INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The launch of racing on a synthetic surface at Hollywood Park at the track's 36-day fall meeting that ended on Monday resulted in an increase in handle, a dramatic rise in field size, and an improvement in the quality of racing.
But another important category, ontrack attendance, declined compared to the 2005 fall meeting.
Philadelphia Park opened the doors to its new casino at 11:30oa.m. on Tuesday, welcoming what a track official said was a "steady stream of happy people" to the newest racino in the country.
"I can say that the slot machines are getting a pretty good workout," said Hal Handel, the general manager of Philadelphia Park, which is owned by Greenwood Racing. "We've been very busy all day long."
A historic Bay Meadows winter meeting that saw Russell Baze surpass Laffit Pincay Jr. as the winningest rider in racing history saw Baze and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer again dominate the standings.
Baze won his 37th consecutive title in meets at which he has competed, riding 65 winners. Roberto Gonzalez was second with 38 wins. Chad Schvaneveldt had 31, and newcomers Juan Ochoa and Kyle Kaenel had 29 and 28.
MIAMI - Two barns at Calder Race Course have been placed under restriction after a horse who shipped into the track earlier this month was found on Monday to have a confirmed case of Equine Herpesvirus Type 1.
Equine herpesvirus is a contagious disease spread among horses. It carries flu-like symptoms, including fever or respiratory infection, and can prove fatal in extreme cases.
CHICAGO - Coming out of another bang-up Arlington season, where training titles have become the normal course of events, Wayne Catalano was a bet-against early in the Hawthorne meet. The horses who had dominated at Arlington struggled, and the betting public was slow to adapt, continually pounding Catalano starters far below fair value.
Tampa Bay Downs on Tuesday issued immediate and indefinite bans to seven jockeys, including two-time leading rider Terry Houghton, citing an investigation by the Thoroughbred Racing and Protective Bureau.
Tampa Bay Downs officials would not comment beyond a terse statement released Tuesday afternoon that cited Tampa's rights as a "private property owner" to deny the jockeys access to the racetrack during the TRPB investigation. On multiple occasions, courts have upheld racetracks when the tracks have banned jockeys or trainers, citing racing's need to protect the betting public.
Mykindasaint made her first three starts at Lone Star Park, Calder Race Course, and Louisiana Downs, and went to New York in the fall of 2005 ready for a brighter stage. Trainer Bubba Cascio turned the 2-year-old filly over to an old friend from Quarter Horse days, D. Wayne Lukas, and was notified by Lukas that Mykindasaint might be any kind of horse.
"What did you send me?" Cascio recalls Lukas asking after watching Mykindasaint blow away two workmates in a morning breeze.
It has been six years since trainer Carl Bowman wintered at Fair Grounds with the Grade 1-placed mare Lu Ravi. Bowman's stable houses fewer horses than it did in the Lu Ravi era, but among his current Fair Grounds string is Siberian Lily, a filly who has a chance to develop, if not into another Lu Ravi, then at least into a stakes performer.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Grande Melody rallied to upset 4-5 favorite Naissance Royale in Monday's Gradeo2, $150,000 Dahlia Handicap at Hollywood Park.
A 3-year-old filly carrying 114 pounds, Grande Melody caught Naissance Royale, the 120-pound topweight, in the final strides to win the Dahlia by a nose. Ridden by Julien Leparoux, Grande Melody ($14) ran 1o1/16 miles on turf in a quick 1:40.96.
Naissance Royale, the winner of two graded stakes in the last 18 months, finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of 12-1 Singalong in the field of 10 fillies and mares.
MIAMI, Fla. - After a steady diet of Grade 1 competition in New York earlier this season, Take D' Tour got some much-appreciated class relief when she returned home to win the Elmer Heubeck Distaff Handicap on Nov. 11. Her trainer, David Fawkes, is hoping the Grade 1-winning mare will end her extremely successful campaign on a similar note when she starts as the heavy favorite once again a week from Saturday in the $100,000 Stage Door Betty Handicap.
