LEXINGTON, Ky. - Seldom are there singular defining moments. The evolution of the most respected horse in any given division in any given region tends to happen over time, in the busy context of day-to-day racing, when no one can stop to think and say, "That's it!"

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Since neither Hastings Park nor Emerald Downs have a turf course, many horses never get to run on grass and could be missing a chance to live up to their full potential.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Woodbine will run 166 days of live racing next year, the same number scheduled for this year.

The Ontario Racing Commission on Friday approved the dates, requested by the Woodbine Entertainment Group, which operates Woodbine. The requested dates had been contested by the local Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association.

The Woodbine meeting will run from March 29 through Nov. 30.

The HBPA had sought an additional 13 days of racing, arguing that ample purse money is available and that horsemen would prefer to begin racing earlier in March.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Sunday's $125,000 Hudson Handicap at Belmont Park seems a rather unlikely place for history to be made, but this race could very well be the spot where Say Florida Sandy becomes the all-time leading New York-bred in money won.

Say Florida Sandy will be the heavy favorite in the Hudson, one of seven stakes for statebreds run during the New York Showcase Fall Festival, on Saturday and Sunday.

Jockey Javier Santiago didn't begin riding regularly at Delaware Park until late June, almost two months into the meet. Santiago, a native of Puerto Rico, has more than made up for lost time while establishing himself as one of the top young riders at the track.

Santiago, who celebrated his 24th birthday on Thursday, has thrived in his new surroundings. Through Wednesday's racing, he ranks 14th in the Delaware jockey standings with 28 winners. Overall, he has finished in the money with 79 of his 158 mounts - exactly 50 percent.

ELMONT, N.Y. - Three-year-olds have showed little respect for their elders in the $250,000 Empire Classic, taking four of the last five runnings of the richest race restricted to New York-bred colts and geldings.

Trainer James Bond hopes that trend continues Sunday as the New York Showcase Fall Festival concludes its two-day run at Belmont Park. The Empire Classic is one of four stakes on a 10-race card, which begins at 1 p.m.

Bond, a two-time winner of the Empire Classic, will send out Personal Pro from post 7 in the nine-furlong race, which drew a 10-horse field.

Mr Ross is the boss of the current crop of Oklahoma-breds, and his dominance should be on display Sunday when he goes after his third consecutive win in the Classic Stakes at Remington Park. The $90,000 race is the richest of seven statebred stakes that will make up the ninth annual Oklahoma Classics Day. Together, the restricted races are worth $365,000.

Mr Ross, who with $853,516 in earnings ranks as the third richest accredited Oklahoma-bred in history behind millionaires Slew O Damascus and Clever Trevor, seems to tower over his five rivals in the

ANDERSON, Ind. - Three-year-old Red's Honor takes on older horses in a field of 12 Indiana-bred colts and geldings in Sunday's $40,000-added Brickyard Stakes at six furlongs.

Trained by Dale Romans for the McKee Stables, Red's Honor won the Ft. Wayne Stakes by six lengths here Oct. 6 against his own age group. A son of Glitterman, Red's Honor has beaten older horses before. He defeated older allowance horses at Churchill Downs in May for his third consecutive win.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Since Minor Wisdom just won a $200,000 stakes race a few weeks ago, you would figure he would stand out in Saturday's $50,000 Bowl Game Stakes at Arlington. Not so.

The local older turf division has been strong all summer, and a good field of 11 was entered in the Bowl Game, which is run at about 1 1/16 miles on grass.

SAN MATEO, Calif ? Justnowayofknowin', a game winner in a first-level allowance test here last out, steps up on Sunday to face a tough band of allowance performers. The one-mile feature offers a purse of $34,000 and drew a field of 10.

Justnowayofknowin', trained by Chuck Peery, rallied from just off the pace here on Oct. 8 in a one-mile race to score a one-length victory. It was his first win of the year after he finished second four times in his prior five starts. That race was his first this season at a mile and he appears in top form.