GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Jockeys Tony McNeil, 51, and David Shepherd, 50, have each been followed into the family business by two sons, and all six riders competed at the same meet for the first time ever during the Lone Star Park season that closes on Sunday.
It has been a productive time for both families.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Churchill Downs officials said Friday they have no set timeline in their search to replace the late Luke Kruytbosch as the track's race-caller when live racing resumes Oct. 26.
"We're just now starting that process," said Churchill spokesman John Asher. Track management has not received any calls from prospective race-callers, said Asher, "I think because they've just wanted to show their respect for Luke. But I imagine the activity will pick up pretty soon, and obviously we're familiar with the landscape out there.'
AUBURN, Wash. - Of the dozen renewals of the Grade 3, $300,000 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs, six have been won by locally based horses. And of those half-dozen Mile winners, four have exited the nine-furlong Mt. Rainier Handicap, which will be contested Sunday with a purse of $75,000.
DEL MAR, Calif. - Even by his standards, Rafael Bejarano is off to a spectacular start at Del Mar this summer.
Through Thursday, the eighth day of the 43-day meeting, Bejarano had 13 wins from 41 mounts, a staggering strike rate of 32 percent. He has already won riding titles at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting and Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting in his first full year of riding in California.
"I feel very confident," he said. "I love Del Mar. I want to be leading rider. We'll see if that happens."
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Trainer Dino Condilenios is hoping to pull off a couple of upsets in the $50,000 Stellar's Jay and the $100,000 British Columbia Cup Classic. Both races are among seven stakes that make up B.C. Cup Day on Aug. 4 at Hastings.
Condilenios really likes his chances with Coachman in the Stellar's Jay, which is restricted to B.C.-bred 3-year-olds. Krazy Koffee figures to be a strong favorite in the 1 1/16-mile race.
EDMONTON, Alberta Zuri Mwana has run well in each of his three starts in Alberta since arriving here from California as part of a six-horse stable owned by Ken and Joan Amthor and trained by their son, Gordon. The Amthors campaigned here over 20 years ago, and they have returned from the U.S. with a strong contingent.
Zuri Mwana has speed, draws a good post, and is the one to catch in Sundays featured seventh race, an allowance/optional $32,000 claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs, which attracted seven 3-year-olds.
SANTA ROSA, Calif. Trainer John Anderson figures Conga Kaye is in the same situation in Sundays $50,000 Wine Country Juvenile Fillies Stakes that she was in her debut.
I think Broadway Hennessey is still the horse to beat, he said.
Conga Kaye beat Broadway Hennessey, the Jerry Hollendorfer-trained 1-5 favorite, by 1 1/2 lengths in her debut, the Juan Gonzalez Stakes at Pleasanton on July 6.
AURORA, Colo. Vannacide appears the best suited in a field of nine fillies and mares to handle the 1 1/16-mile distance of Sundays $20,000 Columbine Stakes.
Vannacide has yet to win this year in two outings, both in stakes, but had a highly successful campaign here last summer. A 7-year-old Colorado bred trained by Kenneth Gleason, Vannacide won 3 of 5 starts here last year. The most impressive was a seven-length romp in the 1 1/16-mile Spicy Stakes on closing day, Aug. 12.
DEL MAR, Calif.-Del Mar's Friday evening program features a one-day pick six carryover of $115,402.
The pick six covers the third through eighth races on a program that begins at 4 p.m. Pacific. The feature race is the $85,000 Wickerr Handicap over a mile on turf. In a positive switch from a majority of the programs in the first 10 days of the meeting, there is only one maiden claimer in the pick six, the third race.
There are several scratches in the pick six races.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - When Wednesday night's $125,000 Passing Mood was moved from grass to the main track due to a soggy turf course, trainer Steve Roberts exercised his option.
It was on to the $250,000 Wonder Where for Lady d'Wildcat, the
3-year-old filly whom Roberts trains for the Shyman Stable of Stuart Hyman.