Ken Miller, the track announcer at Prairie Meadows for all but two seasons since the track opened in 1989, has been released.
Miller has been in a dispute with track officials over the past month regarding a pick five parlay concept. Miller has said he came up with the idea of the wager - in which players choose any five races on the card to play a pick five - on his own time and had sought advice on patenting the wager.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - It seems as though trainer Mike Hushion's patience has paid off.
After he resisted the temptation to run Kazoo in the Paumonok Handicap and then entered him in a race that didn't fill, Hushion finally found a spot for Kazoo in a $52,000 optional claiming race Sunday at Aqueduct. The best part is Kazoo looks like the main speed in the six-horse field.
The six-furlong dash is one of five allowance races on a 10-race card that includes three races brought back from Friday's card, which was canceled due to bad weather.
Prairie Meadows has reinstated the Iowa Festival of Racing for the 2004 meeting after a one-year absence. A total of 39 Thoroughbred stakes worth over $2.8 million will be run during the 2004 season at Prairie Meadows.
Twenty-two stakes worth $1,885,000 will be contested during the 45-day Thoroughbred meeting, which runs from April 16 through July 4. The remainder of the stakes will be run during the 47-day mixed meeting, which begins July 9 and concludes Sept. 25.
SUNLAND PARK, N. M. - Inox, a consistent 6-year-old Argentine-bred mare, will take on a trio of Steve Asmussen-trained runners in the $50,000 Czaria Handicap on Sunday at Sunland. Asmussen's runners are uncoupled for wagering purposes, adding spice to what should be a very good betting race.
Jockey Mike Rowland remained in a coma at a Cincinnati hospital late Friday afternoon, the result of head injuries in a three-horse spill Wednesday at Turfway Park. "Mike is fighting for his life," said his agent, Jamie Fowler, who visited him in the hospital. "He is in a coma."
Aqueduct Racetrack, Laurel Park, and Beulah Park all cancelled racing on Friday because of a winter storm that was dropping rain and ice from the Midwest to the East Coast. In Maryland, Laurel officials said the track would still be open for simulcasting despite the cancellation, but Aqueduct closed its doors for all business. Both tracks said they plan to race on Saturday. Beulah cancelled for the second straight day with its Friday card.
Another winter storm in the Northeast forced Aqueduct to cancel live racing on Friday, the 10th time since the inner track opened on Dec. 3 that all or part of a card was canceled. Aqueduct was also closed for simulcasting Friday.
While only a dusting of snow hit the New York area, freezing rain and a forecast for heavier rain in the afternoon prompted track officials to cancel early. Racing was scheduled to resume on Saturday with the running of the $75,000 Whirlaway Stakes as part of a 10-race card.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - It was an upset on the tote board when trainer Bobby Frankel spoiled Funny Cide's Triple Crown party with Empire Maker in the Belmont Stakes and beat him again later that summer with Peace Rules in the Haskell. On Saturday, the shoe will be on the other foot when Funny Cide plays the underdog against the Frankel-trained Medaglia d'Oro in Gulfstream Park's $500,000 .
ARCADIA, Calif. - In the San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes on Jan. 10, During was on or near the lead to the final turn, lost his advantage in early stretch, and then launched a remarkable rally to win by a length.
In Saturday's $300,000 at Santa Anita, During may need an encore to win the top race of the meeting for 4-year-olds.
The Strub is a treat for bettors. The race has drawn 11 entrants, including several with a chance to win the Grade 2 at 1 1/8 miles.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Toccet went from being one of the nation's top 2-year-olds of 2002 to a bust at 3 last year.
Through injury and questionable management, Toccet managed only one stakes win last year, a minor race at Philadelphia Park, compared to four graded stakes wins in 2002.
This winter at Santa Anita, Toccet has shown flashes of his 2-year-old form. The test will come in Saturday's $300,000 for 4-year-olds over 1 1/8 miles.
