VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Hastings Entertainment intends to continue racing just two days a week for one more year.

That was the main focus of a five-year business plan presented to the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association at an open informational meeting last week.

Garth Essary, vice president of operations, explained how the per-race handle was significantly higher on weekends, and until the horse population increases Hastings management feels it is necessary to stick to the two-day-a-week schedule.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Business figures at the Churchill Downs fall meet are down significantly from last year, leading track officials to call once again for a means to combat the serious competition from nearby riverboat casinos.

Through Sunday, day 19 of the 30-day meet, ontrack attendance and handle were averaging 6,800 and $683,924 per day, respective declines of 17 and 19 percent from corresponding 2001 dates. Meanwhile, handle from all sources is averaging $6,117,775 daily, a decline of 4 percent. Figures were provided by Rick Smith, Churchill's director of mutuels.

EAST BOSTON, Mass. - Yet another Massachusetts-bred stakes race at Suffolk Downs appears to be at the mercy of an overwhelming favorite, as African Princess heads the $30,000 Massachusetts Oaks on Saturday.

Last week, Jill's Layup was the bridgejumpers' heroine when she won the Amelia Peabody Stakes with over $400,000 backing her in the show pool. African Princess won't be as strongly supported in the Oaks, but she will be a very deserving favorite in the 1 1/16-mile race.

MIAMI - Worldly Victor was only two weeks into his 3-year-old campaign when he became a stakes winner, upsetting Gulfstream Park's Dave Feldman Stakes in a field that included multiple turf stakes winners Lord Juban and August Storm.

Ten months later Worldly Victor will still be seeking his second victory of the year when he starts as the logical choice in Saturday's $40,000 Amerilad Stakes on the turf.

GROVE CITY, Ohio - Waist Gunner John looms the one to beat when he faces six other Ohio-breds in Saturday's $45,000 Ruff/Kirchberg Memorial Handicap at Beulah Park. The race will be run at 1 1/4 miles.

Waist Gunner John has won five races in 2002, including three restricted stakes for owner-trainer Chuck Kovach. In his last start, the 4-year-old son of Rhodes was never a factor and finished sixth against open allowance rivals at Mountaineer Park on Nov. 2.

Anderson, Ind. - Private Gold goes for his second career stakes win when he heads a field of nine entered in Saturday night's $100,000 Hoosier Juvenile Stakes at six furlongs.

Trained by Patrick Byrne, Private Gold won the Ellis Juvenile on Aug. 14 for his first stakes score. He returned on Sept. 14 in the 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Cup Juvenile where he was second, beaten six lengths by eventual Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Vindication.

ALBANY, Calif. - Five stakes winners are among the 10 2-year-old fillies who will compete in Saturday's $60,000-added Piedmont Stakes at Golden Gate Fields.

Amber Hills, Hostility, Market Garden, and Viansa Ossidiana will be looking for their second stakes victory in the six-furlong race. Global Finance, winner of the six-furlong Bam's Penny at Bay Meadows in her last start, will be seeking her third stakes win. She also won the Nursery Stakes at Hollywood Park on May 11.

PHOENIX - Last year in the Queen of the Green Handicap, Alexine swooped down from Southern California and snatched first prize. It could happen again as Southern California raiders Reine de Romance, Polaire, and Double Cat run in this year's Queen of the Green on Saturday at Turf Paradise. The $50,000 race lured a field of 10 to go a mile on the turf.

There's an added bonus - Julie Krone, the Hall of Fame rider who recently came out of retirement, will ride likely favorite Reine de Romance.

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. - Saturday's $50,000-added KLAQ Handicap at Sunland offers what most bettors are looking for: a large and competitive field. Twelve are entered for the 5 1/2-furlong race.

One horse that immediately catches the eye is Abajo. Abajo's last two races have been subpar, but he has by far the highest earnings in the field, almost $600,000, and has been facing top competition all his career. Garrett Gomez will ride for trainer Steve Asmussen.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Cigi will seek a third consecutive win at Portland Meadows on Friday, when he heads field of eight 3- and 4-year-olds in the six-furlong feature for $8,000 claimers.

Cigi, a 3-year-old son of Consigliere from the barn of trainer Debbie Van Horne, smoked maiden special weight rivals by three lengths in his local debut on Oct. 26, then came back Nov. 9 to lead throughout six furlongs in a crisp 1:12.62 while defeating $8,000 company by nearly two lengths. Kevin Murray, who was up for both of those wins, again has the mount at 121 pounds.