The New York Racing Association has named Kenneth T. Cook as its new director of security, effective Dec. 8.

Cook, 53, previously worked with the New York State Police in several capacities, including investigator and the captain in the bureau of criminal investigation. He most recently served as director of public safety solutions for a private consulting firm.

Cook was awarded eight superintendent's commendations during his service with the state police, as well as two certificates of appreciation from the Drug Enforcement Agency.

NEW ORLEANS - About six years ago, trainer Richard Small bought a house near Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans, but when he split with the owner Robert Meyerhoff shortly afterward, Small stopped wintering at Fair Grounds.

Now, Small is back with Meyerhoff - and back in his house.

"When I stopped training for Mr. Meyerhoff, I was going to come down here," Small said. "But I had mostly my own horses, and they didn't have conditions. They weren't good enough for stakes, but they were too good to run in claiming races. I wouldn't have had any spots to run them."

Judiths Wild Rush, an undefeated colt who owns the highest two-turn Beyer Speed Figure for a 2-year-old in North America this year, is the early favorite for the $1 million Delta Jackpot at Delta Downs in Vinton, La., on Dec. 5.

The 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-olds had five other probables as of Wednesday morning: the Bob Baffert-trained Consecrate, who was fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile; Stolen Time, winner of the $100,000 Foolish Pleasure at Calder; Perfect Moon, winner of the Grade 2 Best Pal at Del Mar; the undefeated Joe Six Pack; and Mr. Jester.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Wando, winner of the Canadian Triple Crown and more than $2 million this year, heads the list of 2003 Sovereign Award finalists released by the Jockey Club of Canada on Wednesday.

The Sovereign Awards, which are the Canadian counterpart to the Eclipse Awards, honor outstanding achievement Thoroughbred racing and breeding.

The finalists, in each of 15 divisions, were determined by ballots of 58 voters across Canada, who ranked their top three choices in each category with points awarded on a 4-2-1 basis.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Hugo Dittfach was no stranger to the spotlight during a riding career that came to an end, by design, when he rode his 4,000th career winner in 1989 at Greenwood.

Dittfach, who won the inaugural Sovereign Award as Canada's outstanding jockey for 1975, was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 1983, and was the recipient of the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award in 1991, has kept a much lower profile since turning his attention to training in 1990.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Lethal Grande, the probable favorite for Friday's $10,000 Thanksgiving Handicap at a mile, has demonstrated a good deal of versatility during a 38-race career in which he was won eight races and over $128,000. He has won in Oregon and California, on dirt and turf, and from on the lead and far off the pace.

A 4-year-old, Lethal Grande needs one more accomplishment, however, to complete his resume.

"He has never won around two turns," said trainer G. D. Khalsa. "In fact, he has never won beyond six furlongs."

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - Bugsy Marrone ships in from Turf Paradise with a five-race win streak to take on 11 other 2-year-old fillies in the $50,000-added Princess Handicap at Sunland Park on Friday.

Bugsy Marrone has traveled before. She made the first two starts of her career at Santa Anita last spring, both at two furlongs against Cal-breds, and won her second start. She has not been behind at any call in her four races since, while running several sub-45-second half-miles in the process.

Brimmerton, a highly hyped juvenile in Texas, will try to live up to his ink by gaining his first stakes win in the Grade 1, $1,088,856 Texas Classic Futurity on Saturday night at Lone Star Park.

Family Favorite invades from Florida for Friday night's $40,000 Delta Belle at Delta Downs in Vinton, La.

The five-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies drew a field of six, and there does not appear to be a standout among them. Favoritism Could go to maiden winner My Golden Tripp, who will be making her first start for trainer Steve Asmussen.

ANDERSON, Ind. - Down by the Sea and Victory Punch, who have finished one-two in their last two meetings, will be separated by an entire race Friday night. This is the final full week of racing this meet, which concludes Dec. 4.

Down by the Sea will start in the $35,000-added Indiana Stallion Stakes, a six-furlong race for 2-year-old Indiana-bred fillies who were sired by registered Indiana stallions. Victory Punch will stretch out to a mile for the first time in the following race, the $35,000-added Terre Haute Stakes for Indiana-bred fillies.