Horse racing betting

NTRA Thoroughbred Facts & Figures.
Two groups of workers who risked harm to aid horses in two barn fires are among the nominees to Race Track Chaplaincy of America’s 2008 White Horse Award presented by Taylor Made.

The award is given annually to racing-related persons determined to have performed the most heroic act on behalf of human or horse. This year’s winner will be announced at the sixth White Horse Heroes Luncheon set for October 23 at Santa Anita Park’s Sirona’s Restaurant from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Three of the White Horse nominees fought a barn fire at 3:00 a.m. at Charles Town Races and Slots. The fire started when a stall fan ignited, killing one horse. However the trio’s quick thinking and bravery likely prevented the entire 64-stall barn from burning.

Another four nominees were at a training barn near Vinton, La., that had caught fire in late July, The fire, which started in an office, claimed the lives of 21 racehorses. However, the four workers crawled beneath the smoke and into flaming stalls to rescue 19 other horses.

Other nominees include a pair of track workers who prevented a fire and then helped extract seven persons from a van hit by a tractor trailer near Pittsburgh; and a jockey who took extraordinary measures to alert fellow riders that the starting gate had remained on the track during a race last winter at Oaklawn Park.

The winner receives a $5,000 first prize and a limited edition White Horse Statue. Each group of runners-up earns $1,000. All nominees and their spouses earn trips to the Breeders’ Cup races.

RACING ON THE AIR

October 22 Breeders’ Cup Selection Show; 5:30-6 p.m.

RACING TO HISTORY

Oct. 11, 1924-A crowd of 60,000 assembled at Latonia to watch the third and final International race, for which a French colt, Epinard, was the headliner. Epinard, who had finished second in his two previous Internationals, did so again, losing as the even-money favorite to Sarazen.

Oct. 12, 1920-In the final race of his career, three-year-old Man o’ War defeated 1919 Triple Crown winner Sir Barton in a match race, the Kenilworth Park Gold Cup, at Kenilworth Park. Sent off at odds of 1-20, Man o’ War won by seven lengths in his 14th consecutive victory.

Oct. 12, 1966-Damascus, owned by Edith W. Bancroft, broke his maiden at Aqueduct Racetrack, winning by eight lengths.

Oct. 12, 2003-Bill Shoemaker, Hall of Fame jockey who won 8,833 races including four Kentucky Derbys, died at age 72.

Oct. 13, 1927-Arlington Park opened. The track, built by H. D. Brown, had a steeplechase course and a polo field and was adjacent to tennis courts, a golf course and a one-mile training track.

Oct. 13, 1956-At age four, 1955 Horse of the Year Nashua won his last race, the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes at Belmont Park.

Oct. 13, 1984-At age nine, odds-on favorite John Henry won his last race, the Ballantine’s Scotch Classic at The Meadowlands, to earn the richest purse of his career, $740,000, which included a $500,000 bonus for winning both the Turf Classic, run at Belmont Park on Sept. 22, and the Meadowlands’ race. John Henry retired as America’s then-richest horse with earnings of $6,597,947.

Oct. 14, 1952-Jockey Bill Hartack rode his first career winner, at Waterford Park.

Oct. 14, 1953-After a 21-year hiatus as a professional jockey, Earl Sande, 54, won his first race in a comeback, with Miss Weesie, at Jamaica. Sande’s comeback began on Oct. 5 and ended with his win at Jamaica, where he received an ovation from a crowd of 18,184.

Oct. 14, 1968-Sandy Hawley won his first race aboard a two-year-old gelding named Fly Alone, riding at Woodbine Racecourse.

Oct. 14, 1972-After finishing first in the Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park, Secretariat was disqualified and placed second, after bearing in on Stop the Music, who was declared the official winner.

Oct. 15, 1977-In the fifth of their 10 meetings, Alydar won his second victory over Affirmed in the Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park.

Oct. 17, 1970-Nijinsky II ended his career finishing second in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket. In 13 races he won 11 times and finished second twice.

Oct. 17, 1986-Kent Desormeaux made his Maryland debut, in the fourth race, at Laurel Racecourse, Laurel, Md., aboard Shonda’s Shickels. He finished second, but was disqualified for interference and placed fourth.

Oct. 17, 1991-Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero Jr. rode his 7,000th victory aboard Dont Cross the Law 1/8sic 3/8 at Belmont Park.

STAKES RACES

(Unrestricted stakes in N.A. worth $100,000 and up)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10

Cliff Hanger Stakes, 3&up, $150,000, Grade III, 1 1-16M (T), Meadowlands

Buffalo Trace Franklin County Stakes, 3&up (f&m), $100,000, 5 1-2F (T), Keeneland

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11

Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes, 3yo fillies, $500,000, Grade I, 1 1-8M (T), Keeneland

Hawthorne Derby, 3yo, $250,000, Grade III, 1 1-8M (T), Keeneland

Perryville Stakes (presented by Budweiser Select), 3yo, $200,000, Grade III, 7F, Keeneland

Durham Cup Stakes, 3&up, $150,000, Grade III, 1 1-8M, Woodbine

Ballerina Breeders’ Cup Stakes, 3&up (f&m), $125,000, Grade III, 1 1-8M, Hastings Park

Athenia Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $100,000, Grade III, 1 1-16M (T), Belmont Park

Harold C. Ramser Sr. Handicap, 3yo fillies, $100,000, Grade III, 1M (T), Oak Tree at Santa Anita

Wild and Wonderful Stakes, 3&up, $100,000, 7F, Charles Town

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12

Bryan Station Stakes, 3yo, $150,000, Grade III, 1M (T), Keeneland

Premiers Stakes, 3&up, $100,000, Grade III, 1 3-8M, Hastings Park

Xtra Heat Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $100,000, 6F (T), Belmont Park

MONDAY, OCTOBER 13

Pebbles Stakes, 3yo fillies, $100,000, 1M (T), Belmont Park.