Because of a totalisator software error, Churchill Downs refunded the entire pool in the first of two daily pick four wagers on Tuesday, while still honoring all legitimate winning tickets.
The error was expected to cost the track the amount awarded on four winning $1 tickets, which was $10,301.20.
The Keeneland Race Course record for all-sources handle was broken at the 17-day fall meet that ended Saturday at the Lexington, Ky., track.
More than $111 million was bet on Keeneland racing during the meet, surpassing by more than $7 million the record set at the 2000 fall meet. The average all-sources handle of $6,540,052 narrowly topped the former record, also set in 2000, showing an increase of 16 percent over corresponding figures for 2001, when some major outlets did not take Keeneland simulcasts for the entire meet.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Months or maybe years from Thursday, not many Churchill Downs fans will remember much about the feature race of Oct. 31, 2002.
But they might very well remember the Gray Ghost, a starter allowance race restricted to gray and roan horses.
"The reason we [offered] it is that everywhere I've ever worked, this kind of race always seems to make tons of print media and the nightly news," said Churchill racing secretary Doug Bredar.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - If ESPN's Sportscenter covered Thoroughbred racing at Bay Meadows, they would say trainer Bud Klokstad was "en fuego."
Klokstad has indeed been "on fire" this meet, having won with 11 of his first 26 starters since arriving in September following the conclusion of the Emerald Downs meet. He has won with more than 42 percent of his starters, and more than 57 percent of his starters have hit the board.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Laura de Seroux, the trainer of Azeri, asked the same question everyone else pondered in light of Saturday's results on the Breeders' Cup card at Arlington Park. When deciding on whom to vote for Horse of the Year, "Who else would you give it to?" de Seroux asked.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Twilight Road ($7.20) notched the first stakes victory of his 30-race career when he drew off to win the Grade 3, $112,700 Ack Ack Handicap on opening day of the 30-day fall meet at Churchill Downs.
Twilight Road narrowly missed winning a graded stakes in February at Gulfstream Park. Jockey Pat Day, who has won 142 stakes at Churchill, said Twilight Road "had come to the stretch all on his own, so I knew that he had something left in his tank."
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Fircroft, who chased eventual Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Storm Flag Flying in her last two starts, preferred the softer company Sunday as she rallied to win the $84,000 Miss Grillo Stakes by one length at Aqueduct.
Marc's Rainbow, who gave way grudgingly after making all the early pace, held second, 4 1/4 lengths ahead of 3-2 favorite One and Twenty. There were nine scratches from the race, which was originally scheduled to be run at nine furlongs on turf, but was moved to the same distance on dirt because of Saturday's heavy rains.
Cherokee's Boy ($2.60) crushed his seven rivals by 21 3/4 lengths in the $80,875 Tri-State Futurity, a race restricted to 2-year-olds foaled in Maryland, Virginia, or West Virginia.
Cherokee's Boy ran the seven furlongs over a muddy track in 1:26.76.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Like father, like son is the latest handicapping angle to get results in the wake of stakes sweep in the slop by the Jerkens boys on a rainy and windy Saturday at Aqueduct.
Multiple Choice, trained by "Giant Killer Junior" Jimmy Jerkens, rated off early fractions of 22.85 and 46.01 seconds - as his stablemate Voodoo battled for the lead inside of Saint Verre and Sing Me Back Home - and rallied wide into the stretch to win the $111,400, Grade 3 Sport Page Handicap by a widening 7 1/4 lengths.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.- Gold Mover ended a two-race losing streak with an emphatic victory in the $100,000 Safely Kept Handicap on the Breeders' Cup undercard Saturday at Arlington.
Gold Mover ($3.60) was the beneficiary of a perfect trip under jockey Jerry Bailey. Stalking pacesetters Harmony Lodge and Victory at Sea through quick fractions of 21.70 and 43.91 seconds, Gold Mover took the lead with a three-wide move on the turn and won by 7 3/4 lengths over Oglala Sue. The 4-year-old Gold Mover finished seven furlongs in 1:22.70.
