ELMONT, N.Y. - It has taken 24 years, but jockey Jose Amy finally has his second chance.
Amy, banned from race-riding in 1980 for admitting to fixing races in New York in the mid-1970's, was granted his jockey's license by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board late Wednesday. Amy, 51, said he hopes to begin riding by the end of next week.
"Oh my God, what does it mean to me?" Amy said. "They returned my life to me. My dream came true."
Randall Soth has been named president and general manager of Fair Grounds, which is about to be added to the Churchill Downs Inc. roster of racetracks. Soth moves over from Calder Race Course, another Churchill property, where he served as vice president and general manager.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Strut the Stage will prep for the Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International or the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf on Saturday at Woodbine in the Grade 2, $275,250 Sky Classic Handicap, a race he won in 2002.
Strut the Stage was fourth as the heavy favorite in the 2003 Sky Classic, after which he was sidelined with a leg injury.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba - One Only Knows and Think Fast, both making their Assiniboia Downs debut, are the headliners in Saturday's Matron Breeders' Cup for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles.
The Matron Breeders' Cup carries a guaranteed purse of $40,000 with $25,000 available to Breeders' Cup-eligible horses. One Only Knows and Think Fast, along with Sunset Lane and Victory Thrill, are eligible for the bonus.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Six Southern California-based runners will challenge the king of the course Saturday, when they take on Ninebanks in the Grade 3, $150,000 Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Handicap.
Ninebanks was second in this race in 2002, beaten a neck by David Copperfield, and finished third last year, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Mister Acpen.
PHOENIX - Muir Beach went from Arizona to California over the summer and showed she could play with the big girls. A 3-year-old filly, Muir Beach won 3 of 5 starts in California this summer, including her most recent, a smart tally in the Torrey Pines at Del Mar Sept. 4.
On Saturday Muir Beach returns to her home track for the $40,000 City of Phoenix Handicap. The six-furlong event for fillies and mares lured a field of eight and goes as the ninth race on a 10-race card.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Undefeated Notis Otis deserves to be favored over eight other 2-year-old colts and geldings in the 75th running of the Jack Diamond Futurity at Hastings Saturday.
The fillies division, the Sadie Diamond Futurity, drew 10 horses, and two-time stakes winner Backseat Becka looks like a solid choice there. Each race is at 6 1/2 furlongs, restricted to Canadian-breds, and worth $100,000.
MIAMI - Cin Cin moved to the head of the local 2-year-old division with his easy victory in the Affirmed Division of the Florida Stallion Stakes. And on paper, Cin Cin looks nearly invincible in Saturday's $100,000 Foolish Pleasure Stakes at Calder.
But even Cin Cin's trainer, Bill White, who will also send out D'court's Speed and Do Run Run in the mile and 70-yard Foolish Pleasure, cautions against conceding Cin Cin the victory just yet.
Warleigh, who won his second straight Louisiana Downs Handicap last Sunday in Bossier City, La., has a number of options for his next start, including the Grade 1, $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland.
was a game half-length winner over Waupaca in the $150,000 Louisiana Downs Handicap. He earned a 102 Beyer Speed Figure.
"I was very proud of his race," said Steve Asmussen, who trains Warleigh for Ro Parra. "That was a great race."
Warleigh is now based at Churchill Downs and could make his next start in Kentucky or at Hawthorne Race Course in Illinois.
