The Thoroughbred Daily News is delivered to your home or business by fax each morning by 5 a.m. For subscription information, please call 908-747-8060. T~9I~~UN~~~RE DM FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1997 GULFSTREAM OPENS TODAY Gulfstream Park will open its 1997 season of world-class Thorough­ bred racing today, with the first live race set for 1 p.m. "We are optimistic regarding our forthcoming season," said Gulfstream President and CEO Douglas Donn. "Our focus will be on presenting the highest caliber racing in ECLIPSE AWARD OF MERIT TO ALLEN the most comfortable facilities with the utmost in cus­ PAULSON Allen Paulson, owner of 1995 and possi­ tomer service. Gulfstream is the premier pari-mutuel in bly 1996 Horse of the Year Cigar (Palace Music), has our marketplace from every measurable standpoint-­ been named the 1996 recipient of the Eclipse Award including the lowest takeout. We have substantially of Merit. The horseman's sportsmanship and dedica­ increased our investment in capital improvements, cus­ tomer service and marketing to further improve the tion to Thoroughbred racing were demonstrated by his showcasing and selling of our superior live racing." A decision to race Cigar as a six-year-old, rather than Florida state record stakes purse distribution of retiring him to stud after a 1995 campaign which saw $5,075,000 is slated as part of a record $20 million him go 1O-for-10 with earnings of more than $4.8 total purse jackpot. The stakes schedule is highlighted million. Paulson once again gave racing fans across by the 46th running of the GI $500,000 Florida Derby North America the chance to see his champion com­ March 15, the GI $300,000 Donn H. Feb. 8 and the GI pete as Cigar raced in five different states last year, $500,000 Gulfstream Park H. March 1. Top horses tying Citation's American record of 1 6 consecutive scheduled to race at Gulfstream this season include GI wins along the way, before ending his illustrious career Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Skip Away (Skip Trial), GI at Woodbine in Toronto, Canada. But the highlight of Preakness S. winner Louis Ouatorze (Sovereign Dancer), the 1 996 season came as the gallant bay overcame 1996 Florida Derby winner Unbridled's Song (Unbridled), injury, world travel and a demanding surface to take GI Arlington Million hero Mecke (Maudlin) and MGl­ the inaugural Dubai World Cup. Paulson, who entered winning turf star Diplomatic Jet (Roman Diplomat). racing on a large scale in 1982 and has since owned Boston Harbor (Capote) and Storm Song (Summer six champions, including Cigar, Estrapade, Theatrical Squall), winners of the 1996 Breeders' Cup Juvenile and (Ire), Blushing John, Arazi and Eliza, also proved his Juvenile Fillies respectively, are both expected to kick commitment to the American Thoroughbred breeding off their three-year-old campaigns at the South Florida industry when he turned down an offer of a reported racetrack this winter. For the first time at Gulfstream $30 million that would have sent Cigar to stand at stud Park, fans will be able to wager on full-card simulcast­ in Japan. Paulson, the 74-year-old founder, chairman ing. Patrons can choose from a daily simulcast menu and CEO of Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, was that will include races from Aqueduct, Santa Anita and previously honored with Eclipse Awards as Out:>tand­ other racing centers. Gulfstream's 63-day 1997 meeting ing Owner (1995) and Outstanding Breeder (1993). will run through March 1 6, with Tuesdays dark. BAZE MAKES IT FIVE IN A ROW For the fifth INNOVATIONS SCHEDULED FOR BRITISH straight year in 1 996, Northern California-based jockey RACING BROADCASTS Thursday's Racing Post Russell Baze won more races than any other rider in reports that British television's Channel 4 is looking to North America. The 38-year-old Baze won 415 races enhance its coverage of Thoroughbred racing in 1997, last year, following numbers of 448 in 1995, 415 in expanding its use of aerial cameras as well as introduc­ 1994, 410 in 1993 and 433 in 1992. Baze's 1996 ing mini-cameras in the starting gate and on the fences. winning percentage of 28.3 was also the highest in the The station also hopes to begin using cameras in jock­ nation, earning him his second consecutive Isaac Mur­ eys' helmets in time for the broadcast of the 1 997 phy Award, presented annually to the jockey with the Epsom Derby. Helmet-cam was first used in horse rac­ best win percentage. ing 1992 when jockey Gay Kelleway wore the 1 1 /4- pound camera during her 1 2th-place finish in that year's Arlington Million. Technicians are working to reduce the NEWS CONTINUED 2 size and weight of the equipment in time for Epsom's 1997 classic. "It would be most exciting. The authori- RACING REPORTS .......... " 2,3,4 ties have indicated they would be supportive of cameras fJ'J- PEDIGREE PERSPECTIVES ..... , . 5 in jockeys' helmets as long as they don't pose a hazard to horse or rider," Andrew Franklin, executive producer z TOTAL PAGES ................. 5 of Channel 4 Racing, told the Racing Post. PAGE 2 •THOROUGHBRED DAILY NEWS• 1-3-97 News Continued. TROPICAL AT CALDER MEETING CONCLUDES ROBERT AND BEVERLY LEWIS NAMED Calder Race Course's 50-day Tropical at Calder meet­ SUBSCRIBERS OF THE MONTH Robert and Beverly ing ended Thursday with total on-track attendance of Lewis have been named the Cobra Golf/Thoroughbred 274,481 and total combined handle from all sources Daily News Subscribers of the Month for November of $190,312,283. The attendance was down 9. 7 after retiring their champion filly Serena's Song (Rahy) percent from last year, while the handle was up 4.9 with record earnings for a North American-campaigned percent. Meet end honors went to jockey Eibar Coa filly or mare. The 1995 Champion Three-Year-Old Filly with 81 wins; trainer Manny Tortora with 23 victo­ bankrolled $3,283,388 and amassed 11 Grade I wins in ries; and owner J. Mack Robinson, whose horses won her career, which included a triumph in the 1995 10 races. Haskell Invitational against males. The Lewises will receive a set of Senior King Cobra irons and woods as the winners of the award. Serena's Song is currently at Denali Stud in Paris, Kentucky, and will be bred to Mr. EAST Prospector this spring. Robert Lewis admitted that no • Yesterday's Results: • longer having her at the track has created something of a void for him and his wife. "I have to tell you in all TROPICAL PARK DERBY-Giii, $100,000, CRC, 1-2, 3yo, honesty that we are finding it something of a new expe­ 1 1 /8mT, 1 :46 4/5, fm. rience after having campaigned her for 2 1 /2 years," 1--ARTHUR L., 119, c, 3, Ocala Slew--Willie's Cobra, by said Lewis. "We always had that great exhilaration and Master Willie (GB). ($32,000 2yo 1996 OBSAPR). anticipation of looking forward to her next great race, 0-Cobble View Stable; B-Beelu Enterprises (FL); T-Luis but at the same time we're thrilled to retire her com­ Olivares; J-E M Coa; $60,000. Lifetime Record: pletely sound, never having taken a bit of medication. 8-4-1-0, $159,860. She has been let down and is doing a marvelous job 2--Unite's Big Red, 117, c, 3, Unite--Tropical Royalty, preparing for the breeding season." by Bold Tropic (SAf). 0-Dream Catcher Stables Inc; B-Double J Ranch, Inc (FL); $20,000. TRF APPOINTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The 3--Keep It Strait, 117, g, 3, Country Pine--Chou Chou, Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation has appointed by Premiership. ($20,000 2yo 1996 OBSFEB). Vermont attorney Diana Pikulski as its first-ever Execu­ 0-Delfiner Marvin & Gilman A; B-Wormser Donna M tive Director. Pikulski has been active as a volunteer (FL); $11,000. director of the TRF since 1 987, first as assistant legal Margins: NO, 2, 4HF. Odds: 1.90, 14.60, 23.10. counsel and then as secretary and legal counsel. "From Also Ran: Simm, Affairwithpeaches, Hex, Divine Insight, the outset I have hoped one day to devote my full-time Flying Monarch, Running Ryan, Too Wet to Plow, Just a effort to the Foundation's cause," said Pikulski. "I envi­ Gigolo, Fight for Liberty. sion the Foundation having a national presence a'ffecting Scratched: De Casparis, Mister Rican, Mojave Max, the welfare of all Thoroughbreds before, during and Runaway Renegade. after their racing careers." Monique S. Koehler, founder Arthur L. was sent off the 9-5 second choice here and president of the TRF, said, "Ms. Pikulski assumes after turning in a monster performance in his last start, the directorship as we begin an exciting period of when he won the Giii What a Pleasure S. over Calder's growth. The recent amendment to expand the Founda­ fast main track Dec. 14 by a resounding 17 1 /4-lengths. tion's avenues for horse rescue to include placement of Partnered for the second straight time here by jockey horses in adoptive homes, in equine education programs Eibar Coa, the Florida-bred colt took to the turf for the and in riding programs for the mentally and physically first time in his career and responded by setting the challenged was successfully shepherded through the early pace, dueling for the lead into the stretch and, labyrinth New York State approval procedures. One of while bumping repeatedly with Unite's Big Red during her first goals as executive director will be to ext1end the drive, prevailing in the final jump.