In a year in which most things appeared to go wrong for Maryland racetracks, handle actually went up.
Overall, all-sources handle on races at Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park in 2001 increased 7 percent over 2000, from $367.7 million to $391.4 million, according to the Maryland Jockey Club, which owns Pimlico and Laurel.
Average field size increased nearly 10 percent over 2000, from 7.9 horses per race to 8.6 in 2001. A larger average field size is believed to translate into higher handle.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The victory by 18-1 shot Snow Ridge in Tuesday's El Conejo Handicap buoyed the confidence of his trainer, D. Wayne Lukas, who believes Snow Ridge could be one of the best sprinters in the country, if he could just be more consistent.
"He's a damn nice horse," Lukas said Wednesday morning at his Santa Anita barn. "He's run a few spotty races where he didn't like the racetrack. But yesterday, he took it to the big horse and took off."
HALLANDALE BEACH, FLA. - Arthur Appleton won the Grade 2 Appleton Handicap - named for him - in 1991 with Jolie's Halo. On Saturday, Appleton, a nationally renowned owner-breeder, stands a good chance of duplicating that feat when he runs Galic Boy and perhaps Broadway Snowman in this year's edition of the race.
"It sure would be nice to win the race for Mr. Appleton," said Mickey Goldfine, who trains Galic Boy and has five other Arthur Appleton runners stabled at Gulfstream Park.
A tight race for leading trainer between six-time champion Harry Thompson and Jose Martinez wasn't decided until the next-to-last race of the year at Penn National Race Course.
Thompson, the track's top trainer from 1995-1997 and 1999-2001, had a chance to finish in a tie with Martinez when he sent out Diablo Deeds in Sunday's eighth race. But Thompson's 3-year-old filly finished fifth as the 6-5 favorite, enabling Martinez to clinch his first track training title with 146 victories. Thompson had to settle for second with 145. Bruce Kravets was third with 136 wins.
Kris Prather celebrated the New Year by winning the first race Tuesday, her first victory since she was sidelined because of shoulder surgery in August.
Prather, who dominated the holiday and winter-spring meets last winter at Turfway in Florence, Ky., rode Raymur City to a 3 1/2-length victory in the first race Tuesday.
In all, Prather had 12 mounts Monday and Tuesday; Raymur City was her only winner.
"All the trainers have been great to me since I came back," Prather said. "I'm just really glad to be back to doing what I love."
NEW ORLEANS - Last year, trainer Josie Carroll won the Lecomte Stakes, Fair Grounds's first route stakes of the year for 3-year-olds, with Sam Lord's Castle. This season, Carroll may have two chances for a repeat in the race. Both Mapp Hill and Lead by Example, the Carroll-trained one-two finishers in Monday's Sugar Bowl Stakes, could run next in the Lecomte, a one-mile race Jan. 26.
ALBANY, Calif. - Trainer Steve Specht won his New Year's Day gamble at Golden Gate Fields when I'madrifter won the $100,000 Lafayette Handicap.
The one-mile race was originally scheduled to be run on the turf course, but Specht entered the 4-year-old colt in hopes the race would be shifted to the main track because of heavy rains that have inundated Northern California the past week. The race was shifted to a sloppy main track, and I'madrifter ($6.20) was the favorite.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Snow Ridge leaped out of the gate on top, outdueled the fleet Freespool through torrid fractions, then pulled clear for an 18-1 upset victory in Tuesday's Grade 3, $109,500 El Conejo Handicap* (click here for chart) at Santa Anita.
Snow Ridge finished 3 1/2 lengths in front of Explicit, then had to survive a foul claim lodged by Explicit's jockey, Kent Desormeaux. He alleged interference shortly after the start, but the stewards quickly dismissed the claim and made the race official.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Gulfstream Park ushers in the era of deregulation in south Florida on Thursday when its 90-day meet opens. The meet, which ends April 24, is the longest in track history, running six weeks longer than the previous 10 meets, which ended on March 16.
As usual, the opening-day feature is the $100,000 Spectacular Bid Stakes, the first of five stakes for 3-year-olds leading up to the $1 million Florida Derby on March 16.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - As they watched Monarchos* (click here for PP's) gobble up the Gulfstream Park stretch with each stride at the end of a five-furlong workout Sunday morning, owner John Oxley and trainer John Ward couldn't help but think back to a year ago this time.
"He was just a baby this time last year," Oxley said, noting that Monarchos had not even won his maiden race yet.
"He's so much smoother than he was," said Ward, who clocked Monarchos for a five-furlong move in 1:01.60 and caught him gallop out a mile in 1:43.20.
