LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Security at Churchill Downs for the 128th Kentucky Oaks and Derby on May 3 and 4 will be tighter than for any previous runnings, because of measures that have been adopted across the United States since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
In a media conference at the track, Churchill officials unveiled sweeping changes in the procedures that will be implemented, including:
* Magnetic wand searches of all people entering the grandstand, clubhouse, and infield.
NEW ORLEANS - A decade of growth ended this season at Fair Grounds, where business was down from a year ago in an 89-day meet that concluded Monday. The decline followed nationwide industry trends, but also revealed problems specific to Fair Grounds, in particular increased competition from Delta Downs.
A female exercise rider working a horse at Pimlico Race Course on Tuesday morning was killed in an accident on the racetrack, Pimlico officials said Tuesday. The accident occurred approximately 4 1/2 furlongs from the finish line on the Pimlico training track, according to Mike Gathagan, Pimlico's director of broadcasting and communications.
Gathagan and other Pimlico officials would not provide any additional details about the fatality on Tuesday, including the rider's name, citing a pending report about the accident. Pimlico is not currently open for racing.
Beulah Park canceled its racing program Tuesday afternoon because of unsafe track conditions caused by freezing overnight rain in the central Ohio area that left trees and power lines in the area coated with a thick sheet of ice. Beulah has been forced to cancel two of its last seven scheduled racing days because of bad weather.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - At 9 years old, horses are supposed to start losing a few steps, or more, not get better with age. But the amazing Sir Bear is as good as ever, and his trainer, Ralph Ziadie, did not hesitate when asked which of his star's 64 races and 19 victories was his best.
"The last one," Ziadie said. "He's run a bunch of great races. His win in the Met Mile was outstanding. But that last race was unbelievable. It was just the way he kicked in through the stretch. At the eighth pole I still didn't think he would make it. But he got there."
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Beau's Town is training so sharply that he will go in the $50,000 Hot Springs Stakes Friday instead of waiting for the Grade 3, $150,000 Count Fleet Handicap here April 11.
"I really wanted to run in the Count Fleet, but it seems like the best move for the horse right now is the Hot Springs," said Dave Hulkewicz, owner of Beau's Town, who has won four straight. "He's doing so good and he's feeling so good, I hate to wait a couple more weeks to run him. He wants to do more right now."
JAMAICA, N.Y. - Xtra Heat, third as the favorite in the $2 million Golden Shaheen in Dubai on Saturday, will spend three days in quarantine at Belmont Park later this week before heading home to Maryland for some rest and relaxation.
Xtra Heat, last year's champion 3-year-old filly, is scheduled to leave Dubai on Thursday for an 18-hour flight to New York. After the filly clears quarantine at Belmont, where her blood will be drawn to determine whether she has any infectious diseases, Xtra Heat will be vanned to Maryland on Monday.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - With Anticipation was a two-time Grade 1 winner and an Eclipse Award finalist in 2001. But he could find himself at the mercy of allowance competition when launching his 2002 campaign at five furlongs on the turf in Wednesday's $46,000 feature at Gulfstream Park.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The $450,000 that Gary Tanaka paid for Golden Apples last summer has turned out to be a bargain.
On Saturday, won her third stakes in this country, the Grade 2 Santa Ana Handicap at Santa Anita to stake a claim as the leading turf female in California.
Considering the concentration of major stakes for turf females on the West Coast throughout the year, that distinction carries national implications.
In the Santa Ana, Golden Apples was a convincing winner against a field that included four other Grade 1 winners.
