EAST BOSTON, Mass. - Suffolk Downs opens its autumn meeting Saturday with purses up 10 percent from the end of the spring meet. The meeting runs for 56 days, ending Dec. 23.
The purse increase comes from a racing bill passed last year. There were two increases earlier in 2002, and more than $3.3 million has been generated by the legislation in the 10 months since it was signed. Track management is hoping this shot in the arm will result in a boost to the bottom line.
FORT ERIE, Ontario - Trainer John Simms had trouble getting someone to ride Original One in the mornings when the gelding came into his barn in the spring of last year.
Original One, nicknamed Jack - he has one eye - was a 5-year-old maiden with 18 starts.
The horse had been kicked in the head by his dam as a weanling, leading to the loss of the eye, and also suffered from a bad back.
The combination of ailments caused Jack to develop a funny way of moving, because he always had his head cranked sideways.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - The Hillsborough Handicap used to be one of the highlights of the racing calendar at Bay Meadows.
With its $100,000 purse and Grade 3 status, the Hillsborough usually attracted its share of top turf runners.
Although the purse has been dropped to $60,000 added, Saturday's edition of the Hillsborough Handicap will be as contentious as ever as a full field of 12 fillies and mares were entered for the 1 1/16-mile race over the turf.
VANCOUVER, B.C. - Pedro Alvarado, who is on his way to his first riding title in just his second season of riding at Hastings Park, has clearly found a home in Vancouver.
Alvarado, a 37-year-old from Mexico, counts himself fortunate, because a home was exactly what he needed when he landed here early last year after riding out a six-month contract in Macau, an island off the south China coast.
April's Lucky Boy, whose last win came against open company in the $50,000 Bossier City Turf Handicap on July 20, should like the return to statebred ranks in the $30,000 Red Earth Derby at Remington Park in Oklahoma City.
The one-mile turf race has drawn a field of 12, including the filly Frilly Fun.
April's Lucky Boy is the most accomplished member of the field as a two-time stakes winner. Don Pettinger has the mount on the Ide colt for owner Kelly Thiesing and trainer Donnie Von Hemel.
Horrible Evening, coming out of back-to-back wins in open company at Arlington Park, holds an edge in class and Beyer Speed Figures over seven rivals in the $50,000 Escaped Stakes for New Jersey-breds at a mile and 70 yards.
Horrible Evening hasn't raced at The Meadowlands since December 2000, but he likes the track, as evidenced by a win, place, and show in his three local starts.
ANDERSON, Ind. - Maggie's Dream seeks her second win in as many starts this year in the $40,000-added Madison County Stakes.
The Madison County is restricted to Indiana-bred fillies and mares who were sired by registered Indiana stallions. The six-furlong dash drew a field of eight, including the coupled entry of Heresyour Chickey and Maggie's Dream for trainer Stanley Roberts.
Iowa-breds El Saddler and Triage head a field of eight 2-year-old in the $50,000 Prairie Meadows Freshman Stakes. The six-furlong stakes is the closing feature of the 45-day mixed meet at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa.
El Saddler, a son of El Prado, has won three of his four career starts, all at Prairie Meadows. In his most recent start, the Larry Hunt-trained El Saddler stalked the pace to the stretch and drew off to a 5 3/4-length score against statebreds in the Iowa Cradle Stakes on Aug. 31. His time for the six furlongs was a quick 1:10.63.
Norman will also be well represented in each of the divisions of the Texas Stallion Stakes for 3-year-olds at Retama Park near San Antonio. In the $50,000 colts and geldings division over six furlongs, he will start Fitzroyal, who gets a rematch with the Ed Dodwell-trained Onlynurimagination.
When the colts last met, Fitzroyal edged Onlynurimagination in a conditioned allowance at Louisiana Downs. Fitzroyal, to be ridden by Gerard Melancon, is coupled with Norman trainee Royal Honey.