STICKNEY, Ill. - Every March the small to midsized stable of trainer Frank "Bobby" Springer starts trickling into Hawthorne from its winter quarters in New Orleans, and every March he starts hitting bull's-eyes. So far this meet it's four winners from seven starts for the Springer barn. But even better things might come Saturday.

Springer has two horses for the six $100,000 Illinois-bred stakes races included in a strong 10-race program here, and though other horsemen - such as Michele Boyce, Mark

In a show of strength, the slots-rich Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., has made bold changes to its racing calendar and racing program for the 93-date meet that opens on Friday. The season will continue through Oct. 9.

Louisiana Downs will have its earliest start since changing its schedule in response to the opening of its chief rival, Lone Star Park near Dallas, in 1997. The earlier opening allows Louisiana Downs to race throughout the lucrative Triple Crown season.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - It is very clear to trainer Clifford Sise that Chant for Gold is best on turf.

"He cannot stand up on the dirt," Sise said.

The colt's race record supports Sise's theory. With a first and a third on turf, and a seventh on the main track, Chant for Gold has tipped off where he runs best.

Friday, will try for his second career win in a $49,000 allowance race at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf at Hollywood Park.

AUBURN, Wash. - An evenly matched field of six older fillies and mares will vie at 5 1/2 furlongs in Friday's feature at Emerald Downs, for $25,000 claimers.

CALGARY, Alberta - When nominations closed for Sunday's M.R Jenkins Memorial, Northern Neechitoo, a multiple stakes winner with earnings of $355,334, was noticeably absent from the list. Trainer Floyd Arthur chose instead to run her in Friday's featured seventh race at Stampede Park, a six-furlong optional claimer that attracted seven runners and has a $21,300 purse.

The race is split into two divisions, with the other division going as the fourth race.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - A successful experiment comes to an end Friday night at Bay Meadows, with $20,000 in bonuses up for grabs.

Friday's third race, a $6,250 starter allowance at 1 1/4 miles, is the final leg in the California Marketing Committee starter allowance series. The series was originally supposed to comprise three races, but so many horses were entered that the first two legs were each split into two divisions.

Friday night's nonwinners-of-four/optional claiming feature at Evangeline Downs presents exactly the dilemma many players have found themselves in for much of the season thus far: Do you go for the hot hand from the recently concluded Delta Downs meeting or the more modest-looking but classier Fair Grounds form?

Atlantic City Race Course in New Jersey will run the first card of a brief, all-turf meet on Friday, beginning what is certainly one of the most unusual meets at any racetrack in the United States.

While cagey legislators have a knack for finding money in the strangest of places, square paper scraps of litter found on the floors of Thoroughbred simulcast parlors rank among the more unusual revenue streams. But in late February, the Illinois House unanimously passed a bill sponsored by Collinsville Democrat Jay Hoffman whereby funds generated from unclaimed winning simulcast tickets at Fairmount Park will remain in Fairmount Park's possession to help defray operational fees and fatten stakes purses.

As expected, the addition of video lottery terminals had a positive impact on business at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack.

Last year, Finger Lakes raised purses twice following the opening of its 1,010-machine slots casino in February. The meet produced gains in both handle and attendance for the first time since 1991.

Daily purses increased 56 percent in 2004 to $97,000, compared with $62,000 in 2003.