MIAMI - The local filly and mare handicap division lost its perennial leaders with the retirements of Castlebrook and Coolbythepool. Now a new generation will look to fill the void, beginning Saturday with the $75,000 Nancy's Glitter Handicap at Calder.
Castlebrook and Coolbythepool won the first two runnings of the 1 1/16-mile Nancy's Glitter. This year's edition figures to be won by either Stormy Frolic or Redoubled Miss, who will carry 118 and 117 pounds, respectively, in a field of seven.
EAST BOSTON, Mass. - The strongest division of horses in New England gets showcased Saturday when 12 3-year-olds meet in the $35,000 Suffolk Downs Derby.
The combination of talented youngsters coming from tougher circuits this spring and several late-bloomers have created one of the strongest local 3-year-old crops in several years. Five in the one mile and 70-yard race come off wins over the track, and they will face two tough shippers.
NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - When only four Ohio-bred fillies and mares were entered for the Rose DeBartolo Memorial Stakes, the race was scheduled as a non-wagering exhibition that will be run at 12:30 p.m. Eastern, prior to the first race at Thistledown. The purse of the DeBartolo was also cut from $75,000 to $35,000 with all of the funds coming from the Ohio Thoroughbred Fund.
SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. - Horsemen's Atokad Downs swings back to life with a two-day meet offering approximately $80,000 per day on its six-race cards.
Formerly known as Atokad Park and located in the northeastern corner of the state, the track was ordered closed in 1998 by the State Racing Commission when it could not display the financial responsibility to conduct a live meet. Its final season of live racing came in the fall of 1997.
MUSKEGON, Mich. - Reigning Michigan horse of the year Secret Romeo will be looking to turn the tables on Deputy Stripe in the $45,000 Michigan Breeders' Cup on Saturday at Great Lakes Downs.
A handicap for Michigan-breds, the 1 1/16-mile feature will be the eighth race on a nine-race card that begins at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - The board of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association voted Wednesday evening to maintain the current schedule for the balance of the 2003 season, rejecting a proposed reduction in racing dates.
It was not a decision reached in haste.
The board held a special meeting that lasted almost three hours and was attended by approximately 50 horsemen. After a lengthy discussion with extensive input from the attending horsemen, the board refused to consider a schedule reduction to prop up purses in the period after Labor Day.
CHICAGO - Dull pain sometimes ripples through Murray Johnson's hips and knees. Walking across Arlington Park's overheated apron last week, his Australian outback-style hat perched above thick-lensed glasses, some powerful force pushed him unwaveringly, jerkily forward.
"I have aches and pains. Other people notice them more than I do," Johnson said. "I should get them looked at."
SHAKOPEE, Minn. - The history of the Claiming Crown is inextricably linked with Canterbury Park.
So is its future.
When the Claiming Crown was first run in 1999, officials announced that a 10-year plan would stick to a blueprint for host tracks - the first three runnings at Canterbury, followed by an alternating schedule wherein Canterbury would host the event every other year.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Sands Point winner Savedbythelight will try to bring her game to a higher level on Saturday in the Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont Park.
Savedbythelight's 5 3/4-length win in the off-the-turf Sands Point at Belmont June 15 was only her second career win. Last year, Savedbythelight made her first two starts on the grass and then was moved to the dirt. In her second start, she won a maiden race on the grass at Belmont. Two starts later, she finished second in the Grade 2 Demoiselle over Aqueduct's main track.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Marathon grass runners are featured on Friday, the final twilight racing card of the Belmont Park spring-summer meet.
Seven older males were entered in the seventh race, a $48,000 allowance event at 1 3/8 miles on the Widener course. Fisher Pond was entered main-track only.
