Churchill Downs Inc., the owner of six racetracks, had net income of $28 million in the second quarter of 2003, or $2.09 per share, the company's best second-quarter posting in its history.

During the second quarter, Churchill holds the Kentucky Derby, its most profitable event. Last year, net income during the second quarter was $23.1 million, and earnings per share was $1.73.

Revenue in the second quarter this year was also a record, at $180.5 million, up 4.6 percent compared with last year's second-quarter revenue of $172.6 million.

Colonial Downs, the Virginia track that wrapped up its seventh annual meet on Tuesday, had record average daily handle during this year's 30-day stand, the track announced on Wednesday.

All-sources average wagering was $1,203,009, just barely edging last year's record average of $1,193,669. Total all-sources handle was $36,090,062, also a record.

Average attendance was down .5 percent, however, to 2,193, compared to last year's average of 2,204.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Friday's Assiniboia Downs feature, a six-furlong dash for $20,000 claimers, drew a field of seven headed by Wondrous Zeal.

After finishing third in the Free Press here June 15, Wondrous Zeal journeyed to Canterbury Park and finished eighth in an open allowance race over five furlongs of turf. An easy winner over $20,000 claimers here June 1, will carry high weight of 124 pounds and break from the inside post under Travis Hightower.

The $11,800 headliner goes as the eighth of nine races on the program, which begins at 7 p.m.

DEL MAR, Calif. - After Bluesthestandard was disqualified from third to sixth for causing interference in the Triple Bend Handicap at Hollywood Park on July 6, trainer Ted H. West was prepared to wait for the $150,000 Pat O'Brien Handicap on Aug. 17 with the former claimer turned multiple stakes winner.

The plans changed last week when Bluesthestandard ripped off a half-mile workout that left West and owner Jeffrey Sengara looking toward Saturday's $200,000 Bing Crosby Breeders' Cup Handicap at Del Mar.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - They were racing's equivalent of Mantle and Maris, Ruth and Gehrig, Drysdale and Koufax.

Throughout the 1990's no one dominated racing like Jerry Bailey and Bill Mott. And while Bailey will be aboard Del Mar Show for Mott in Friday's Grade 2, $150,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap, it may be one of the few times those two Hall of Fame horsemen get together at this Saratoga meet.

CHICAGO - Kenny McPeek did not come to Arlington Park looking for a challenge, and no trace of disappointment crept into his voice Wednesday upon hearing Midway Road had not been entered for Saturday's $100,000 Round Table Stakes.

"The people at Arlington had been telling me all week it was me and Midway Road," McPeek said. "I guess that makes us the favorite."

It does indeed, as the McPeek-trained Best Minister, once a hopeful for the Belmont Stakes, figures a heavy favorite in the Round Table, one of three stakes here Saturday, dubbed Million Preview Day at Arlington.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - The enormously talented but largely untested Grand Hombre puts his unbeaten streak on the line Friday afternoon at Monmouth Park.

The 3-year-old heads the featured $39,000 allowance race at 1 1/16 miles.

Trainer Dennis Manning once harbored hopes of running Grand Hombre in Monmouth's Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational

on Aug. 3. A training schedule disrupted by continuous rain at the start of the meet and the horse's lack of seasoning persuaded Manning to follow a less aggressive schedule.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - La Grande Mamma turned heads when she streaked to a 15 1/2-length victory in her first career start, a 5 1/2-furlong dash here July 4.

One onlooker who was particularly pleased with the performance was trainer Steve Owens, who had dropped a $25,000 claim slip for the 2-year-old filly La Grande Mamma on behalf of owner Don Leibowitz, who campaigns under the nom du course Great Plyer.

"I was just watching her work one morning," said Owens. "She was an athletic-looking individual. She looked like she wanted to go further; she galloped out strong."

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. - Jockey Chris Quinn is listed in critical, day-to-day condition at St. Louis University Hospital after a horrifying spill in Saturday's first race.

Quinn's mount, Willey Hunt, was racing in tight quarters entering the turn when he lost his path to rival Wesley U. Quinn attempted to hold his ground, but his mount clipped heels with Wesley U. Quinn was thrown to the right, then was trampled by the trailing Golden Fifty.

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Canterbury Park regulars witnessed some major reversals in form last week as the main-track surface appeared to favor runners placed nearest the rail in a number of races. Glaring evidence of the bias was provided in Thursday's sixth race, when 48-1 longshot High Storada broke from post 1, opened a clear lead on the rail into upper stretch, and just held off a challenge from Keloland. In the very next race, 18-1 Minnesota-bred Belle American used the same tactics to defeat open company by better than two lengths.