Aside from Breeders' Cup Day, which was excluded from meet totals, the 2003 Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita was a disappointment to track officials. Average daily handle for the meet, which ended Nov. 9, declined 0.8 percent to $9,631,159, down from last year's $9,709,897, according to figures released by the Oak Tree Racing Association. Average ontrack attendance was down 9.2 percent to 8,913 from 9,813 in 2002.
Average daily ontrack handle declined 3.1 percent to $1,981,805 from $2,044,989.
The rift between the Churchill Downs Simulcast Network and the Southern Racing Cooperative moved into a second week on Monday when the Churchill network did not simulcast its only track racing, Calder Race Course, to the 17 tracks in the cooperative.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Slew Valley has lost his last 14 starts, a string dating back to June 6, 2001. His connections have picked a most interesting race in which to attempt to end that skid.
Slew Valley will make his next start in the $4 million Japan Cup on Nov. 30. On Monday, he worked one mile in 1:39.37 over Belmont Park's main track, and on Tuesday he was scheduled to depart New York en route to Tokyo via Anchorage, Alaska.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The horse-for-course handicapping angle has been a most profitable one at this meet, and could continue to reap benefits for its loyalists in Wednesday's $50,000 second-level allowance feature at Aqueduct.
The open-company allowance is the eighth of nine races on the card and is the penultimate leg of the pick six, which features a $127,104 carryover after no one hit it over the weekend.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Ten years ago this November, Tony Reinstedler was the leading trainer at the Churchill Downs fall meet. Since then, his career has hit a number of highs and lows, but fortunately for him, this year definitely has been one of the highs.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Brass in Pocket, a leading contender for the Sovereign Award as champion older filly or mare, will be favored in Wednesday's $130,750 Classy 'n Smart Stakes at Woodbine.
Six other Ontario-sired runners were entered in the 1 1/16-mile race: Spanish Decree, Kabul, Royal Dalliance, Roman Romance, Deputy Cures Blues, and Dancen in the Sun.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Bobby Frankel is knocking off milestones this year as swiftly as the horses he trains run past the opposition. Frankel has won a record 23 Grade 1 races. His horses have earned a record $18 million. Yet the latest mark on which Frankel is closing in has taken more than 30 years to approach.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Dave Fortner, whose many years as the top assistant to Elliott Walden enabled him to work with such major stars as Victory Gallop and Menifee, has announced that he is opening a public stable, effective Jan. 1.
Fortner, 42, said his age was a major factor in the decision to begin his own stable, which initially will be based at Trackside in Louisville. "I didn't want to wake up some day with regrets about never trying," said Fortner.
CHICAGO - Dutchie's connections decided to skip the Hawthorne Oaks last Saturday and wait for an easier race - they didn't wait long.
Dutchie was one of 12 horses entered in Hawthorne's featured ninth race Wednesday, a second-level filly-and-mare allowance at 1 1/16 miles on the main track. Dutchie is an Illinois-bred with only two lifetime starts, but she has aroused interest by winning those starts and displaying obvious talent.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Last Saturday's Display Stakes was billed as a Sovereign Award showdown between Smoocher and A Bit O'Gold, with the title of champion 2-year-old colt or gelding up for grabs.
But when the dust had cleared, it was Judiths Wild Rush, making his stakes debut, who routed his opponents in a 10-length victory.
Finishing the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:43.59, Judiths Wild Rush earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 105, equaling the highest by any 2-year-old in North America this year.