AUBURN, Wash. - Flying Notes, one of the most impressive maiden winners at the current Emerald Downs meeting, will make his long-awaited return in Sunday's $40,000 optional claiming feature for 2-year-olds. The race has attracted a field of seven who will vie over six furlongs for a purse of $15,000.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba - Some of the best horses at Assiniboia Downs will square off Sunday in the $27,500 R.J. Speers Stakes when Gus Again, the top older Manitoba-bred in training, faces Kalfaari and Smoky Cinder. A field of six has been entered in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3- year-olds and upward.
Gus Again finished fourth in the Aug. 6 Wheat City in his first attempt against Kalfaari and Smoky Cinder in what is the only blemish on an otherwise perfect 2001 campaign.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Keyron, fresh off a good second in the Richmond Derby Trial Stakes on Sept. 2, could be a tepid favorite in a $50,000 optional race for 3-year-olds at Hastings Park on Sunday. But the 1 1/16-mile race is wide open and a case can be made for just about any of the seven horses entered.
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Hobar, who has been working brilliantly for a comeback, will get a chance to show what he's capable of when he faces six foes in the $34,000 allowance feature at six furlongs at Bay Meadows Sunday.
Four of the seven entrants in this field have been away from the races for at least seven months, and three of those returnees - Hobar, Retro Fever, and Sempai - are top contenders.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Gulfstream Park will open its barn area Oct. 22, two weeks earlier than usual, track president and general manager Scott Savin announced Friday.
The 2002 Gulfstream meet runs from Jan. 3 through April 24.
Savin said the decision was made to help horsemen who are forced to vacate their stalls at other tracks. This will allow them to come directly to Gulfstream instead of seeking temporary accommodations elsewhere.
Racing was cancelled Friday at Finger Lakes Race Track when replacements could not be found for a group of jockeys who refused to ride in deference to the recent hijakced airliner attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C.
"Some of the jockeys didn't want to ride, they are upset at the situation (in New York and Washington, D.C.). They asked not to ride and there were not enough riders to complete the program," said Chris Riegle, President and GM of Finger Lakes.
Finger Lakes raced last on Monday, cancelling programs on Tuesday and Thursday.
With the Meadowlands sports complex closed for horse racing and pro football this weekend, the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority facilities will serve as drop-off points for the collection of items for rescue workers to help people
affected by the disaster at the World Trade Center.
Collections on will take place at the Giants Stadium Practice Bubble on Saturday from 12 noon to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 12 noon to 5 p.m.
Monmouth Park will accept donations from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at the Grandstand Admissions Center.
ELMONT, N.Y. - Plans to resume racing Saturday at Belmont Park and The Meadowlands were canceled abruptly Friday with officials from both tracks pointing to the continuing efforts to recover from Tuesday's terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
Weekend racing at Belmont Park has been canceled, wiping out Saturday and Sunday programs that featured five stakes, three of them Grade I events.
The New York Racing Association had originally planned to re-open Belmont Park on Saturday after canceling programs on Wednesday through Friday due to the hijacked airline attacks on the World Trade Center in Manhattan.
Racing is expected to resume at Belmont on Wednesday.
The Meadowlands Racetrack will be closed for both live and simulcast racing this weekend, it was announced Friday afternoon.
The Meadowlands will resume simulcasting on Monday and live racing on Tuesday night.
The East Rutherford, N.J. track has been closed since Tuesday's attacks on the World Trade Center in nearby Manhattan. It was previously announced The Meadowlands would re-open Saturday night.