Churchill Downs Inc says it has created a new subsidiary to expand its entertainment opportunities, and the companys executive vice president, Steve Sexton, will head the new company.

The company says Sexton will be responsible for creating new entertainment activities, including new racing events, concerts and other concepts.

Sexton has been president of Churchill Downs track since 2002 and became executive vice president of Churchill Downs Inc. in 2006.

William C. Carstanjen will be chief operating officer of Churchill Downs Inc., responsible for all on-site operations and off-track betting facilities.

The company will now begin searching for a new president of Churchill Downs racetrack.

Besides the Louisville racetrack thats home to the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs Inc. owns Arlington Park Racecourse, Calder Race Course and Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots.

Artiste Royal rallied from last to catch Medici Code in the final jump and win Mondays $150,000 San Marcos Handicap by a nose at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Garrett Gomez, Artiste Royal covered 1 miles on the turf in 1:59.16 and paid $7.80, $4.20 and $3.80. Medici Code returned $6.40 and $5 and Ferneley paid $6.80.

Trainer Neil Drysdale earned his fourth San Marcos victory since 1989. He had two other horses in the field of 10Marsh Side was seventh and Obrigado was eighth.

I didnt expect him to be that far back, Drysdale said about Artiste Royal. Garrett said he settled really well for him. Thats where he found himself. He came home well. They went fast early. Marsh Side needed a race, and Obrigado was a bit disappointing.

Gomez was riding Artiste Royal for the first time. He had been ridden by 10 other jockeys since being imported from France by his owners in 2005.

When we came under the wire the first time, I was between horses and I decided hed probably relax better if he was on his own. So I took back to last, Gomez said. I knew he was going to finish. Hes run with some of the best horses in the world. When I showed him the way, he was there for me, and I never hit him.

The victory, worth $90,000, increased Artiste Royals career earnings to $871,790, with seven wins in 28 starts. He was coming off an 11th-place finish in last months $2.5 million Hong Kong Cup.

Congor Bay won the $78,750 San Pedro Stakes for 3-year-olds, giving trainer Mark Casse and jockey Patrick Husbands their first Santa Anita stakes victories.

Congor Bay defeated Point Attended by a half-length in the 6 1/2 -furlong race. The winner covered the distance in 1:15.59 and paid $15.40, $7.80 and $5.20.

Deshawn Sample guided CJ Blaze to victory in the inaugural Dr Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Pace at Freehold Raceway on Monday. Each of the seven drivers in the featured race was African-American.

CJ Blaze paid $9, $5 and $4.20. Mo Mo Munny, who was driven by Don Simmonds, finished second and returned $25.80 and $8. Pacesetter Callies Candyman, who had Jim King Solomon in the sulky, faded to third and returned $4.40 to show.

I was approached by Jim King Solomon regarding putting together this race, and I just thought it would be nice to pay tribute to the memory of the great civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Freehold racing secretary Karen Fagliarone said. I know in the past other track have held this race, however, this is a first for us at Freehold.

The other drivers who participated in the race were Cedric M. Washington, General Washington Jr., Orlando Greene and Dennis Watson. George Polk Jr., was to drive, but his horse, Best Life, was scratched.

Game Face rallied to win the $100,000, Grade 3 First Lady Stakes for fillies and mares at Gulfstream Park on Sunday, drawing away to a 2 3/4 -length victory over Any Limit.

There wasnt nearly as much drama in the $100,000 Sweetest Chant Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, with 22-1 longshot Oilgonewile leading all the way.

Ridden by John Velazquez, Game Face ran six furlongs in 1:10.57 and paid $4.80, $3.20 and $2.20. Any Limit paid $3.40 and $3, while Slewfoundmoney paid $2.60 to show.

Any Limit took the lead from the start with JZ Warrior pressing the pace. Game Face eventually caught Any Limit in midstretch and has now finished in the money in all five stakes races in which shes run, winning three of them for earnings of $353,834.

Oilgonewile, with Wesley Henry Sr. aboard, won by 1 3/4 lengths over Weekend Strike. Exe finished third and Bankers Choice, the favorite, finished last in a field of 11.

Oilgonewile ran a mile on the grass in 1:36.24 and paid $46.60, $18 and $10.20. Weekend Strike paid $6.80 and $4.20, and Exe paid $5 to show.

Oilgonewile has won three of nine races for earnings of $130,306.

Life Is Sweet rallied from next-to-last to win the $150,000 El Encino Stakes for 4-year-old fillies by 2 1/2 lengths Sunday at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Garrett Gomez, Life Is Sweet covered 1 1-16 miles in a stakes record 1:41.30 and paid $9.40, $4.40 and $3.20. Country Star returned $3.20 and $2.60 as the 6-5 wagering favorite, while Miss Singhsix was another three lengths back and paid $3.20 to show.

It was Life Is Sweets first stakes victory and first under John Shirreffs, who took over training from Bill Mott when the filly moved to the West Coast.

By the eighth pole, she had inhaled the whole field, and she stayed on her left lead, so shes still learning, Gomez said. Its nice to know theres more left in the tank.

The victory, worth $90,000, increased Life Is Sweets career earnings to $240,810, with two wins in seven starts. She had not raced since last May.

The Pamplemousse overcame a challenge by Square Eddie and pulled away for a two-length victory in Saturdays $100,000 San Rafael Stakes, nosing the 3-year-old into the early Kentucky Derby picture.

Ridden by Alex Solis, The Pamplemousse covered one mile in 1:35.31 and paid $7.20, $3 and $2.20.

Im speechless, I really am, Solis said. This horse has such a high cruising speed. It feels like hes walking, he does everything so effortlessly. He was so impressive, when the other horses came to him, he didnt see them. He heard them, and he just took off.

Square Eddie, runner-up in the Breeders Cup Juvenile last fall at Santa Anita, returned $2.20 and $2.10, while Ryehill Dreamer was another 2 3/4 lengths back in third and paid $2.60. Three late scratches reduced the field to five.

The Pamplemousse had just a maiden victory to his credit. Now the gray son of Kafwain is a Derby contender.

I better start going to church and hope he stays sound, Solis said.

The jockeys son, Alex II, co-owns the colt, having picked him out at the Ocala Breeders Sale in March 2006 for $150,000.

This makes it even more special, the elder Solis said. My son liked the way he moved.

The victory, worth $60,000, increased The Pamplemousses career earnings to $89,280, with two wins in four starts for trainer Julio Canani.

Hes developing mentally and physically. Hes awkward because hes growing and growing, Canani said. Hes huge, but hes got a great mind, and Ive got no problems with him.

Canani said The Pamplemousse may run once before possibly starting in the Santa Anita Derby on April 4, the West Coasts major prep for the Kentucky Derby.

Doug ONeill, who trains Square Eddie, believes his colt got tired.

He should definitely move forward off this. It was his first race in almost three months, ONeill said. Obviously, we wanted to win, but the main thing is for him to come out of this good and go in the right direction.

Meanwhile, 18-1 shot Nownownow won the $150,000 San Fernando Stakes for 4-year-olds by 2 3/4 lengths under Joe Talamo.

Nownownow rallied from ninth in the field of 11 and covered 1 1-16 miles in 1:41.45. He had been winless in six previous starts since taking the 2007 Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf at Monmouth Park for trainer Patrick Biancone.

Nownownow paid $38.40, $14 and $6.60. Dakota Phone returned $14 and $6.80, while Wishful Tomcat was another three-quarters of a length back in third and paid $8.40. Slews Tiznow, the 19-10 favorite, was fourth.

The victory was worth $90,000, and increased Nownownows career earnings to $781,824, with two wins in 13 starts.

In the $150,000 Santa Ynez Stakes, Alpha Kitten defeated Evita Argentina by 1 1/2 lengths while running seven furlongs in 1:21.84 under Tyler Baze.

Alpha Kitten paid $5, $2.80 and $2.40 as the 3-2 wagering favorite. Evita Argentina returned $2.80 and $2.60, while Nan paid $4.60 to show.

Owned by former A&M Records co-founder Jerry Moss and his wife Ann, Alpha Kitten earned $90,000, increasing her career bankroll to $162,870, with two wins in four starts.

Ikigai, who had won only one minor stakes in his career, got a decisive victory in the $100,000 Grade 3 Mr Prospector Stakes for older horses at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

Ridden by Jermaine Bridgmohan, Ikigai won by 2 lengths over Rollers. Black Seventeen was a distant third and Hes So Chic fourth in a field of seven. Ikigai ran the six furlongs in 1:09.37 and paid 17.40, 7.20 and 4.20. Rollers returned 4.80 and 3.20, and Black Seventeen paid 3.00.

Ikigai, a 4-year-old son of Whywhywhy and owned by Edmund Gann, has won five of six starts since Marty Wolfson became his trainer last August, raising his career earnings to $130,306. His one previous stakes victory was a $50,000 overnight stakes at Calder last October.

In the secondary feature, for 3 year olds on the grass, 14-1 longshot Jack Spratt upset the field in The Dania Beach. The three horses behind him in the field of 13, were even bigger longshots.

In a three horse photo for second, Lime Rickey was a nse in front of Beacon Hill Road, and Adair was a head further back.

Jack Spratt finished in 1:35.59 and returned 30.80, 13.60 and 8.00. Lime Rickey paid 13.80 and 7.60. Beacon Hill Road paid 14.80 to show. Jack Spratt is a son of Candy Ride with career earnings of $101,052. The Dania Beach was his first stakes victory.

The future of Britains newest racecourse is in serious doubt after Essex County Showground Ltd, which manages Great Leighs, went into administration last night.

Nine turbulent months after the racecourse opened, administrators were called in when the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) rejected an extension to Great Leighs licence to race, having been sufficiently concerned by the deteriorating financial position effectively to shut down the Essex venue.

It did so amid persistent complaints from suppliers over lack of payment as creditors mounted, and the increasing failure of the racecourse to meet its financial commitments towards prize-money. Only four months ago, the BHA had made threatening noises over a six-figure debt that Great Leighs had built up with Weatherbys, which distributes prize-money to racehorse owners. The debt was paid, but rumours persisted that building the track had put an intolerable financial burden on its owner, John Holmes.

Only yesterday, Holmes had pledged to return to the BHAs offices next week to reapply for the licence to race. That process will now fall to the administrators, Carlton Siddle and Nick Edwards, of Deloitte. They plan to run the business as a going concern while exploring the possibility of selling the venue near Chelmsford.
Great Leighs, Britains first new racecourse since 1927, has been stalked by controversy from the outset. After numerous delays to its start date, the track opened last April with a lauded racing surface, but precious little by way of facilities for the paying public.

At the time, Holmes maintained that facilities would quickly improve, yet few enhancements were forthcoming. One of Britains leading trainers, Jeremy Noseda, was so appalled on his inaugural visit that he said: This is like going back to the Dark Ages. Its a good track to run horses round, but as a leisure experience, its a disgrace.

Speculation will centre on who could buy Great Leighs at a time when borrowing money has never been more difficult. Ironically, Holmes is understood to have rejected an eight-figure offer from Northern Racing Ltd to buy the site in the months before it opened for business.

The proprietor of ten racecourses, Northern is owned by David and Simon Reuben. The brothers, property and investment entrepreneurs, have increased to about 23 per cent their stake in Arena Leisure, which manages Great Leighs and owns five other tracks. Their position has fuelled speculation that Northern and Arena will merge into one company with control of nearly 30 per cent of Britains 60 racecourses.

Delayed reactions

Feb 04 Project receives official approval opening date Dec 2005

May 05 Opening put back to June 06, then Oct 06

Aug 06 Surrenders first six fixtures, new opening date Feb 07

Jan 07 Opening date put back to June 07, then Oct 07, then Feb 08, then Apr 08

Apr 08 Licence to race rejected pending safety improvements

Apr 08 Stages first meeting but without paying customers. Racing surface praised but facilities primitive

May 08 Paying customers admitted

Sep 08 Meetings under threat until debt with Weatherbys cleared

Dec 08 Annual licence application rejected; two-week temporary licence issued

Jan 09 Temporary licence not renewed track closed.

MONTREAL 5, OTTAWA 4 (SO)

OTTAWA All-Star Alexei Kovalev and Maxim Lapierre scored in the first two rounds of the shootout as the Montreal Canadiens recorded a 5-4 triumph over the Ottawa Senators in a battle of Northeast Division rivals.

After Jason Spezzas shot sailed over the net, goaltender Jaroslav Halak denied Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson with his glove in the second round for Montreal, which improved to 11-2-1 in its last 14 contests.

Kovalev, Andrei Kostitsyn, rookie Matt DAgostini and Tom Kostopoulos scored in regulation for the Canadiens while Robert Lang notched a pair of assists for the second consecutive game.

All-Star Dany Heatley netted a pair of goals, Chris Kelly and Mike Fisher also tallied and rookie Brian Elliott turned aside 28 shots for Ottawa, which was denied in its bid for its first three-game winning streak of the season.

PHOENIX 4, CALGARY 3

CALGARY, Alberta Peter Mueller and rookie Mikkel Boedker recorded a goal and an assist apiece as the Phoenix Coyotes posted a 4-3 triumph over the Calgary Flames.

Former Flames defenseman David Hale and Olli Jokinen also tallied, Martin Hanzal notched two assists and Ilya Bryzgalov turned aside 29 shots as Phoenix improved to 4-1-0 in its last five games.

Mike Cammalleri scored twice, Matthew Lombardi registered a goal and an assist and captain Jarome Iginla set up a pair of tallies for Calgary, which lost for just the third time in its last 14 contests (11-2-1).

Miikka Kiprusoff made 22 saves for the Flames, who saw their seven-game winning streak at Pengrowth Saddledome come to an end.

SAN JOSE 6, DETROIT 5

SAN JOSE, California Milan Michalek and captain Patrick Marleau scored breakaway goals midway through the third period as the San Jose Sharks edged the Detroit Red Wings, 6-5, in a battle between the top two teams in the Western Conference.

Michalek also set up a pair of tallies and Ryane Clowe collected a career-high four assists for the Sharks (33-6-5), who own the best record in the NHL.

Jonathan Cheechoo, All-Star defenseman Dan Boyle and fellow blue-liner Christian Ehrhoff each netted a goal and set up another for San Jose, which improved to 21-1-2 at home this season.

Marian Hossa recorded a goal and two assists, while Henrik Zetterberg and defenseman Brian Rafalski notched a tally and an assist apiece for the Red Wings (31-8-6), who squandered an opportunity to take over the top spot in the conference standings.

DALLAS 3, LOS ANGELES 2 (SO)

DALLAS Mike Ribeiro recorded a goal and an assist in regulation before scoring in the shootout, lifting the Dallas Stars to a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings.

Jere Lehtinen also notched a goal and an assist and Marty Turco stopped all three shots he faced in the bonus format for Dallas. Turco finished with 20 saves.

Captain Dustin Brown netted a tally and set up another and Alexander Frolov also scored for Los Angeles, which has lost four straight (0-3-1).

In the shootout, Frolov was denied by Turco, and Ribeiro responded by beating goaltender Erik Ersberg to the left side with a wrist shot. Turco made a glove save on Brown, and Lehtinens bid to win it was turned aside by Ersberg.

Turco then sealed the win by stopping defenseman Jack Johnsons backhander.

WASHINGTON 2, BOSTON 1

WASHINGTON Alexander Semin scored his 18th goal of the season midway through the third period to snap a tie and lift the Washington Capitals to a 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins.

Defenseman Mike Green added a power-play goal and Jose Theodore made 23 saves for the Capitals, who have won back-to-back games following a three-game losing streak.

Semin emerged with the puck after the Bruins turned it over in Washingtons zone. The Russian right wing streaked down the right side, splitting two defenders before winding up and slapping a shot from the top of the right faceoff circle over All-Star goaltender Tim Thomas shoulder with 8:12 remaining in the contest.

All-Star Marc Savard netted a power-play goal for Boston, which had its four-game winning streak snapped.

BUFFALO 3, CAROLINA 1

BUFFALO, New York The Carolina Hurricanes certainly have not enjoyed their trips to Buffalo recently.

Tim Connolly scored two goals and Ryan Miller made 36 saves, leading the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-1 victory over the Hurricanes.

Defenseman Teppo Numminen also tallied and Thomas Vanek notched a pair of assists for the Sabres, who have beaten the Hurricanes five straight times at home. In their last three meetings at HSBC Arena, Buffalo has won by a combined margin of 18-3.

Ray Whitney scored and Cam Ward turned aside 23 shots in his 11th consecutive start for Carolina, which had its season-high losing streak reach five games.

NEW JERSEY 3, NY ISLANDERS 1

UNIONDALE, New York All-Star Zach Parise recorded a goal and an assist as the New Jersey Devils extended their winning streak to three games with a 3-1 victory over the struggling New York Islanders.

Travis Zajac and David Clarkson also scored and Scott Clemmensen made 32 saves for New Jersey, which improved to 4-1-0 on its six-game road trip.

Blake Comeau netted the lone goal for the Islanders, who have lost seven in a row and 19 of 21.

FLORIDA 4, TAMPA BAY 3

TAMPA, Florida All-Star defenseman Jay Bouwmeester completed a three-goal outburst in the second period with one second remaining in the session and the Florida Panthers hung on to post a 4-3 comeback win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Cory Stillman and Richard Zednik also scored in the second as the Panthers erased a 3-1 deficit and grabbed a one-goal advantage. Tomas Vokoun turned aside all 13 shots he faced in the third to preserve the victory.

Gregory Campbell tallied in the opening session and Nathan Horton collected three assists for Florida, which improved to 5-0-2 in its last seven games.

All-Star Vincent Lecavalier and Vaclav Prospal each recorded a goal and an assist and Ryan Malone netted his 100th career tally for the Lightning, who had won three of four.

ATLANTA 7, NASHVILLE 2

NASHVILLE, Tennessee Rookie defenseman Zach Bogosian and captain Ilya Kovalchuk each scored a goal and set up another as the Atlanta Thrashers cruised to a 7-2 rout of the Nashville Predators.

Jim Slater netted a shorthanded goal, Rich Peverley collected three assists and Kari Lehtonen made 30 saves for the Thrashers, who have won back-to-back games for the first time in over two months.

Eric Perrin, Colby Armstrong, Bryan Little and blue-liner Mathieu Schneider also tallied for Atlanta, which scored five times in a span of just under 20 minutes bridging the first and second periods.

Jordin Tootoo and All-Star defenseman Shea Weber scored for the Predators, who have lost eight of their last 11 contests.

CHICAGO 2, ST. LOUIS 1 (OT)

ST. LOUIS Martin Havlat scored 83 seconds into overtime, lifting the Chicago Blackhawks to a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues.

Troy Brouwer also tallied and Cristobal Huet made 27 saves for the Blackhawks, who posted their first win in three meetings with the Blues this season – all of which have gone beyond regulation.

David Backes scored and Manny Legace turned aside 19 shots for St. Louis, which had won two straight at home.

ANAHEIM 3, MINNESOTA 0

ST. PAUL, Minnesota Corey Perry scored twice and Jonas Hiller stopped all 30 shots he faced as the Anaheim Ducks recorded a 3-0 triumph over the Minnesota Wild.

Rookie Bobby Ryan also tallied for Anaheim, which snapped a two-game skid and improved to 2-4-0 in its last six contests.

Hiller stopped eight shots in the first period, 10 in the second and 12 in the third to preserve his fourth shutout of both the season and his career.

All-Star Niklas Backstrom turned aside 31 shots for Minnesota, which fell to 4-3-0 in its last seven games.

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers each tried to shore up a weak spot by swapping backup goaltenders Saturday, with the Penguins acquiring Mathieu Garon for Dany Sabourin, minor league forward Ryan Stone and a fourth-round draft pick in 2011.

The deal involves two goalies who weren’t satisfying their teams. Sabourin, at 28, is three years younger than Garon.

“Addressing our goaltending situation was a high priority for us,” Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini said. “Moving forward, we believe we’ve accomplished that as well as acquiring some valuable assets for our organization.”

The Penguins, losers of eight of 10 before beating Anaheim 3-1 on Friday night, have been troubled by sub-par goaltending while going 10-16-1 since mid-November. Sabourin, a third-teamer last season, is 6-8-2 with an .898 save percentage that ranked 36th in the league and a 2.85 goals-against average.

Garon has similar numbers – a 6-8 record, an .895 save percentage and a 3.17 goals-against average – but was Edmonton’s starter in 2007-08 before losing his job to Dwayne Roloson. Last season, Garon was 26-18-1 with a 2.66 goals-against average.

Garon made 37 saves while beating Colorado 3-2 on Friday, his first start since Dec. 30. He had played only a 40-minute relief stint during the team’s previous 14 games.

The 31-year-old Garon has played all or part of eight seasons with the Canadiens, Kings and Oilers, winning a career-high 31 games with Los Angeles in 2005-06.

Starting goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is having a down season since helping lead the Penguins to the Stanley Cup finals last season, and the team hopes adding Garon will give him a boost. Fleury is 14-11-2 with a .905 save percentage and a 2.94 goals-against average, missing a month from mid-November until mid-December with a groin injury.

Stone, a second-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2003, has nine goals and 19 assists in 38 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) this season. He has one assist in eight career NHL games.