MIAMI - The usual excitement that accompanies a day at the races has been tempered for Calder-based horseman by the ongoing stalemate with track management that less than a week into the meet resulted in a purse reduction of 30 percent and the more recent announcement of additional cuts to the stakes program.
The two sides have been unable to agree on a purse contract that includes splits from a planned casino at the track.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The final nominations stage for the $1 million Queen's Plate and the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks closed May 1, and the lists were released on Friday.
Pending any radically delayed mail entries, a total of 57 horses remained eligible for the June 22 Queen's Plate and 45 for the June 8 Woodbine Oaks.
But there is still the possibility of surprises as entry-day supplements for both races will be allowed for the first time this year.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Monmouth Park picked up right where it left off - in a driving rainstorm.
Monmouth opened Friday with its first card since hosting the Breeders' Cup last October.
It poured on Breeders' Cup weekend, although the sun finally broke through to shine on the final event: Curlin's victory in the Classic.
Opening day dawned with more of the same: buckets of rain on a cool afternoon with the temperatures in the mid-50s.
Unfortunately, there was no rainbow to brighten opening day.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The attempt by riders in Chicago to raise the base mount fee paid to jockeys here appears to have succeeded, with almost all riders in the colony now receiving $80 payments for riding horses who don't finish third or better. Jockeys whose mounts earn a top-three placing are paid 10 percent of the purse money won by the horse.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Jockey Miguel Mena has ridden in Kentucky for nearly two years, winning riding titles at Turfway Park and Ellis Park (as well as at Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania) and ranking among the leaders at times at Keeneland and Churchill Downs.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Through injury and poor performances, Dixie Chatter and Shore Do did not merit an appearance in the Triple Crown races this fall. But that does not mean they cannot play a role in the 3-year-old division this year.
Dixie Chatter, the winner of the Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes last October at Santa Anita, is nearing his 3-year-old debut in the $100,000 Laz Barrera Memorial Stakes at Hollywood Park on May 18.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Strike a Deal had both a fruitful and frustrating 3-year-old campaign. He won just once from five starts, but came within a nose and a head from capturing two graded stakes.
"You're telling me," trainer Alan Goldberg said. "He's a half a length away from [making] another $600,000 or $700,000. I hope he comes back like he was. He was pretty good last year."
FORT ERIE, Ontario - Favorites dominated the first live card of the season at Fort Erie, winning six of the eight races last Saturday.
One of the rare exceptions came in the finale when the 4-year-old Tethra's Dream, one of two winners on the card for apprentice Richard Morrow, scored at $78 in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden claiming race.
Morrow, whose agent is Scotty Lane, ended the two-day weekend with three wins, bringing his career total to five and thus losing his 10-pound apprentice allowance.
AUBURN, Wash. - Gallon and Margo's Gift engaged in a lively rivalry last year as 2-year-olds. Gallon actually outfinished Margo's Gift in all three of their meetings, but he was disqualified for causing crowding in the six- furlong Premio Esmeralda Stakes and Margo's Gift was awarded the win.
Gallon then won the one-mile WTBA Lads while Margo's Gift was pulled up, and he finished second to Margo's Gift's third in the 1 1/16- mile Gottstein Futurity, which was won by the superior filly Smarty Deb.