COLLINSVILLE, Ill. - The Fairmount Park chapter of the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association held a chicken and beer dance Monday night as a benefit for former jockey Mike Dill, 40, who has been stricken with dystonia, a degenerative disease that attacks the nervous and muscular systems in a way similar to Lou Gehrig's disease.

Dystonia is the ultimate result of trauma and doctors believe an automobile accident in August 1999 involving a drunken driver is the root of Dill's condition, which is steadily deteriorating.

LAFAYETTE, La. - With three weeks remaining in the Evangeline Downs season, the heated battle for the top spot in the rider standings seems set to go down to the wire.

C.J. Woodley had another solid four days last week, including a win aboard the talented Prized Amberpro in Saturday night's Matron Handicap. Woodley now holds a four-win advantage over Steve Bourque, 81-77. Jamie Theriot continues to enjoy an outside chance at the title and is third with 71.

COLUMBUS, Neb. - Jerry Carkeek, injured in a three-horse spill at the Columbus Races last Saturday evening, will be out of action for at least four weeks.

Carkeek, who was released from an Omaha hospital Monday, suffered a fractured cheekbone, received stitches to his upper lip, and suffered a head injury that had doctors concerned over the weekend. Carkeek said Wednesday he's feeling fine now but is not to put himself into any dangerous situations until he has time to fully recuperate from the spill.

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Jockey Seth Martinez, who won 10 races last week that put him atop the Canterbury Park rider standings, was involved in a controversial stewards' decision following the running of last Friday night's fourth race.

Martinez drove Mythique to the wire to prevail by a neck but found out soon after completing the race that his ride was the focus of a stewards' inquiry.

Trainer Donnie Von Hemel was working on arrangements Wednesday morning to ship $100,000 Round Table winner Cowboy Stuff to Remington Park for the Grade 3, $250,000 Oklahoma Derby on Aug. 25.

The colt, who had also been under consideration for the $65,000 Iowa Breeders' Derby at Prairie Meadows on Aug. 31, is based at Arlington Park near Chicago.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Mickey Walls, plagued by health problems related to his constant need to reduce his weight, has taken a leave of absence of indeterminate length from race riding.

The 28-year-old Walls had a particularly difficult struggle with his weight this year after an ankle injury prior to the start of the season compromised his conditioning regimen.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Trainer Terry Jordan, who will send out probable second-choice Danzilation in Sunday's Hastings Park Speed Handicap, has consistently been one of the top percentage trainers at Hastings Park. This year is no exception: He has won with 16 of the 34 horses he has started - an impressive 47 percent win average.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Special Dolly will be the one to beat in Friday's featured sixth race at Assiniboia Downs, a conditioned allowance for fillies and mares at seven furlongs.

Trained by Darla Singh, Special Dolly finished second by a nose at the same level two starts ago and won her last race when she was in for an $8,000 claiming price. She has drawn the rail here, and Rohan Singh will ride.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - With a quick final workout Wednesday for the Grade 2 Iselin Handicap at Monmouth this Sunday, Include has seemed to shake off any rust left over from an 11-week layoff heading into a campaign that will lead to the Breeders' Cup Classic on Oct. 26.

Grade 1 winner Include, the probable favorite in the $350,000 Iselin, drilled four furlongs in a rapid 46.60 seconds at Laurel Park, the best of 21 at the distance. Trainer Bud Delp said he was pleased with Include's workout.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The bad news coming from Todd Pletcher's barn was not confined to Left Bank's colic surgery.

The Pletcher-trained Freedom's Daughter, who won the Grade 2 Schuylerville Stakes here on opening day, died suddenly Monday morning due to what is believed to be colitis X, a disease that renders a horse's lower intestinal tract dysfunctional and makes it susceptible to bacteria. An autopsy was to be performed to further narrow down the cause of death.