VANCOUVER, British Columbia - For the past three years, Lord Nelson has dominated the older colts and geldings ranks at Hastings. With the sensational Roscoe Pito joining the older handicap division, Lord Nelson could have his hands full holding onto the title.

They face each other for the first time Sunday in the George Royal Stakes and while the 6 1/2-furlong race shouldn't have a big impact on who takes home the championship trophy at the end of the year, it likely will give an indication of how they stack up against each other.

AUBURN, Wash. - Sunday's Auburn Stakes for 3-year-olds appears to be a wide-open affair, but trainer Aubrey Villyard has roughly twice the chance of winning as anybody else.

That's because Villyard will be the only trainer saddling two entrants, and both look like legitimate contenders. The situation is something of a novelty for Villyard, who has campaigned a small stable here at Emerald Downs since the track opened in 1996.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Halfbridled, the reigning divisional champion who would have been one of the favorites Friday in the 130th Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, was scratched on the morning of the race after "tying up," the commonly used racetrack term for suffering muscle cramps.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Langfuhr, winner of three Grade 1 stakes in New York and now enjoying a successful career at stud, is among the 2004 nominees eligible for induction into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, Thoroughbred division.

The nominees, announced Friday, also include Victor Cooley and Classy 'n Smart; jockey Lloyd Duffy; trainer R.K. "Red" Smith; and the late owner and breeder Don McClelland.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Mysterious Affair, who earned more than $1 million for Mort Hardy, her breeder, owner, and trainer, has been sold and is off to the breeding shed.

Glenn Harvey, whose Kelynack Racing Stable Inc. is on the fast track to becoming a major player in racing and breeding spheres, is the new owner of Mysterious Affair, a 7-year-old mare.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Multiple stakes winner Dream Launcher returns from a long layoff in Sunday's Woodbine headliner, an $86,400 allowance that is a prep for the Grade 3 Eclipse Handicap on May 24.

Dream Launcher appeared to have a bright future early in his 3-year-old season, in 2001, when he won three consecutive races, including the Victoria Park Stakes. But he was shelved for the second half of 2001.

FORT ERIE, Ontario - A large division of Frank Stronach runners will make Fort Erie home this year, as Stronach Stable, which had no stalls at Fort Erie in 2003, has 30 stalls for the current 81-day meet.

In charge of training the 40-plus runners, some of whom will be on the bench at Stronach's Adena Springs farm in Aurora, will be Justin Nixon. He was hired by the organization in November 2002, just as the Fort Erie meet was ending.

Last year was a good one for Nixon, 34. He won 14 races with 44 starters, for an exceptional win rate of 32 percent.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Some new names will greet fans when the 2004 meeting at Assiniboia Downs begins Sunday, as five of last year's top 10 jockeys will not be present on opening day.

Newcomers Orlando Martinez and Vince Guerra, currently 14th and 17th in the Turf Paradise jockey standings, should make an impact here.

Also, apprentices Keveh Nichols, from Barbados, and Nadia Dohnlova, a native of the Czech Republic, make their local debuts on Sunday's eight-race card.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Halfbridled, the reigning divisional champion who would have been one of the favorites Friday in the 130th Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, was scratched on the morning of the race after "tying up," the commonly used racetrack term for suffering muscle cramps.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Jockeys David Lopez and Alfredo Miranda were taken to Stanford Hospital after their horses fell Thursday during the seventh race at Bay Meadows.

Lopez suffered a serious head injury according to Bay Meadows track physician Dr. David Seftel and was listed in critical but stable condition after his mount, Perfect Judgment, apparently clipped heels when in tight between Santano and Danzhound heading into the turn in a five-furlong turf sprint for $32,000 claimers.