MUSKEGON, Mich. - Terry Houghton, the second-leading rider in the nation by wins, remained hospitalized Wednesday after a spill in the seventh race at Great Lakes Downs on Sunday evening. The 31-year-old jockey was thrown forward a considerable distance when his mount clipped heels, then was struck in the head by a trailing horse. Tests revealed no broken bones, but he has a severe concussion, according to his father, Ronnie Houghton.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Jonathan Sheppard will be favored to win Saratoga's premier jump race, the New York Turf Writers Cup Steeplechase Handicap, for the 12th time on Thursday when he sends out defending champion It's a Giggle. It's a Giggle is the 160-pound highweight in the Turf Writers, at 2 3/8 miles over National fences.

DEL MAR, Calif. - They have come from Argentina, and Brazil, and Chile. Now trainer Richard Mandella is working his way down the alphabet in acquiring horses from South American nations. On Thursday at Del Mar, he will send out La Tizona, who was bred in Kentucky but has done all of her racing in Peru, which, despite being the native country of trainer Julio Canani, is better known for the Andes than its horses.

AUBURN, Wash. - Victor Slew will be the one to beat when he takes on six other 3-year-olds in Thursday's feature at Emerald Downs, a $16,000 claiming race at six furlongs.

They get very little fanfare the rest of year, but on Saturday claimers have their day in the sun in the fourth annual Claiming Crown at Philadelphia Park.

The Claiming Crown is a series of six races, worth a total of $550,000.

The race conditions are similar to those of a starter allowance. To be eligible, horses must have run at a specified level or below within the year prior to the event. Performance points earned in races determine which horses are selected to participate in the Claiming Crown.

CHICAGO - At 9 he seemed ageless, but at 10 Bet on Sunshine has begun looking like a horse on the downside of a wonderful career. Trainer Paul McGee says it's not time yet, but if Bet on Sunshine is to stave off retirement he will have to start winning races like the one he's entered in Thursday at Arlington.

DEL MAR, Calif. - They have come from Argentina, and Brazil, and Chile. Now trainer Richard Mandella is working his way down the alphabet in acquiring horses from South American nations. On Thursday at Del Mar, he will send out La Tizona, who was bred in Kentucky but has done all of her racing in Peru, which, despite being the native country of trainer Julio Canani, is better known for the Andes than its horses.

Lady of the Future does her best running when she has plenty of rest between races. Making her first start in six weeks, Lady of the Future ($20.60) drew off to a 1 3/4-length victory in Tuesday's $60,300 Quill Stakes at Delaware Park.

A 4-year-old filly trained by Tom "Tuck" Greene, Lady of the Future is now 3 for 4 over Delaware's turf course. She had been freshened since finishing fourth in the Grade 3 All Along Breeders' Cup at Colonial Downs in mid-July.

SARATOGA, N.Y. - Despite the imposing presence of Zavata, the field for Saturday's $200,000 Hopeful Stakes grew by two after trainers Chuck Simon and Stan Hough confirmed that Rights Reserved and Pretty Wild would run in the seven-furlong, Grade 1 sprint for 2-year-olds.

Simon gave the thumbs up after Rights Reserved worked four furlongs in 50 seconds shortly after the renovation break Tuesday morning at Saratoga.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Trainer Mel Stute wanted to see Buffythecenterfold work well on Tuesday at Del Mar, but he was just as concerned about her condition immediately after the drill. So when jockey Matt Garcia brought the filly back to the barn, Stute asked, with hope in his voice, "No coughing?"

"No," Garcia replied.

And with that, Stute continued to hold out hope that Buffythecenterfold would make Saturday's $250,000 Del Mar Debutante, in which she would be one of the top choices.