The new Tapeta synthetic surface at Golden Gate Fields is scheduled to be installed next week, with the track expected to open for training Oct. 6, 10 days earlier than originally projected, according to the track's general manager, Robert Hartman. The fall meet begins Nov. 7.

Before Golden Gate opens for training, several trainers have been invited to train horses over the track to see if it needs any tweaking.

The 16,000 tons of material that will make up the synthetic track is scheduled for delivery later this week, Hartman said.

DEL MAR, Calif. - If Salute the Sarge can run as fast as his trainer runs his mouth, there will be no catching him in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on Wednesday.

Eric Guillot, the big, boisterous trainer of Salute the Sarge, is right out of the Louisiana bayou, where storytelling is part of the way of life. So is racing horses. Guillot, 45, has been able to combine two of his favorite pastimes. With the backing of owner Michael Moreno, who partnered with Guillot to form Southern Equine Stable LLC, Guillot is starting to make his mark after years of knocking about the sport.

ERIE, Pa. - Patrons were 10 deep on the apron near the finish line Saturday night as Miss A Bomb nosed out Tres Dream in the first race of the Presque Isle Downs meet, the $100,000 Inaugural Stakes.

The meet is the first at Presque Isle, which is offering $500,000 a day in purse money from a purse account built up through slots revenue. On Saturday, $479,750 in purse money was distributed. A total of $126,204 was wagered ontrack for the eight-race card, with total all-sources handle of $594,241.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Rajiv Maragh rode the winners of both stakes at the Meadowlands on Monday, opening day of a 41-day meet that runs through Nov.o10. Maragh won the $60,000 Ready Jet Go for fillies and mares with Generosity and the $55,000 King Bold Reality for turf sprinters with Remain Silent.

For the first time since 2002, the Meadowlands kicked off the Thoroughbred season on the Labor Day weekend, and 7,817 turned out on a warm, sunny afternoon.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - A new method of distributing purses at Bay Meadows that gives more to the winner but less to the third- through fifth-place finishers has polarized horsemen here.

Beginning this meet, winners receive 60 percent of the purse, rather than the previous 55 percent. The runner-up still receives 20 percent, but the third-place finisher now gets 12 percent (rather than 15 percent), fourth place gets 6 percent (7.5), and fifth place gets 2 percent (2.5).

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Wicked Style won a non-descript maiden race early on a Saturday in mid-July at Arlington Park, and he was an 8-1 shot Saturday in an apparently so-so edition of the Arlington-Washington Futurity. But Wicked Style's name is out there now, and racing fans may get to know this horse even better before the year is out.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - There were plenty of happy campers here at Woodbine on Sunday after Rahy's Attorney won the $125,000 Vice Regent Stakes.

The party, in fact, started earlier Sunday afternoon when Glitter Rox won a $40,000 claiming race after graduating for $32,000 in her last start here Aug. 5.

AUBURN, Wash. - Heavily favored Gallon ($3.40) turned on the afterburners to catch uncoupled stablemate Cafe Tortoni in the final strides en route to a neck victory in Saturday's $49,500 WTBA Lads Stakes for 2-year-olds at Emerald Downs.

Ice Cube held third after dueling with Cafe Tortoni for the early advantage.

Gallon, a son of Victory Gallop who races for Mike and Amy Feuerborn, made up three lengths through the final furlong to cover the mile in 1:37.20. He was ridden by Leslie Mawing and is trained by Jim Penney, who also trains the runner-up.

Taking full advantage of an unopposed early lead, Madison's Music captured Saturday night's $100,000 Matron Handicap at Evangeline Downs.

Defending Matron champ Plaid rallied down the stretch to finish second while 3-2 favorite Delicate Dynamite had to settle for third.

Rating kindly for Kirk LeBlanc through pedestrian early fractions of 24.75 and 48.52 seconds, Madison's Music ($5.80) had enough left in the late going to hold off the runner-up by a length.

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Wildrally, patiently handled by John Jacinto, split horses with an authoritative move nearing the eighth pole before pulling away by 1 3/4 lengths Saturday's $75,000 A. L. "Red" Erwin Stakes for Louisiana-bred 3-year-olds at Evangeline Downs.

Hallway turned in a late run of his own to finish second, followed by Quite Sultry and Tortuga Straits.