The Derby winners absence meant that we were not expecting to see the stars here yesterday. In the event, however, Fame And Glory lit up the overcast skies with a thoroughly convincing victory in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

Fame And Glorys five-length rout of Golden Sword was beautifully orchestrated by his stablemates and expertly delivered by Johnny Murtagh. The jockey was quick to lament the late withdrawal of Sea The Stars, who proved Fame And Glorys superior in the Derby. But the beauty of the classics is that you only get one chance. Fame And Glorys was blown at Epsom by tactical negligence.

There was no chance of that happening here. Rockhampton, one of six Ballydoyle-trained runners, set up the race perfectly for Golden Sword to make a long and searching run for home. That made it a real test of stamina, allowing Fame And Glory to live up to his name.

Inevitably, the Ballydoyle camp suggested that Fame And Glory might have beaten allcomers on this showing. He was a different proposition today, Murtagh said. Whatever turned up today, hed have been very difficult to beat.

Whether Fame And Glory has progressed to that extent is arguable. He finished about as far in front of Mourayan, the third horse home, as he had in the Derrinstown Derby Trial six weeks ago. And however the theories stack up, the onus is now on Fame And Glory to seek a showdown with Sea The Stars. To do so will require this model middle-distance runner to drop back in distance.

Even then, Aidan OBrien seemed keen on the idea. I dont think ten furlongs will be any problem, the trainer said. Hes a horse with tactical speed who travels strongly through his races. In my opinion, the sky is the limit.

Although debate will rage, at least until Sea The Stars reappears in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park on Saturday, the most plausible verdict is that Ballydoyles tactics here were as well-executed as they were wayward at Epsom, where they played their part in a modestly-run race.

John Magnier, part-owner of Fame And Glory, described the colt in the mould of Montjeu and Hurricane Run, both supreme 12-furlong performers. Unless he proves otherwise, the suspicion is that Fame And Glory may struggle to contain Sea The Stars over anything shorter.

Whatever transpires, OBrien carved himself another slice of history here. This was his seventh Irish Derby triumph, one more that Vincent OBrien, who died this month. Vincent, of course, founded the Ballydoyle institution that is now home to his younger, unrelated namesake. All these bloodlines were instigated by Vincent, Magnier reflected yesterday. He set up Ballydoyle and Aidan has continued it. Vincent would be very proud.

Vincents daughter, Susan, bridges the time divide at Ballydoyle. Susan is married to Magnier, Ballydoyles principal patron and employer of Aidan. It was good to see her savouring Fame And Glorys triumph, which became a family celebration embracing several generations by the time OBrien and Murtaghs children - there are almost enough of them to field a football team - stepped up to the winners podium.

Earlier, OBriens mastery of racing in Ireland was emphasised when he saddled the winner of the Netjets Railway Stakes for the eleventh time in 13 years. Alfred Nobel showed a smart turn of foot to earn 2,000 Guineas quotes as low as 14-1. However, the son of Danehill Dancer does not look from the top drawer.

A more likely candidate is Steinbeck, who is expected to return to action shortly. A recent growth spurt prompted connections to back off Steinbeck but the colt is a possible runner at Newmarkets July meeting.

For all his promise, Steinbeck will do well to emulate the achievements of Benbaun, who posted his seventh victory here in the Sapphire Stakes. It was the eight-year-olds first victory in nearly two years - and first for Kevin Ryan, who inherited the gelding when Mark Wallace moved to Australia.

Spanish Moon did not have to travel so far to make his mark. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained five-year-old gained a well-deserved group one triumph when he landed the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud under Ryan Moore.

The day of reckoning is nigh for Nicky Henderson, who was last week adjudged to have used a prohibited substance to improve the performance of a horse owned by the Queen. One thing is certain: the strength of the sanction imposed by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) will split the racing community right down the middle.

Strip the case to the bare bones and a suspension is the least Henderson warrants. Britains position on all forms of raceday medication is unswerving. Since it claims to lead the world in the fight against drugs, its authorities are obliged to grasp a particularly toxic nettle and throw the book at Henderson.

Nothing is ever that simple. The judgment that Henderson conspired to enhance a horses performance is at the very least highly contestable. Yet the BHA had little choice. For decades Britains authorities have scoffed at

Americas use of substances designed to stem internal bleeding, as was Hendersons unequivocal intention in this case. They cannot suddenly develop a moral conscience overnight.
Horses that suffer from internal bleeding are now two-a-penny. What happens is that breaking blood vessels cause blood spillage that trickles down into the lungs. In chronic cases, so much blood collects on the floor of the lung that the horse starts to choke. It cannot breathe properly.

Consider the effect when you take a sip of water and it goes down the wrong way. It forces you to cough violently. Now imagine having to run flat out in those debilitating circumstances. It would be inhumane, yet it happens every day on Britains racecourses. The authorities response is to loudly reiterate its medication rules on raceday - and to hell with the consequences. How humane is that?

The authorities have made no effort to address the bleeding issue even though research has shown that 90 per cent of all thoroughbreds bleed to some degree during a race. The vast majority are negligible cases, but what about such as the Queens Moonlit Path, who failed the post-race test? Well, they can keep running - and keep bleeding, and keep choking - for ever and ever. All within the Rules.

There is a further hypocrisy at play here. Horses are permitted to do their homework on anti-bleeding drugs. All within the Rules, so long as the drug washes out of the system come raceday. So you can fool a horse into thinking the bleeding has stopped at home; yet when it comes to raceday, when the physical strains on a horse render it most likely to bleed, you have to withhold medication. How humane is that?

Henderson is guilty all right. He is guilty of caring; of acting in the interests of Moonlit Paths welfare. Yet he has done so in a way that transgresses rules that have not evolved over time - as has the vexing issue of bleeding in racehorses. So acute has the problem become that it has drawn a range of healers to the cause, from herbal remedists to exotic witch-doctor types. All, it seems, to little avail, since Henderson was evidently prepared to run the one-in-ten risk of failing a random dope test on raceday - with a horse belonging to the Queen, no less.

That is one of numerous aspects to this case that makes little sense. Yet those are by-the-by. It was only a matter of time before a trainer got tangled up in the complex web of the treatment of bleeders. That it ensnared a man with an exemplary disciplinary record who trains for the most high-profile patron in the sport is unfortunate in the extreme.

Yet the broader question concerning the lesser of two evils remains. Should bleeders be allowed to train routinely on medication but be denied it when they are most at risk on the racecourse? Or should they be allowed to race with the appropriate medication on humane grounds? You decide.

Girlfrienontheside overtook two rivals in the deep stretch to win the $60,000 Crank It Up Stakes by a neck at Monmouth Park on Sunday.

Trained by Anthony Dutrow and ridden by Chuck C. Lopez, the 3-year-old filly ran the 5 1/2 furlongs on the firm turf course in 1:02 and returned $5, $3.40 and $2.80. Snow Lass, who led for most of the race, paid $10.60 and $7.20, while Lady Alexander was another neck back in third and returned $5.60.

We sat in behind the early speed and had to wait for a hole (on the rail), Lopez said. I had no choice but to wait because I had horses on all sides. The lane opened up and she had a good kick.

It was the third win in seven career starts for Girlfrienontheside, who boosted her earnings to $126,990.

Defending champion Black Mamba caught Charming Legacy just before the wire to win the $150,000 Beverly Hills Handicap by a head at Hollywood Park on Sunday.

Under jockey Garrett Gomez, Black Mamba covered 1 miles in 1:59.72, snapping a five-race winless streak dating to last summer.

Black Mamba paid $3.40 and $2.20. There was no show betting in the field reduced to four with the scratches of Hot n Dusty and Restless Soul. The place payoff on Charming Legacy, ridden by Joe Talamo, was $3.20.

Black Mamba, trained by John Sadler, won $90,000 to boost her earnings to $808,851.

Porte Bonheur beat Spritely by a nose Sunday to capture the $150,000 First Flight Handicap for fillies and mares at Belmont Park.

Ramon Dominguez swung the 4-year-old four wide turning for home and Porte Bonheur rallied relentlessly to earn her sixth win in 11 starts.

Trained by David Duggan, Porte Bonheur ran the seven furlongs in 1:22.45 on the fast track to earn $90,000 for Johanna Murphy-Leopoldsberger.

The 2-1 favorite, Porte Bonheur paid $6, $3.40 and $2.40. Spritely returned $4.80 and $3.10. Turn Away paid $2.90 to show.

Iron Butterfly was fourth followed by Sunday Geisha and Carolyns Cat.

The co-owner of Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra doesnt plan to run the star filly in the Breeders Cup, preventing a potential matchup with champion mare Zenyatta on the synthetic surface at Santa Anita.

Jess Jackson said Wednesday that Rachel Alexandra, whos won six straight races dating to last year, could run against the boys again this summer. But he ruled out taking part in horse racings world championships on Nov. 6-7, after the poor performance by his two-time Horse of the Year Curlin in last years Breeders Cup Classic.

Curlin had dominated on traditional dirt surfaces but struggled to a fourth-place finish on Santa Anitas Pro-Ride synthetic track in the only out-of-the-money finish of his career. Curlin won 11 of 16 races and was retired as thoroughbred racings leading money earner with more than $10.5 million.

I have a very strong dislike for plastic surfaces and I dont believe she should be exposed to that, Jackson said during a conference call Wednesday. Im not going to run her on plastic. We dont need to risk her that way.

Rachel Alexandra has raced on synthetic surfaces before, cruising to a convincing win in an allowance race over Keenelands Polytrack last October. That race came well before her rousing victory in the Kentucky Oaks, and before she was purchased by Jackson and his Stonestreet Farms.

Im 110 percent with Mr. Jackson, said jockey Calvin Borel, who jumped off Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird to ride Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness. Its his horse and hes going to do whats right for the filly, and I cant blame him.

That means a matchup with Zenyatta, the reigning Breeders Cup Ladies Classic winner, might never happen. The 5-year-old mare, coming off a win in the Milady Handicap last month, has campaigned almost exclusively on the synthetic surfaces in California.

Love to see her, Jackson said, but theyre going to have to come to the East or some other neutral track.

Rachel Alexandra returns to the track for the first time since her stirring Preakness win against the boys when she runs in Saturdays $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park.

Shell be a heavy favorite in a field of five that includes Florida Oaks winner Dont Forget Gil, Hopeful Image, Flashing and Malibu Prayer.

Jackson decided to skip the 1 1/2 -mile Belmont Stakes and avoid subjecting Rachel Alexandra to a fresh field of horses so soon after her victory at Pimlico. It was a fresh filly, Rags to Riches, that outdueled Curlin down the stretch to win the Belmont two years ago.

I think she could have taken it, but I dont think it would have been the best thing for her career, Jackson said of Rachel Alexandra. Usually the Belmont is such a long distance, and theres fresh horses coming in. Thats what beat Curlin.

Jackson said hes uncertain what the rest of the year holds for his filly, but he did not rule out the daughter of Medaglia dOro taking on the boys again.

Among the possibilities, he said, are the Delaware Handicap on July 19, the Haskell Invitational on Aug. 2 and the Travers on Aug. 29. He could also turn around and run Rachel Alexandra against fillies again in the Coaching Club American Oaks on July 25 at Belmont.

Wherever hes going to go, Borel said, Im going to go.

The decision could come down to the Rachel Alexandras health and whether her connections plan to run her as a 4-year-old.

That decision wont be made until later this summer.

Were looking at races that give her enough time between races but establish her as the champion she is, and running against the boys is part of that, Jackson said. At the same time, if we have two years running together, we dont have to be concerned about the races we put her in. We want her to be fit as possible.

Quisom has upset 3-5 favorite Karakorum Fugitive by 3 lengths in the $45,080 allowance feature for fillies and mares at Belmont Park.

Sebastian Morales was aboard for trainer Bobby Ribaudo on Wednesday as the 4-year-old chestnut led all the way to earn her second win in 13 starts. The time was 1:34.87 on the fast track.

Quisom paid $11, $3.70 and $2.90. Karakorum Fugitive returned $2.30 and $2.10. Loquacious Lil earned $3.30 to show.

The co-owner of Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra doesnt plan to run the star filly in the Breeders Cup, preventing a potential matchup with champion mare Zenyatta on the synthetic surface at Santa Anita.

Jess Jackson said Wednesday that Rachel Alexandra, whos won six straight races dating to last year, could run against the boys again this summer. But he ruled out taking part in horse racings world championships on Nov. 6-7, after the poor performance by his two-time Horse of the Year Curlin in last years Breeders Cup Classic.

Curlin had dominated on traditional dirt surfaces but struggled to a fourth-place finish on Santa Anitas Pro-Ride synthetic track in the only out-of-the-money finish of his career. Curlin won 11 of 16 races and was retired as thoroughbred racings leading money earner with more than $10.5 million.

I have a very strong dislike for plastic surfaces and I dont believe she should be exposed to that, Jackson said during a conference call Wednesday. Im not going to run her on plastic. We dont need to risk her that way.

Rachel Alexandra has raced on synthetic surfaces before, cruising to a convincing win in an allowance race over Keenelands Polytrack last October. That race came well before her rousing victory in the Kentucky Oaks, and before she was purchased by Jackson and his Stonestreet Farms.

Im 110 percent with Mr. Jackson, said jockey Calvin Borel, who jumped off Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird to ride Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness. Its his horse and hes going to do whats right for the filly, and I cant blame him.

That means a matchup with Zenyatta, the reigning Breeders Cup Ladies Classic winner, might never happen. The 5-year-old mare, coming off a win in the Milady Handicap last month, has campaigned almost exclusively on the synthetic surfaces in California.

Love to see her, Jackson said, but theyre going to have to come to the East or some other neutral track.

Rachel Alexandra returns to the track for the first time since her stirring Preakness win against the boys when she runs in Saturdays $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park.

Shell be a heavy favorite in a field of five that includes Florida Oaks winner Dont Forget Gil, Hopeful Image, Flashing and Malibu Prayer.

Jackson decided to skip the 1 1/2 -mile Belmont Stakes and avoid subjecting Rachel Alexandra to a fresh field of horses so soon after her victory at Pimlico. It was a fresh filly, Rags to Riches, that outdueled Curlin down the stretch to win the Belmont two years ago.

I think she could have taken it, but I dont think it would have been the best thing for her career, Jackson said of Rachel Alexandra. Usually the Belmont is such a long distance, and theres fresh horses coming in. Thats what beat Curlin.

Jackson said hes uncertain what the rest of the year holds for his filly, but he did not rule out the daughter of Medaglia dOro taking on the boys again.

Among the possibilities, he said, are the Delaware Handicap on July 19, the Haskell Invitational on Aug. 2 and the Travers on Aug. 29. He could also turn around and run Rachel Alexandra against fillies again in the Coaching Club American Oaks on July 25 at Belmont.

Wherever hes going to go, Borel said, Im going to go.

The decision could come down to the Rachel Alexandras health and whether her connections plan to run her as a 4-year-old.

That decision wont be made until later this summer.

Were looking at races that give her enough time between races but establish her as the champion she is, and running against the boys is part of that, Jackson said. At the same time, if we have two years running together, we dont have to be concerned about the races we put her in. We want her to be fit as possible.

Broadway Kevin waited in the auction holding pen, a successful harness horse whose life was now worth less than the cost to take care of him.

If the local Amish farmers bought him, hed spend his last years pulling carriages over the countryside. If the meat procurers won, a horse that went to the winners circle five times would be shipped to Mexico and Canada to be slaughtered for meat to be sold in Europe and Japan.

Broadway Kevin caught a break: The 11-year-old was sold for $525 to a rescue group and became a member of the Newark Police Departments mounted patrol. Across the country, retired race horses like Broadway Kevin are finding new careers fighting crime.

Retired standardbreds and thoroughbreds have run downs hoodlums in Newark, thwarted car thieves in Richmond, Va., patrolled the streets of Omaha, Neb., and guarded the trails of some of the nations most beautiful parks.

The common trait among the race horses is that they are smart and they can learn their jobs. They are well suited for police work, said Jennifer Nagle, the adoption manager of the Standardbred Retirement Foundation in Hamilton, an organization that seeks homes for former harness horses who have either finished their racing careers or whose owners can no longer provide for them.

Overbreeding, the recession and the high cost of care has sent the number of unwanted horses spiraling. The last horse population census, done in 2005, showed 9.2 million horses in the United States, up from about 5.5 million in the mid-1990s, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

Nagle said owners who used to call and offer one horse for adoption may now be seeking homes for five or six.

Last year, 98,963 U.S. horses were shipped to Canada and Mexico in 2008 for slaughter, according to Keith Dane, the societys director of equine protection.

Saving horses can be costly. Ellen Harvey, who is the executive director of Harness Racing Communications and works with rescue groups, said it cost $3,000 in rehabilitation and training to get Broadway Kevin, now named Saber, ready for his second career.

The recession is affecting some mounted police units. Boston plans to disband its 12-horse unit in July and Camden, N.J., plans to shut its unit because feed and veterinary costs are too high.

But in Newark and other cities, police say horses are a key part of their force.

Thirteen of Newarks 18 mounted horses are standardbreds and at least three others are thoroughbreds. Most of the standardbreds came from the retirement foundation, which has found new homes for more than 2,000 horses in its 20-year existence.

Like humans, no two horses are the same, said Lt. Robert Marelli, director of the mounted unit in Newark. Most have good temperaments, they are not highly excitable and are used to being around crowds from their racing days. Im happy to give them a second chance here.

A few weeks ago, officer Dennis Dominguez was patrolling Broad and Market Streets in downtown Newark and saw three young men pummeling another man. When one of the suspects fled on foot, Dominguez tracked him down on his police horse namedwhat elseJustice.

He thought he was going to get away, but you cant outrun these horses, Dominguez said. This is what they do. They are thoroughbreds, they are race horses. I did what I had to do. Im glad I caught him.

Sgt. Eric Bardon, officer in charge of Richmonds six-horse mounted unit, said even on the roadways, horses are an effective crime-fighting force. He recalled how three standardbreds help nab a car thief.
The car was stopped at a light and we surrounded him, Bardon said. The guy gave up. He really wasnt expecting it.

The horses help with more routine police work as well, helping patrol parking lots and schools.

Officer Anthony Matos in Newark said being on the mounted patrol the past two years has given him the feeling of being closer to the community.

The kids love them (the horses) and the parents usually bring the kids up to us, Matos said as 3-year-old Kayla Perry walked up and petted Commander, who raced as Cunning Liar, winning 26 of 171 lifetime starts and nearly $300,000. His last win came at the Meadowlands on Feb. 10, 2007.

We always get thanks for being out here, with the community. It goes a long way, a lot longer, Matos said.

Newark officer Erich Schroeder has fond memories of finding a child who was separated from his parents in a department store. He got off his horse, Bold Ruler, and let the child pet the animal until the boys parents were located.
The child wiped away his tears and he just thought the horse was the greatest thing in the world, Schroeder said.

Marelli, who has been a police officer for 39 years, the last 19 on Newarks mounted patrol, has to make sure horses the department receives are cut out for police work.

Once he gets a horse, Marelli has three weeks to decide whether these 1,200-pound athletes will make the grade. The keys are temperament, demeanor and ability to follow six commandswalk, stop, stand, back up, side left and side right.

If they dont make it, they are returned to the foundation.

I have some horses that are juicy out in the street, but when it comes time to work, they put their heads down and do their job, Marelli said. The officer doesnt have to think about them Thats what I stress, relax and let the horse do his thing.

Brian Nelson, the senior officer in a 12-horse unit in Omaha, recently added a standardbred. A former colleague saw an advertisement from the Standardbred Retirement Foundation and they adopted Kevins Chargerlater renamed Smokey from the Wisconsin-Indiana area.

It was not a matter that we particularly wanted a standardbred, but we always heard good things about them, that they are stout, very sound and usually bombproof, Nelson said.

Besides working in police departments, some former harness horses have joined the military. Three serve as riderless horses at funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. Sergeant York, who was the riderless horse at the funeral for President Ronald Reagan, used to race at Freehold Raceway in New Jersey as Allaboard Jules.

The older Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., also has a novel program with prisons in eight states which allows inmates to care for horses.

Its about caring for horses and saving lives, said executive director Diana Pikulski. The horses need someone to care for them and love them, and the inmates need someone to care for and love.

Preakness-winning filly Rachel Alexandra has arrived at Belmont Park for Saturdays Grade I, $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Accompanied by assistant trainer Scott Blasi, exercise rider Dominic Terry and four other thoroughbreds, Rachel Alexandra departed Churchill Downs at noon. She arrived at trainer Steve Asmussens barn on the Belmont Park backstretch by 4:30 p.m.

The daughter of Medaglia dOro was bedded down in stall No. 5the same stall previously occupied by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin.

Rachel Alexandra won the Kentucky Oaks by 20 lengths on May 1, and her Preakness win against the boys gave her a six-race winning streak. The Mother Goose will be her first start since the Preakness.