OCEANPORT, N.J. - New Jersey's Thoroughbred horsemen get the opportunity Wednesday evening to decide the burning question on the Monmouth Park backstretch: Should there be a reduction in racing dates at Monmouth and The Meadowlands Racetrack in the fall?

The New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association called a board meeting for Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the library in Monmouth's administration building. All NJTHA members are welcome to attend.

CHICAGO - Saturday's $400,000 Washington Park Handicap picked up a pair of starters over the weekend as the connections of Iron Deputy and Flatter announced plans to run in the Grade 2 race.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - It didn't take long for Mobil to return to the limelight after he was overshadowed by his stablemate Wando here in the June 22 Queen's Plate.

Although he had enjoyed a week off after the Plate and came into last Saturday's Toronto Cup without the benefit of an interim workout, Mobil was at his best in gamely turning back the challenges of Strizzi and Moonshine Hall in the 1 1/8-mile turf race.

While favorites in the Claiming Crown invariably are shippers from regions other than where the event is held, the series occasionally attracts local horses who rate decent chances as longshots.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Riding a 1,000-pound animal, pushing fearlessly through tight holes, battling back from repeated injuries, and maintaining a 117-pound figure inside a 140-pound frame were things from which Laffit Pincay Jr. never flinched. Speaking in public, that always made him anxious.

Pincay held it together gracefully until he neared the end of his remarks at the close of a classy, yet bittersweet, retirement ceremony on Sunday at Hollywood Park. Then he started to thank his family, and he lost it.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Despite picking up momentum in the final weeks of the meet, Lone Star Park experienced declines in attendance and handle during its 70-date season for Thoroughbreds, which closed Sunday.

Attendance this meet fell 4 percent to 8,600 a day, while overall handle on the track's races dropped 6 percent to $2.51 million a day.

Lone Star handled an average of $565,000 a day on its races ontrack, a 10 percent decline from last year. Offtrack, handle fell 4 percent, with $1.94 million a day bet on races originating from Lone Star.

OMAHA, Neb. - Dusty Spike ($12.20) completed a sweep of Nebraska's richest races of the year with a one-length win over eight others in the $100,000 Omaha Handicap, as Horsemen's Park finished out its four-day festival.

Trained by Mark Lee, Dusty Spike had captured the $100,000 Bosselman/Gus Fonner Handicap at Fonner Park in late April. He is the first horse to pull off the sweep.

Bossier City, La. - Distinctive Code ($6.20) kept her record perfect over the Louisiana Downs main track with a three-quarter-length win in Saturday's $50,000 Suthern Accent Stakes.

Lead Story rallied from far back to gain her first stakes victory in the $97,500 HBPA Handicap, the first stakes of the meet at Ellis Park.

Ridden by Calvin Borel, Lead Story trailed to the far turn in the one-mile race before looping rivals leaving the turn. She finished with a flourish and returned $15.40.

The HBPA win makes her one of the top contenders for the Grade 3, $200,000 Gardenia Handicap Aug. 9.

Silver Tree ($13), trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Edgar Prado, went to the front early and stayed there, winning the $500,000 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., by 1 1/2 lengths. Heavily favored Senor Swinger finished fourth.

Kicken Kris, 31-1, finished second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of 8-1 King's Drama in third.

Hammered to 1-5, Senor Swinger - a two-time graded stakes winner on turf - never fired under jockey Pat Day.