The New Jersey legislature passed a bill late Thursday that would authorize off-track betting and telephone wagering in the state after several failed attempts over the past three years.
The legislation, which Gov. Donald DiFrancesco will almost certainly sign, officials said Friday, will put New Jersey on an even competitive keel with neighboring states like Pennsylvania and New York, which have long accepted wagers at off-track outlets and through lucrative telephone systems.
ELMONT, N.Y - Two Item Limit's first foray into the deep waters of the 3-year-old filly division did not work out well. In two Grade 1 events in Southern California, Two Item Limit was no match for Golden Ballet, who even in retirement is regarded as this division's leader.
BOSSIER CITY, La. - Take one long, last look.
The Louisiana Downs that opens Saturday is a racetrack that soon will be part of the past.
The future Louisiana Downs, replete with the jingling of slot machines, is one that promises to revitalize horse racing to an extent unseen in this region of the U.S. When the second of two meets ends Nov. 11, major construction will begin on a casino area that will house nearly 1,800 machines, from which revenues are expected to allow purses to skyrocket in coming seasons.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Eight 2-year-olds will line up in Saturday's Clarendon Stakes at Woodbine, but trainer Mark Casse will provide much of the fireworks on the card when he runs Exciting Story in the fourth race and Prime Timber in the fifth.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Indygo Shiner, who leapt forward in his turf debut to win Churchill's Grade 3 Jefferson Cup, ships in to meet a formidable hometown team led by Rahy's Secret and Fan Club's Mister in the $200,000 Grade 2 Arlington Classic Saturday at Arlington.
For 3-year-olds, the nine-furlong Classic launches the Mid-America Triple, a three-race turf series linked by tradition but not monetary incentive. The series continues July 22 with the American Derby and concludes with the $500,000 Grade 1 Secretariat on Aug. 18.
OCEANPORT, N.J. - The Saturday headliner at Monmouth Park is the Grade 2, $300,000 Molly Pitcher, with License Fee looking like a standout. But, in terms of competition, the $75,000 Skip Away Stakes might steal the show, thanks to the presence of top older horse Broken Vow.
For several years, the Molly Pitcher has played host to champions in the older female division. License Fee, a 6-year-old mare, will be seeking her fourth straight victory in a graded stakes, but she has yet to show that she belongs at the top of her division.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Lazy Slusan has done everything this year to erase the stigma of being an ex-claimer.
Bought out of a turf race last July at Del Mar for $62,500, Lazy Slusan is having a stellar campaign this year, having won 4 of 6 starts and $562,980. Her achievements place her among the nation's top older fillies and mares approaching Saturday's $250,000 Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park, a race won last year by Riboletta, the division champion.
PLEASANTON, Calif. - Roaring Red, a multiple stakes-placed sprinter, looks well-placed to score his initial stakes victory when he meets five other older runners in the $50,000 Sam J. Whiting Memorial Handicap at six furlongs at the Alameda County Fair on Saturday.
Roaring Red, from the Bill Morey stable, has been freshened a bit since finishing fourth in a pair of stakes at Golden Gate Fields and should be tough if he is set for one of his top efforts. His work pattern looks fine and he has raced well fresh before.
MIAMI - Put a full gate load of relatively inexperienced 2-year-olds together and just about anything can happen, as might be the case when a dozen juvenile fillies go 5 1/2 furlongs in Saturday's $100,000 J j'sdream Stakes at Calder.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Robby Albarado, second only to Pat Day at the current Churchill Downs spring meet, will ride primarily at Arlington Park this summer, his agent, Lenny Pike Jr., said Thursday.
Albarado, the leading rider at Arlington in 1996, rode at Saratoga in 1998-99 and at Del Mar last summer. Pike said Albarado would take about a week off after the Churchill meet ends July 8 and begin accepting mounts on a regular basis at Arlington on July 21.
