The jockeys room is a den of addictions, most of them harmful. We know some have turned to drugs, rather more to drink. Then there is chocolate, crisps, the usual cravings of the self-starved. Paddy Brennan suffers from none of these. His addiction is winning. Anything less drives him mad.

This is not just the will to win that every sportsman requires. It runs deep through Brennans slender frame and, by his own candid admission, messes with his mind. He used to throw saddles around the weighing-room and vent his anger offensively. Now, he bites his tongue and broods. Im not the nicest person when things go wrong, he said.

So just imagine the state of him, aboard Imperial Commander at Haydock last month, firmly believing he had conquered the great Kauto Star until that cruel photograph revealed that he had been beaten a nose. Or now, with two more days to while away before the chance of atonement at Kempton Park. Im trying to keep occupied, not to dwell on it. But I really cant wait.

This is no spoilt bully who cries when he doesnt get his way. Brennan, 28, is a jockey with rare gifts of touch and timing. He is also bright, witty, companionable and kind. He will talk for hours, engagingly and broadly. He did so this week, in the cottage near Stow-on-the-Wold where he has lived since bitter-sweet circumstances brought him the job as stable jockey to Nigel Twiston-Davies.

Around him was the detritus of the bachelor life he leads since the break-up of an engagement. This week, at least, he is not sorry to be alone with his thoughts and his dreams. They stretch years ahead, for there is nothing in racing that Brennan does not want to do. But he fears and loathes failure.

Probably, I brood at home more than I should, and thats sad. Racing is such a small thing in a massive world but it can take you away from the whole of life. Thats why I love it so much, I guess - theres so much to challenge you.

Brennan is laceratingly honest about his own failings, decorating a life story that began in CoGalway with tales against himself. My mother says the first day I went to school, I lay on the ground and cried for ten minutes, he began. A psychotherapist might make much of this but Brennan dismisses it as a snap judgment. I just hated school.

He was a promising hurler and did not ride until he was 12. Our neighbour kept horses. I sat next to his son at school and he was always on about them. When I first went there, it made me so happy, gave me a feeling Id never had. From that day on, horses took over from hurling.

His whole face radiates warmth when he reminisces but the expression becomes grave again discussing his racing education in the school of hard knocks - proprietor, Jim Bolger. Yet, like most who went through their apprenticeship at Coolcullen, Tony McCoy included, he says it was the making of him.

Ill never forget the first day. Dad dropped me off at half-past two in my best shirt and newly washed jeans. I got home at half five, totally black. That was Jim - the moment you were inside the gate, it didnt matter who you were, it was work. Id disobeyed lots of teachers and got away with it, but you werent going to disobey Jim.

He could be frightening to a young lad. Hed have you in tears and many was the time I tried to leave and get out of racing. But I have massive respect for him and honestly believe hes the best trainer in the world. Theres also a soft side to him that few see.

In my fifth year there, Tony McCoy came to visit. All wed ever hear about was McCoy. He was like a God. Even if you didnt sweep the yard right, Jim would say Tony wouldnt sweep it like that. So when he walked in the tackroom, it was like David Beckham turning up at your local football club. But it was A.P. who sussed out a job for me in England, suggested I went to Paul Nicholls.

On the face of it, this was a dream move. It was 2000, Nicholls was heading for the top. But I went there with the wrong attitude, Brennan said. I was expecting everything to happen yesterday and I thought I was better than I was. The turning point was breaking my leg in 2002 - I went home, watched all my rides on my Godfathers video and realised I was a very ordinary rider.

I was off for six months and I needed every bit of that to get my head right. I had to sort out not just my riding but how I spoke to people, how horrible I could be. I didnt listen to people who tried to help me and I had stupid habits like throwing my saddle across the weighing-room.

It was not an overnight conversion, but Brennan profited from a spell with Philip Hobbs. I felt part of something in a way Id not done before. We hit it off straight away and he was a brilliant man to work for. He had a totally different style to Jim Bolger but it had the same effect - you knew if youd done wrong.

A year with Howard Johnson brought him a World Hurdle and an acrimonious exit. I was angry when I found out he didnt want me to stay, it was hurtful. But I take the positives and the biggest was meeting Graham Wylie, a real gentleman who still sponsors me now.

The other positive was tumbling directly into the job at Naunton, where he is now in his third season. Nigel is the most positive man Ive ever worked for. Khyber Kim was 12-1 for the Boylesports Hurdle but he convinced me I was riding the odds-on favourite. Thats what he does. He believes anything is possible and sometimes it works. I get a real kick out of seeing Nigel second only to Paul Nicholls.

It would be stretching a point to say Brennan has mellowed. You can still sense the rage within but he has a mute button now. Ive learned the best thing is to say nothing and then its easily mended. Before, Id have said the wrong thing and offended people.

He tries to channel his life away from the day job - playing golf, watching football, absorbing his beloved TV soaps. Im learning to get away from it more. But racing and its dream factory still consumes him.

He wants to win a National, he wants to be champion jockey - though only after Richard Johnson, who deserves it more than anybody. Most of all, he wants to be known as the best. Im getting there but I still have to raise another level. Watching him try will never be dull.

Undefeated Zenyatta will visit Santa Anita to be honored on opening day of the tracks winter meeting Dec 26.

The recently retired mare will return to the scene of her triumph against the boys in the $5 million Breeders Cup Classic for a final visit before heading to Kentucky to begin her breeding career.

Zenyatta will appear in a winners circle ceremony at Santa Anita, along with owners Jerry and Ann Moss, trainer John Shirreffs, Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith and her support team.

Zenyatta retired with a 14-0 record, including five stakes wins at Santa Anita. She is based at Hollywood Park in Inglewood.

The California winter racing season starts merrily Saturday with a festive atmosphere. Holiday cheer always spills to the day after Christmas, when the toys are new and the game is still fresh.

But racing is filled with both excitement and trepidation, and this winter at Santa Anita, the contradictions will be plenty.

Santa Anitas outstanding opening-day card Saturday is brimming with 107 horses entered in 10 races, including two Grade 1s. The first-day entries conceal the local inventory decline, from 3,500 race-ready runners in past seasons to only about 2,500 currently.

With five-day-a-week racing scheduled through April 18, the racing office faces a season-long test filling races with limited stock.

Its going to be difficult, director of racing Mike Harlow said. I think we can make it. Its a matter of if we can consistently put quality out there . . . thats the challenge.

There is plenty of quality opening day, and festivities include a parade by undefeated Zenyatta, who tuned up for her appearance by working a half-mile Monday at Hollywood Park. Zenyatta will parade after race 6. A bronze statue of John Henry will be unveiled in the fountain area following race 4, and a free calendar will be given to ontrack fans.

Amenable weather is expected Saturday, which is good news for fans, horsemen, and management. The main track at Santa Anita is Pro-Ride, an artificial surface that was unable to withstand a heavy mid-December rainstorm. When the all-weather track failed to drain properly, training was cancelled Dec. 13 and curtailed Dec. 14.

Southern California is forecast to be the recipient of a wet winter, which does not bode well for a racing surface frequently compromised by drainage issues. However, track superintendent Richard Tedesco said the use of a Verti-drainer should alleviate the problem.

Tedesco said the new equipment does not change the consistency of the surface, it allows percolation. He said the equipment pokes holes, which allows the surface to drain.

This racetrack is so much different from other racetracks, he said, adding that Santa Anita has problems that Del Mar and Hollywood Park do not face, especially drainage.

It is unfortunate, because the winter meet at Santa Anita is the only Southern California meet in which rain is normal. Del Mar, which runs only in summer, has Polytrack. The surface at Hollywood Park is Cushion Track.

For horseplayers, a key challenge will be analyzing recent form established on the speed-friendly surface at Hollywood, and subsequently estimating the chances of front-runners to carry their speed on the Pro-Ride surface. The main track at Santa Anita is generally not conducive to front-runners, particularly in sprints.

Beyond handicapping challenges, a positive attribute to Pro-Ride is it can allow for a quicker rebound from rain. And even if expectations for a wet season prove accurate, mild California winters are more favorable than winter in other parts of the country.

Even while Santa Anita officials face the challenge of filling cards, the local population received a boost from several top East and Midwest-based stables. Todd Pletcher is expected to have about 24 horses at Santa Anita, while Ken McPeek, Bill Mott, and Christophe Clement are expected to have 12 or more horses stabled here.

Those guys add spice; its an exciting time of year, racing secretary Rick Hammerle said. This is the start of the California racing season, and its good to start out with a bang.

While John Sadler and Jerry Hollendorfer are among the top local trainers, Bob Baffert trains the deepest roster. His once-beaten 2-year-old Lookin at Lucky is expected to return in March and is the top prospect for the Santa Anita Derby on April 3.

Hollendorfer trains Hollywood Starlet winner Blind Luck, who is expected to start in two Grade 1s this winter - the Las Virgenes on Feb. 6 and the Santa Anita Oaks on March 6.

The Sunshine Millions remains on the schedule and will be run Jan. 30. The series was hit with a 50 percent reduction in purse money; the Classic this year will be a $500,000 race. The Santa Anita Handicap, to be run March 6, had its purse trimmed from $1 million to $750,000.

The filly-mare stakes are highlighted by the Grade 2 Santa Maria on Feb. 13 and the Grade 1 Santa Margarita on March 13.

The older handicap division is up for grabs, and going into the meet, Grade 2 Swaps winner Misremembered ranks among the leading candidates for the Santa Anita Handicap. Trained by Baffert, Misremembered finished second Nov. 27 against older horses in the Grade 2 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs.

Misremembered is one of 13 entered Saturday in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes, a seven-furlong stakes for 3-year-olds. Skeptical bettors might stand against Misremembered, who prefers two turns, and stablemate Mythical Power, who has not raced since May.

Misremembered is arguably the best horse in the Malibu, but how tough is it to win going route to sprint?

For him, it is tough Baffert said. Hes not real quick. Hes going to need the whole seven-eighths . . . every inch of it.

Mythical Power has not raced since May 9, when he won the Grade 3 Lone Star Derby by more than seven lengths. Mythical Power did not have a specific issue that led to his hiatus.

I couldnt find anything wrong with him, he just wasnt right, so I stopped on him, Baffert said. He has tactical speed speed.

Could he win first start back?

He could, hes that good, Baffert said.

Victor Espinoza rides Misremembered, while Joel Rosario rides Mythical Power. The leading jockeys scheduled to ride this winter at Santa Anita include Garrett Gomez, Joe Talamo, Tyler Baze, and Rafael Bejarano.

The Malibu goes as race 9; race 8 is the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. The seven-furlong sprint includes Gabbys Golden Gal and Evita Argentina. Race 7 is the Grade 3 Sir Beaufort and includes Hollywood Derby winner The Usual Q.T.

Who knows what the horse beat, or how many of his foes disliked a sloppy racetrack, but 2-year-old colt Bravo Whiskey sure was visually impressive winning his career debut in Mondays seventh race at Fair Grounds.
A Smart Strike colt trained by Neil Howard, Bravo Whiskey raced in midpack before moving up before the quarter pole in the six-furlong race. Once jockey Curt Bourque moved him out for the stretch run, Bravo Whiskey quickly collared the leaders, and came home strongly to win by six lengths.

He had trained okay, said Howard. I was fairly optimistic about him, not to a point that Im saying, Yee ha! Were on our way. Hes a lovely colt, a lovely-bred colt - a little on the small side.

Howard said sore shins caused him to slow down with Bravo Whiskey over the summer. The colt pretty much was ready to run near the end of the Churchill meet, but Howard decided to take a little more time.

Now, Bravo Whiskeys connections have to decide whether to sprint him once again before trying two turns, or go directly into a route race.

He looked like he came out of the race good, Howard said Wednesday. Im going to walk him under tack one more day, then see what we want to do.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has hired Patrick E Adams, a former assistant director of security for the Indiana Horse Racing Commission, as its director of enforcement, the commission announced on Wednesday.

Adams, who worked at the Indiana Horse Racing Commission for eight years, will be in charge of the Kentucky commission s investigations and will coordinate the investigative staffs at Kentucky s five Thoroughbred tracks and three Standardbred tracks, the commission said. He was scheduled to start on Dec. 16.

Before working at the Indiana commission, Adams was the chief of the Knightstown, Ind., police department for four years, the commission said.

The position filled by Adams has been vacant for several years because of a lack of funding, but this summer, the Kentucky General Assembly directed money from the state budget to the commission to create funds for several new positions.

Joel Rosario has ridden six winners at Hollywood Park, tying a track record originally set by Hall of Fame jockey Bill Shoemaker in 1953.

Rosario rode five consecutive winners on Friday, sat out the seventh race, and then won the eighth with Stockings to tie the mark Shoemaker set on June 20, 1953.

Shoemaker repeated the feat in 1970. Laffit Pincay Jr. equaled it in 1968 as did Kent Desormeaux in 1992.

Rosario finished second in the first race and his mount in the seventh was scratched. The 24-year-old rider from the Dominican Republic leads the jockeys standings at the park with 31 winners, eight ahead of Rafael Bejarano.

Rosario twice rode five winners during this years spring-summer meeting at Hollywood Park.

Crisp beat Fashion Trend by three-quarters of a length Thursday in the $38,000 feature race for 2-year-old fillies at Hollywood Park.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Crisp bolted on the turn for home, dropped back and seemed to be out of contention, but regained her stride and caught Fashion Trend in deep stretch for her first victory in two career starts.

Crisp ran 1 1-16 miles in 1:45:62, and paid $6, $2.80 and $2.20. Fashion Trend returned $2.40, and Empire Spring paid $2.40 to show.

A collision at an Arkansas horse track injured a jockey and forced officials to euthanize two horses.

Oaklawn Park officials said Mondays collision injured 54-year-old jockey Tim Doocy, who was scheduled for surgery after an early diagnosis indicated fractures to his ankle, knee and hand.

Doocy was aboard The ATM, a 2-year-old colt, when the horse collided with a pony ridden by outrider Chisum Ewing. The accident occurred as Doocys mount was pulling up from a 3-furlong workout. Ewing was not injured.

Kinsale King led all the way and held off 8-year-old Delta Storm by a neck Sunday to in the $100,000 Vernon O Underwood Stakes at Hollywood Park.

A 4-year-old gelding making just his sixth career start, Kinsale King covered six furlongs in 1:09.67 under Rafael Bejarano and paid $16.40, $7.80 and $5.80. Delta Storm returned $3.80 and $2.80, and Mr. Cacht paid $6.40 to show.

The favorite, Noble Court, was last out of the gate and had to rally to finish fourth.

Trained by Carl OCallaghan for owner Super Horse, Inc., Kinsale King won for the second straight start and third overall. He earned $60,000 tp push his career total to $117,080.

Ibboyee won the $69,850 Damon Runyon and Opus A took the $71,800 East View, a pair of stakes for New York-bred 2-year-olds at Aqueduct on Sunday.

Ibboyee beat City Trooper by 2 1/2 lengths for his fourth win in five starts. Ridden by Ramon Dominguez for trainer Todd Pletcher, Ibboyee ran a mile and 70 yards in 1:42.78, paying $6.90 to win.

Opus A improved to 2 for 3 with a 4 1/2-length victory over Spirit of Rose. Alan Garcia rode for trainer Rick Violette as Opus A was clocked in 1:44.44, paying $7.50 to win.