Ellis Park, the Henderson, Ky., racetrack ravaged by a tornado Nov. 6, will conduct its scheduled 36-day race meet in 2006, Churchill Downs Inc. officials announced in a release issued Wednesday afternoon.
The 2006 meet at Ellis Park, as well as the financially troubled track's long-term future, had been in doubt after it incurred damage to its barn area, racing office, jockeys' quarters, grandstand, tote board, starting gate, and safety rail.
STICKNEY, Ill. - Saturday marks the one-year anniversary of Chicago's greatest claim of 2005, Lord of the Game, and with a freshening following a subpar performance in the Fayette Stakes on Oct. 29 at Keeneland, he has started gearing up for his 2006 campaign.
Monday at Hawthorne, Lord of the Game recorded his first timed workout since finishing sixth of nine in the Fayette, going an easy half-mile and galloping out an additional furlong, according to trainer Tom Tomillo. Lord of the Game officially was credited with a three-furlong work in 38 seconds.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trainer Art Sherman, with 192 wins entering Wednesday's racing, has an outside shot at 200 victories for the year. King Farouk will try to get him one win closer in Friday's Bay Meadows feature, a first-level allowance race at six furlongs.
The 3-year-old ran third in his debut to Awesome Humor, who then came right back to beat winners. King Farouk won his second start, scampering home as the odds-on choice in a $62,500 maiden claimer Dec. 8 at Hollywood Park.
Premier Dance runs New Year's Eve in the Diamond Jo at Evangeline.
Kyle Kaenel returned to Turf Paradise, the scene of his near-career-ending injury, and won with two of his four mounts here on Monday, Dec. 19.
Kaenel, 17, rode back-to-back winners on his first two mounts, Mane Task ($3.60) and Supervelous ($4.20), before finishing third twice.
"It's good to be back," said Kaenel.
It was his first visit to Turf Paradise since he suffered several broken vertebrae in a spill here April 19.
R. Earl, who didn't begin his racing career until May of his 6-year-old season and less than four months later became a stakes winner, was a unanimous choice for horse of the year at Penn National Race Course.
Trained by Tim Shea for owner-breeder Cleon Cassel, R. Earl compiled a local record of 4 wins from 7 starts with earnings of $61,175.
He received all five first-place ballots submitted by representatives of local media, the track's racing and publicity departments, Equibase, and the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association.
Three-time derby winner DM Shicago, the 2004 champion 2-year-old gelding, concludes what will certainly be another championship season when he makes his first start against older rivals in the Grade 1, $400,000 Championship at Sunland Park on Friday afternoon.
DM Shicago is riding a five-race winning streak that includes Grade 1 wins in the Ruidoso Derby, Rainbow Derby, and the All American Derby last summer at Ruidoso Downs. In the Rainbow Derby, DM Shicago defeated Ocean Runaway, who won the Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos on Dec. 10.
Seen Dancing, dismissed at nearly 30-1, rallied down the center of the track to capture the $50,000 Gowell Stakes on Monday at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.
Ridden by Rodney Prescott, Seen Dancing returned $61.20 after finishing six furlongs in 1:13.60. Mighty Martha, the 4-5 favorite, finished second in a field of 10 2-year-old fillies.
Seen Dancing, a Souvenir Copy filly owned by Dan White and trained by Bernie Flint, had made her three previous starts at Mountaineer Park, the last two in routes.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Bay Meadows is frequently referred to as Baze Meadows, given the dominance of Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze.
But more than a few people believe that Baze's streak of 25 straight Bay Meadows riding titles could be in jeopardy at the 31-day holiday meeting that opened Monday. Why? The presence of talented apprentice rider Martin Garcia.
ARCADIA, Calif. - There was delight in trainer Ron McAnally's camp when Grecian overcame trouble to win her U.S. debut at Santa Anita in September. McAnally is hoping Grecian will have an easier time when she reappears in a $60,000 allowance race over a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Thursday.
