The daily average handle from all sources decreased 2 percent on races at Pimlico and Laurel Park in 2004, even though bets placed on Maryland races from outside the state rose 4 percent, the fourth consecutive year that amount has risen, according to statistics released Tuesday by the Maryland Jockey Club, which operates both tracks.

The average daily handle from outside the state was $2,131,300 in 2004, compared with $2,047,200 in 2003. The average daily handle from all sources dropped from $3.48 million to $3.41 million.

ALBANY, Calif. - Three runners will be seeking hat tricks in Friday's Golden Gate Fields feature, a $62,500 optional claimer for 3-year-olds at six furlongs.

Sacred Senor, Mr. Fondue, and Makalapua each have two straight victories.

Sacred Senor has won two straight since finishing fifth in his career debut. He'll be making his first start since Nov. 18, when he rallied four wide on the turn to win a $40,000 starter allowance race. Sacred Senor has the best last-race Beyer in a sprint where no one shows much early speed.

Mannered will be the oldest horse to race in Texas in recent memory when he makes his 13-year-old debut, which is scheduled for Jan. 15. He is also expected to be the first to benefit from a policy change at Sam Houston Race Park.

In the past, Sam Houston had not allowed horses 13 or older to compete at the track, but effective Jan. 1, 2005, they will no longer exclude horses because of age provided they fulfill the eligibility requirements of the Texas Racing Commission. Mannered does at the present time because he won a race on March 26, 2004.

Delta Downs has no stakes race on Friday night, but the $20,000 fourth race has the feel of one. Among the eight entered in the five-furlong allowance are stakes winners Joyful Tune, Front Nine, Believe Im Special, and Run Zeal Run.

Evangeline Downs will offer seven Quarter Horse stakes worth a cumulative $165,000 during its inaugural meet at the track's new site in Opelousas, La. Trials for the estimated $100,000 Mardi Gras Futurity for Louisiana-breds, the richest stakes on the schedule, will usher in racing in Opelousas on Feb. 5. The 300-yard finale will be held on Feb. 26.

Evangeline has moved operations from its old site in Carencro, La., and now operates a slots casino in Opelousas.

Trainer Steve Asmussen hasn't had too many things to be disappointed about the past couple seasons. But when Souris finished a non-threatening third in an allowance race at Sunland Park Dec. 11, he had to be wondering. After all, Souris had been competitive with top-class fillies such as Lady Tak and My Trusty Cat, and as recently as Nov. 6 won an allowance race at Churchill Downs with a 105 Beyer Speed Figure.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The purse for the Kentucky Derby has been doubled to a record $2 million guaranteed, Churchill Downs announced Tuesday, making it one of the richest prizes in North American racing.

The increase in the Kentucky Derby purse, the first since a $500,000 raise nine years ago, places the Derby in a tie for second with the Breeders' Cup Distaff and Turf on the list of the richest races in the United States. The $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic - worth $3,668,000 after nominator awards are paid out - is North America's richest race.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - By any standard, it was not a clean opening day Monday at Gulfstream Park. Problems big and small plagued the first of 86 days here this winter, and track president Scott Savin and his staff now have a lengthy list of tasks and remedies in front of them.

Savin, who maintained a calm demeanor throughout the tumultuous afternoon, promised to follow through on the many things that need to be adjusted. Savin asked for patience as the following issues are addressed:

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - A couple of fillies who posted impressive victories shortly before going on layoffs appear to be the ones to beat in the Thursday feature at Gulfstream Park.

Sparkle n Gold and Myfavoritepassion, both winners two starts back, are the primary contenders among a field of seven entered in the Thursday feature, a $35,000 allowance sprint that goes as the eighth of 10 races.

Sparkle n Gold, trained by Mike Gorham, will try to return to the form that carried her to a 6 1/2-length victory in June at Delaware Park.

ARCADIA, Calif. - A wet track may be the least of Tialinga's concerns Thursday at Santa Anita, where she will sprint six furlongs against five other California-bred fillies and mares in the race-7 feature.

Although no starter is sharper than Tialinga, picking the winner of the one-other-than allowance sprint is not as simple as identifying the filly with the highest recent speed figure. Tialinga may be the most probable winner of the $48,000 allowance, but she will have to win under possibly disadvantageous conditions.