dr. Fager and seven-furlong Affirmed stakes with similar ease.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The first time Commentator won the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap, the gelding was soundly defeated in his next race when Rick Dutrow ran two "rabbits" against him.
Don't look now, but Dutrow said he will try the same thing if Commentator runs in the Nov. 28 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs.
Dutrow said one of his emerging stable stars, Arson Squad, "is doing unbelievable right now" after romping to victory in the Oct. 3 Meadowlands Cup but "probably will need a little help" if he is to win the Grade 2, $500,000 Clark when running against Commentator.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Paul Ryneveld was named director of racing at Hastings on Wednesday. His responsibilities in the newly created position will be to oversee all racing operations.
Ryneveld, 38, is a graduate of the University of Arizonas Race Track Industry Program and has had extensive experience in the industry.
His first job in racing was at Longacres when he was 16-years-old and he also interned at Hastings while he was going to the University of Arizona.
MIAMI - Silver Tree and Soldier's Dancer. That will be the marquee matchup on Saturday's outstanding Florida Million card at Calder, which also features the return of the undefeated 2-year-old filly sensation Frolic's Dream along with appearances from such notable invaders as Like Now, Icy Atlantic, Peach Flambe, Christmas Ship, and Actin Good.
In all, eight Florida-bred stakes worth a total of $1.2 million will be decided on Saturday's 12-race program.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The brilliantly fast Two Step Salsa, third in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and a favorite for the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes come opening day at Santa Anita, has been sold by owner-breeder Jeff Nielsen (Everest Stables) and is now owned and trained by A.C. Avila.
The sale and barn transfer, which took place Oct. 31, was confirmed Tuesday by Avila and Two Step Salsa's former trainer Julio Canani. Avila said he was the sole buyer, but added that his ownership of the 3-year-old Petionville colt may only be temporary.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The Nick Gonzalez stable will be losing one of its most productive and popular members as My List has been injured and forced into retirement.
"She'll stay here a month and then go to Three Chimneys in Kentucky," said Gonzalez, who has trained My List throughout her career.
"She's been entered in the January mixed sale at Keeneland."
My List, bred in Kentucky, was purchased for $1,200 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Sale in October 2005.
Peppers Pride came into the Zia Park meet with two objectives. The first was to set a modern North American record for consecutive wins. She checked that off her list last month, when she won her 17th straight race in a $35,000 optional claiming allowance Oct. 4.
Live handle from all sources at Hastings in 2008 was almost identical to 2007. Total live handle this year was $49,716,774 compared with $49,724,506 in 2007.
There were three more days in 2008, which corresponds to a 4 percent drop in the daily average. The average daily handle in 2008 was $700,236 compared with $731,242 a year ago.
Ontrack business was off 7 percent, $16,647,925 compared with $17,893,203. The daily average of $234,479 was down 11 percent.
The daily purse distribution went up 20 percent from $92,234 in 2007 to $110,818 in 2008.