INGLEWOOD, Calif. - After purse cuts at three consecutive race meetings in Southern California because of lower-than-expected business, Hollywood Park officials are hoping cuts won't be necessary during the spring-summer meeting that begins on Wednesday.
Hollywood Park has already cut purses to some extent for the upcoming meeting. The prize money was reduced for eight stakes races when
CALGARY, Alberta - Raylene was the only double winner at Alberta's Night of Champions at Stampede Park last Saturday, earning unanimous recognition as top 3-year-old filly and acclaimed as horse of the year in the province for 2003. Raylene captured six stakes and earned $339,684 last year.
Raylene's strong stretch drive to run down Taiaslew in the Canadian Derby last August at Northlands Park undoubtedly swayed the vote in her favor.
A proposed deal that would give Churchill Downs Inc. control of Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans has all but unraveled, according to a bankruptcy lawyer involved in the case. Barring a last-gasp agreement, Fair Grounds was expected to file a reorganization plan that will lead to an auction of the property in bankruptcy court.
The reorganization filing was due on Monday. Douglas Draper, the bankruptcy attorney, estimated that bankruptcy proceedings could begin in 90 to 120 days.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - While an amorphous field for Kentucky Derby 130 continues to search for its shape, the field for its sister race, the Kentucky Oaks, already has considerably more firmness to it than the Derby.
As of Monday, 11 fillies were considered probable for the Grade 1 Oaks, which is set for April 30, the day before the Derby. As usual, the 1 1/8-mile Oaks is expected to get the cream of the 3-year-old filly crop, which this year includes Halfbridled, Madcap Escapade, Silent Sighs, Victory U. S. A., and more.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - A little more than 48 hours after he pays his final respects to Robert Sangster at a memorial service at Keeneland, trainer Pat Byrne will try to give Sangster a lasting tribute by winning the Bewitch Stakes on Wednesday afternoon.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Eddington worked a very fast half-mile at Belmont Park on Sunday, but the chances of him running in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 1 are looking remote because of his lack of graded-stakes earnings.
Eddington's $95,000 in graded earnings places him 25th on the list of 3-year-olds being pointed to the Derby, and only the top 20 graded earners will start.
Mark Hennig said he is training Eddington with the Derby in mind, but said the Preakness at Pimlico on May 15 is looking like the more likely spot.
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - The fresh face in Saturday's Grade 3, $300,000 Texas Mile at Lone Star Park is Yessirgeneralsir. Although he will be the least experienced member of the field, Yessirgeneralsir brings much promise to the table.
In his last start, he came within a hundredth of a second of equaling the track record for a mile and 40 yards at Fair Grounds. Yessirgeneralsir won that entry-level allowance by 10 lengths and earned a 107 Beyer Speed Figure, which is the highest last-race number among those expected for the Texas Mile.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - In an era when owners and trainers seem particularly sensitive to weight, Flirt With Danger will carry 128 pounds in a starter allowance Wednesday at Bay Meadows.
Despite the heavy assignment, trainer John F. Martin is willing to run the 9-year-old mare, who has won all three of her starts - all starter allowances on the Golden Gate Fields turf course - since joining Martin's barn this year.
Flirt With Danger ran for a $12,500 tag at Aqueduct on Nov. 20 before owner Richard Englander sent her to Martin.