ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Eric Garcea has no regrets about his decision to move to Woodbine from Hastings four years ago.

Garcea, 55, has had particular reason to cheer lately as Lady Vye, a newcomer to his barn this season, has turned plenty of heads by putting together back-to-back wins at long odds.

It is not only the fact, but the fashion of her victories that has raised eyebrows.

Lady Vye was sent off at 30-1 in her first start here, a second-level allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs, but rallied from well off the pace for a half-length score.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Trainer Neil Drysdale is making it easy for Hollywood Park handicappers. His comeback filly Christel Flame faces five rivals Thursday in the seventh-race feature, and the only key questions are what price is fair, and how much to bet.

ARCADIA, Calif. - In the 12 years since he retired from race riding at age 41, former jockey Frank Olivares resisted the occasional urge to return. Olivares was a horse trainer after all, with a small stable at Santa Anita. His thirst to ride would have to be satisfied by working and galloping horses in the morning.

But the yearning to ride grew stronger this spring, and when Funny Cide and Jose Santos came along, Olivares could not hold back. He wanted to be a jockey, again. So, he will. More than 12 years after his final ride in a parimutuel race

SAN MATEO, Calif. - The North American record for 4 1/2 furlongs on the turf stood for nearly 10 years until Stuttgart broke it and became the first Thoroughbred to run the distance in less than 50 seconds on March 29 at Golden Gate Fields.

But Stuttgart's time of 49.86 seconds was a short-lived record. Fifteen days later, Dan's Groovy broke Stuttgart's record, clocked in 49.26 at Turf Paradise.

The two meet in Thursday's feature at Bay Meadows.

And maybe neither will win.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Mineshaft put in another strong work Tuesday at Churchill Downs in preparation for his next Grade 1 assignment, the June 14 Stephen Foster Handicap, a race that already has his trainer Neil Howard thinking about strategy.

Mineshaft is expected to face Aldebaran in the Foster, which at 1 1/8 miles represents something of a new frontier for Aldebaran. In his last two races, Aldebaran won the seven-furlong Churchill Downs Handicap and the Met Mile, furthering his status as a premier sprinter-miler.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The Toronto Police Service is offering $25,000 in reward money for evidence leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the barn fire that led to the death of 34 horses at Woodbine last Aug. 4.

The Ontario Fire Marshall's office announced last Thursday that the cause of the fire was arson and the matter had been turned over to police.

Sergeant Robert Gallant, of 23 division, is in charge of the investigation.

ELMONT, N.Y. - An outstanding and perhaps an overfilled field is taking shape for Saturday's $400,000 Manhattan Handicap. Twelve will be permitted to run in the Grade 1 Manhattan, a 1 1/4-mile grass race. Entries were to be drawn on Wednesday.

ELMONT, N.Y. - After an uninspiring performance in her first start of the year, Storm Flag Flying will try to revert to her championship form Friday when she heads a seven-horse field entered in the Grade 1, $250,000 Acorn at Belmont Park.

The Acorn and the Grade 3, $100,000 Flash Stakes for juvenile colts highlight a 10-race card that begins at 1 p.m. Eastern. The Acorn, no longer the first leg of New York's triple crown for 3-year-old fillies, kicks off a daily double wager that is tied to the Belmont Stakes.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Juvenile filly maiden winners from Kentucky, Maryland, Florida, New York, and Delaware will meet Thursday at Belmont Park in the $75,000 Fashion Stakes at five furlongs.

Bikini Wiggle, from the Maryland barn of trainer Tony Dutrow, and Renaissance Lady, from the Kentucky barn of D. Wayne Lukas, appear the ones to beat in this six-horse field.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Kathy Neilson holds a strong hand for Thursday's $100,000 Meadow Brook Stakes, a steeplechase at Belmont Park.

Neilson will saddle the uncoupled entry of Trebizond, who won the Grade 1 Hard Scuffle in his last start over jumps, and the improving Mr Perkolater.

Eleven horses were entered in the 2 1/2-mile race, which features 15 jumps and will be run as the final race on the card.