ELMONT, N.Y. - Barclay Tagg was as happy as a trainer could be after his newest acquisition, Macaw, finished fourth in last month's Grade 2 Jamaica Handicap at Belmont Park.
After all, the 3-year-old Irish-bred colt had been in Tagg's barn for all of two weeks, and the previous trainer had hardly trained him at all following the completion of the sale in late August. Still, Macaw was beaten all of 3 1/2 lengths in the Jamaica by Finality.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Most of the top 3-year-old turf fillies in North America have arrived at Keeneland in recent days to run Saturday in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.
Little Treasure, winner of the Pucker Up Stakes last month at Arlington for trainer Laura de Seroux, was flown here Wednesday and was one of several QE II horses to arrive by van or charter plane in midweek. Other notable arrivals include Wonder Again, Riskaverse, and Zenda.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Sightseek justified her overwhelming favoritism Wednesday at Keeneland, overcoming a stop-and-start trip when she easily defeated 11 other 3-year-old fillies in the $171,900 Raven Run Stakes.
With Jerry Bailey riding for trainer Bobby Frankel, Sightseek returned $3.80 after completing seven furlongs in 1:23.98 over a fast track. Miss Lodi, the 5-1 second choice, finished 3 1/4 lengths behind in second while Respectful, a 21-1 shot, was just a head farther back in third.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Gilbert and Sullivan once described a policeman's lot as not a happy one. There's no telling how they would describe being the racing secretary at Bay Meadows.
Friday's evening card provided the usual weekly headache for racing secretary Greg Brent and his hard-working staff.
They were forced to settle for a pair of five-horse fields on the eight-race card.
The news wasn't better for Saturday's $60,000-added Charles H. Russell Handicap, which attracted only seven nominees and looked as if it would be tough to fill.
Trainer C.W. "Bubba" Cascio and breeder Charles Graham, who met as teenagers more than 50 years ago, will be inducted into the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame together Saturday night at Retama Park.
The sold-out ceremony begins at 4 p.m., and will be followed by a full card of stakes worth a total of $500,000. Also being inducted are longtime trainer Tommy Oliphant, top Arabian breeder Joe Cassel, and stallions Staunch Avenger and Easy Jet.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Gavro, who is here for Saturday's Cup and Saucer Stakes, is a New York invader with strong local connections.
Gavro is owned by Steve Stavro's Knob Hill Stable, which is a fixture in Ontario. But Gavro, a homebred colt by El Prado out of Bunbeg, has been based in New York with Nick Zito.
Gavro has raced just once, finishing second in a maiden special over 1 1/16 miles of turf at Saratoga Aug. 31. That effort stamps him as a contender in the wide-open Cup and Saucer, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for Canadian-bred 2-year-olds.
NORTH RANDALL, Ohio - Thistledown will host the 16th renewal of the Best of Ohio racing series Monday. The Best of Ohio is five stakes with a total purse distribution of $375,000. The series has traditionally produced the Ohio-bred horse of the year, but this year that category has all but been conceded to Harlan's Holiday, who is schedule to make his next start in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
There will be pick five wagering on the races. The pick five should draw a good-sized pool because California outlets are taking the races.
ANDERSON, Ind. - Tommy Pompell opened up last Saturday's 11-race Indiana Derby card with his own kind of show, winning four of the first six races on the card.
Pompell became the second rider at the meet to record four wins on a card, joining Lester Knight, who did it on Aug. 31.
Pompell scored aboard Lady Bates ($10.60) in the second; Take Account ($4) in the third; Little Lighty ($52.40) in the fourth; and Joanies No Phony ($42.20) in the sixth race. Pompell is fifth in the local rider standings with 22 wins from 197 mounts.
MUSKEGON, Mich. - Year-end championships in Michigan racing were all but finalized last weekend when the Michigan Sires Stakes were run.
Secret Romeo, the best Michigan-bred in training, finally won a Sire Stakes after having been denied the past two years. Secret Romeo looks to have a lock on the older male division as well as the state horse of the year title. Gerry Bennett, trainer of Secret Romeo, also saddled both juvenile winners, Monetary Star and Sailing Sal.
This Saturday is the biggest weekend of racing on Charles Town's calendar. The West Virginia track plays host to the 16th West Virginia Breeders' Classic, a series of races highlighted by the $250,000 Classic at 1 1/8 miles.
To whet the appetites of fans, Charles Town will serve a trio of $50,000 stakes at widely diverse distances on Friday night's card.