Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Altoona, Iowa, concluded its 2001 racing season Saturday, but several business issues that will impact the track's future remain unresolved
Prairie Meadows's handle declined this year, but perhaps of greater importance is that the casino's 1,500 slot machines fell short of revenue projections, due in part to a weakened economy and competition from two other local casinos, track officials said.
GROVE CITY, Ohio - Favorite Majestic Dinner survived a stretch- long duel with Fax a Freddy and held sway for a neck victory in Monday's $100,000 Best of Ohio Endurance Championship, the richest of five races for Ohio-breds that make up the Best of Ohio series.
The influence five-time Eclipse Award winner John Franks has had on racing in Louisiana will be evident Saturday and Sunday during the fourth annual Breeders' Festival at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La. A number of horses competing in the two-day program of eight statebred stakes will be owned or bred by Franks, or will be the offspring of stallions he stands in Louisiana.
MIAMI - That a full gate of 14 colts and geldings is expected to contest Saturday's $400,000 In Reality Stakes is testimony that nobody is ducking the undefeated Carey's Gold or northern invader Booklet. The In Reality is the final leg of the open division of the Florida Stallion Series.
One of those 14 In Reality hopefuls is Mountain Forum, a late-runner who earned his berth in the race with a third-place finish in the Foolish Pleasure Stakes here on Sept. 22.
ARCADIA, Calif. - The career of one of the most popular and courageous horses to race in California in recent years came to an end Tuesday when trainer Bill Morey Jr. said that Dixie Dot Com had been retired after again fracturing his left front cannon bone.
Dixie Dot Com had finished fifth of six in Sunday's Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting, prompting Morey to have Dixie Dot Com examined.
Delta Downs in Vinton, La., will not pay out the record $125,000 a day in purses it had planned, because of uncertainty about when the track will receive a gaming license to operate slots from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board.
Delta Downs officials had hoped to get approval for slots from the board at its Oct. 16 meeting. But the matter will not be on the agenda because the board has not received the results of a background investigation on the track from the Louisiana State Police.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Bella Bellucci earned a spot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on Monday by rallying from last to run down front-running Forest Heiress and take the Grade 2 $103,400 Astarita Stakes by one-half length at blustery Belmont Park.
Forest Heiress, who had won all three of her previous starts, finished six lengths ahead of Speed to Burn. Argentina finished last. Ghost Wrestling was scratched.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Changeintheweather overhauled 53-1 shot Eye for an Eye in the stretch en route to a four-length win over 12 other 2-year-olds in the Grade 1, $273,750 Grey Breeders' Cup Stakes at Woodbine.
Changeintheweather, a Kentucky-bred Gone West colt, earned $174,600 for Pin Oak Stable, and has now won two of three starts for trainer David Bell.
Changeintheweather ($5.90) raced four lengths off the early lead in the 1 1/16-mile race under Mickey Walls, while Eye for an Eye helped carve out the fractions.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - For the third time in two months, Spanish Glitter shipped in from Kentucky to take the money in an overnight sprint stakes at Arlington Park. Under a perfect trip from leading rider Rene Douglas, Spanish Glitter kicked past pacesetter Emily Ring to win the $54,500 Silver Maiden Stakes by three lengths.
Spanish Glitter is based at Churchill Downs with trainer Bernie Flint, who has continually found spots for the 3-year-old filly in Chicago this summer.