News and notes from around the Thoroughbred racing world, compiled by Thoroughbred Racing Communications, Inc. (TRC) (212) 371-5911.

TRAINER NEIL HOWARD WINS 1,000TH RACE

Veteran trainer Neil Howard gained his 1,000th career victory when Soul Search captured the seventh race at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.

Last in the early stages of the 1 3/16-mile allowance race, Soul Search rallied between rivals at the top of the stretch under Robby Albarado and drew away to a 7 1/2-length victory.

Howard, a 56-year-old native of Riverdale, N.Y., who now resides in Louisville, Ky., was joined in the winner's circle by longtime owner William S. Farish, the former ambassador to St. James Court.

"Not everyone is fortunate enough to train for the Farish family," said Howard after accepting a silver julep cup from Keeneland President Nick Nicholson. "If I'm not winning, it's not because I'm not getting the stock."

Howard has trained a long list of outstanding horses in his career, including 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft.

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TITLE CONTENDERS LEAD BREEDERS' CUP NOMINATIONS

Eclipse Award candidates McDynamo and Hirapour top a group of eight Thoroughbreds nominated to the Breeders' Cup Steeplechase to be run October 22 at Far Hills, N.J.

The $200,000 race will -- as usual -- help determine the year's steeplechase champion. Entries for North America's richest jump race close Tuesday, Oct. 18 with the National Steeplechase Association (NSA).

McDynamo will try to make history with his third consecutive win in the race, a 2 5/8-mile test over 14 fences, but he must reverse a 2005 season that has included three seconds and a third in four starts. The 2003 Eclipse Award winner has never lost at Far Hills, with victories in 2001 (maiden), 2002 (novice stakes), 2003 (Breeders' Cup) and 2004 (Breeders' Cup), and will face 2004 Eclipse champion Hirapour in another showdown.

McDynamo's trainer, Sanna Hendriks, hopes the familiar course halts the losing for her horse. "He's been beaten a few times this year so people start doubting him," said Hendriks. "I haven't doubted him because things maybe haven't set up quite perfectly for him."

Run 13 times, the Breeders' Cup Steeplechase counts among its past two-time victors Highland Bud (1989, 1992), Morley Street (1990, 1991) and McDynamo (2003, 2004). In his bid for a third win in 1993, Highland Bud finished second.

In 2004, McDynamo won the battle with a Breeders' Cup victory over Hirapour but lost the war when the latter closed the season with a win in the Colonial Cup to take down the Eclipse Award. Hirapour, an Irish-bred son of Kahyasi, leads the NSA earnings list this season with $208,025 including Grade I scores in the Royal Chase at Keeneland in April and the New York Turf Writers Cup in September at Saratoga.

The 9-year-old, trained in Virginia by Doug Fout, has won five times in nine American jump starts but has yet to win back-to-back starts. Coming off the Turf Writers score, the Breeders' Cup would be an ideal place to make it two wins in a row.

"He came out of the race at Saratoga better than he's come out of a race in a long time, and I feel very confident," said Fout. "Plus we'll have some different tactics this year than we did last year. We won't wait quite as long."

In 2004, McDynamo easily took the lead on the final run down the backstretch and was able to coast while bracing for Hirapour's late run in the final quarter-mile. McDynamo won by 1 1/2 lengths.

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NTRA TO ROLL OUT NEW AD CAMPAIGN IN 2006

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) will roll out a new advertising campaign featuring the new tag line, "Who Do You Like Today?" in 2006, the organization announced at its Annual Meeting and Marketing Summit this week in Lexington, Ky.

The campaign will include five new television spots featuring celebrities, trainers, jockeys and everyday racing fans asking or answering the common race track query, "Who do you like today?" Among the entertainment, sports and business industry celebrities featured in the ads are Kid Rock, Dennis Hopper, Matthew Fox, Jerry O'Connell, Michael Imperiole, Wayne Gretzky, Rick Pitino and Sir Richard Branson, plus many others. All are longtime horse racing fans who volunteered their time.

"This new campaign celebrates the community of horse players while inviting new people to join that community," said D.G. Van Clief, Jr., Commissioner of the NTRA. "We're very excited about the direction the campaign is taking and look forward to rolling it out as part of a fully integrated marketing platform next year."

The ad campaign, which will feature TV, print and Internet, was created and developed by Conover Tuttle Pace (CTP), an integrated advertising and communications firm headquartered outside of Boston. It was shot at such venerable race tracks as Churchill Downs, Belmont Park, Saratoga and Del Mar, with additional shooting scheduled at other tracks in 2006.

"There is a hidden horseplayer in all of us," said Grant Pace, CTP's creative director and the campaign's creator. "By using a mix of celebrities and everyday fans, the ads reinforce the fact that racing attracts a young, diverse and energized audience, and makes you want to join the fun.  This campaign is as much about horse players as about horse racing."

Since its inception in 1998, the NTRA has used the tagline, "Go Baby Go," as the central theme of its marketing efforts. It anticipates using that tagline again in the future as an adjunct to "Who Do You Like Today?"

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SAM HOUSTON CONTEST OFFERS BERTH IN VEGAS, SHOT AT $1 MILLION

Sam Houston Race Park will host its sixth annual Daily Racing Form/NTRA Championship Qualifier this Saturday. The contest is open to all racing fans, 21 or older but limited to the first 200 entries (two entries per person maximum). The top three finalists will win a trip to compete at Bally's - Las Vegas for the $500,000 Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship in January 2006.

The Sam Houston Race Park winner will have an even greater incentive when heading off to Las Vegas as the northwest Houston racetrack is offering a bonus of $1 million if the top Sam Houston handicapper wins the $500,000 Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship.

The contest fee is $200 and includes a seat on the Club level of the Sam Houston Race Park Grandstand, free appetizers, a contest program, a complimentary buffet dinner and a Sam Houston Race Park gift. The winning handicapper will be awarded $6,000 and will also be sent to the Championship in Las Vegas. The second and third place finishers will also have a seat in the Championship and will receive $3,000 and $2,000, respectively. The contestant finishing fourth will be awarded $1,000 and those completing the contest ranked fifth through fifteenth will walk away with $200.

For further information, please call Troy Lawrence at (281) 807-8801 or visit the Sam Houston Race Park web site at www.shrp.com.

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MARYLAND MILLION RESCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY

Neither rain nor sleet nor dark of night should prevent the presentation of 20th Maryland Million Day at Laurel Park on Saturday. The program for the offspring of Maryland stallions was postponed last weekend because of seven and a half inches of rain at the track, but 109 horses have been entered to run and all systems are on go.

The $250,000 Maryland Million Classic is the headliner of the twelve-race card which kicks off at 12:15 p.m. The same field of seven passed the entry box; including 8-5 morning line favorite Presidentialaffair. The six-year-old gelding, who won last year's Classic and returns with jockey Stewart Elliott for trainer Marty Ciresa, drew the rail.

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OAK TREE HONORS PINCAY WITH DVD GIVEAWAY ON SATURDAY

Laffit Pincay Jr., the world's winningest jockey, who retired with 9,530 victories in a career that spanned nearly four decades, will be honored by the Oak Tree Racing Association on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Fans attending will receive a DVD free with their paid general admission entitled, "Laffit, All About Winning," a documentary film which chronicles the inspirational story behind the career of one of the greatest and most courageous athletes of all time.

The documentary includes interviews with Pincay, Burt Bacharach, Jerry Bailey, Angel Cordero, Eddie Delahoussaye, John Longden, Richard Mandella, Bill Shoemaker and many others. Horses included are Affirmed, Landaluce, Spend A Buck, Bayakoa, John Henry, Perrault, Skywalker, Spectacular Bid and Swale.

The film was produced and directed by Academy Award winner Jim Wilson and is narrated by Kevin Costner. Wilson and Costner also collaborated on "Dances With Wolves," which was 1991's Academy Award winner for Best Picture.

"Not only was Laffit one of the greatest jockeys of all time, he was and is immensely popular with our fans," said Sherwood Chillingworth, Oak Tree director and executive vice president. "This is a day he and his fans richly deserve and we're thrilled to be a part of it."

Pincay, who retired due to injury in April 2003 at age 56, will be on hand to autograph a limited number of the DVD's and will also be honored with a special ceremony between races.

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EXACTAS, TRIFECTAS AND SCHOLARSHIPS TOMORROW AT KEENELAND

Keeneland and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association partner once again tomorrow on their annual College Scholarship Day. Students have the opportunity to win one of ten $1,000 scholarships that will be given away via random drawing.

Students who enter through the East Entrance and present a valid college I.D. will receive free general admission to the races. To be eligible, students must be enrolled full time and must be present to claim their prizes.

Each student who enters the drawing also will receive a voucher for free general admission, which can be redeemed anytime during the remainder of the fall meet.

Following the tenth race, one scholarship will be presented to a student directly affiliated with the horse industry.

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DREAMER DIRECTOR KNOWS A WINNER WHEN HE SEES ONE

While a guest on TVG last Saturday to promote his upcoming movie "Dreamer," director/screenwriter John Gatins told viewers to play the 1-4-5 trifecta in the eighth race. Sure enough, the trifecta hit, paying $190. When kidded by his interviewer that he should have bet the race, Gatins smiled and pulled out the winning tickets.

"Dreamer", which stars Kurt Russell and Dakota Fanning, opens in theatres nationwide on October 21. Inspired by a true story, its plot centers around a father and daughter whose love for an injured filly culminates with an attempt to win the Breeders' Cup Classic.

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MILITARY PERSONNEL TO BE GUESTS AT BREEDERS' CUP

The "Thoroughbred Thank You Fund" - the brainchild of 1986 West Point graduate and retired Army officer Terry Finley - will bring 200 New York-based military personnel and West Point cadets to the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Belmont Park on October 29th. Included will be New York reservists from the 369th Harlem Hellfighters Battalion and the 69th Infantry, who recently returned from tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The program was made possible by a fund raising effort conducted by Friends of New York Racing, Inc. (FNYR) and West Point Thoroughbreds. Additional support is being provided by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Breeders' Cup Limited and the New York Racing Association (NYRA). A gift by Thoroughbred owner and philanthropist John Hettinger will also provide each service person and cadet with a $10 wagering voucher good for any of the day's races.

"I am pleased to announce that we are well on the way to meeting our goal of hosting 200 New York-based military personnel to what is one of the greatest days in sports and entertainment," said Finley, who heads up West Point Thoroughbreds, one of the sport's leading racing partnerships. "I would like to personally thank all the people who made generous contributions to this cause, and welcome others to join them."

October 15 Road to the World Thoroughbred Championships Powered by Dodge, Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (Keeneland), 5:00-6:00 p.m., ESPN
October 18 Wire to Wire, 2:00-2:30 p.m., ESPN2
October 19 Wire to Wire, 6:00-6:30 a.m., ESPN2
October 27 Wire to Wire, 2:00-3:00 p.m., ESPN2

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 [sic] at Belmont Park.

Oct. 18, 1956: Nashua, ridden by Eddie Arcaro, was paraded at Keeneland in his last appearance at a racetrack.

Oct. 18, 1973: The owners of Secretariat announced that his last race would be the Canadian International Championship Stakes at Woodbine Racecourse.

Oct. 18, 1976: MacK Miller swept the top three spots in the Long Island Handicap with his trainees Javamine, Nijana and Fun Forever.

Oct. 18, 1978: Jockey Dave Gall became the first rider to win eight races during a single program. He rode 10 consecutive races for the day at Cahokia Downs, finishing second and fifth in his two losing efforts.

Oct. 18, 2001: Unbridled, the 1990 Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic winner, was euthanized after developing colic.

Oct. 20, 1923: Zev, winner of the 1923 Kentucky Derby, defeated England's hero Papyrus, winner of the 1923 Epsom Derby, in a $100,000 match race at Belmont Park. The race, the International Special, marked the first time an English champion had been sent to the U.S. to race. For his victory, Zev was awarded $80,000 and a gold cup valued at $5,000. Public interest in the race was so great that it was broadcast on the radio-a first. Within two days, films of the race were distributed at movie theaters in New York City and, eventually, across the nation.

Oct. 20, 1954: Bill Shoemaker rode his 2,000th winner, Florence House, at Tanforan.

Oct. 21, 1961: Eddie Arcaro won the Jockey Club Gold Cup for a record tenth time. His mount, Kelso, won the Gold Cup five straight years, 1960-64, setting the mark for most consecutive victories in a stakes race.

Oct. 22, 1945: El Lobo and Featherfoot became the first Thoroughbreds to be transported by airplane. They were flown from Los Angeles to San Mateo in a twin-engine Budd transport plane piloted by Maj. William Hoelle of the Flying Tiger Line, who landed the plane in the parking area at Bay Meadows. On Oct. 27, El Lobo won the Burlingame Handicap at Bay Meadows, proving that horses could fly (and win).

Oct. 22, 1955: A rare triple dead-heat for first took place at Mexico's Caliente in the eighth race.  Stormsorno, Chance Speed and Beaufair were the three winners.

Oct. 22, 1964: Jockey Bill Shoemaker won the 5,000th victory of his career aboard Slapstick at Aqueduct Race Track.

Oct. 22, 1973: Secretariat was flown to Woodbine Racecourse, where he would compete in his final career race, the Canadian International Championship Stakes.

Oct. 24, 1877: Congress adjourned to see a race between Parole, Ten Broek and Tom Ochiltree, which was held at Pimlico.

Oct. 24, 1953: Tom Fool won the Pimlico Special Stakes by eight lengths, capping a perfect four-year-old campaign with 10 stakes wins in as many starts. The Special was his fourth consecutive race run as a non-betting exhibition. Tom Fool was voted Horse of the Year for 1953, acing out Native Dancer, who lost only one of his 10 stakes races that year, the Kentucky Derby.

Oct. 25, 1870: Pimlico, the nation's second-oldest Thoroughbred racetrack, began its inaugural meet.

Oct. 25, 1947: After winning the Gallant Fox Handicap at Jamaica, a former $1,500 claimer, Stymie, became the world's leading money-winning Thoroughbred, with earnings of $816,060. Stymie raced two additional years and retired in 1949, at age eight, with lifetime winnings of $918,485.

Oct. 25, 2003: Trainer Richard Mandella set a single-day record winning four Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships races at Santa Anita. Mandella saddled Halfbridled to victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies; Action This Day in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile; Johar to a dead-heat win in the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf; and Pleasantly Perfect in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic, Powered by Dodge. The Johar dead heat with High Chaparral in the Turf marked the first dead heat in Breeders' Cup history. And in guiding Halfbridled to victory, jockey Julie Krone became the first woman to ride the winner of a Breeders' Cup flat race.

Oct. 26, 1949: Bill Shoemaker rode to his first stakes victory, the George Marshall Claiming Handicap at Bay Meadows, aboard a five-year-old horse named Al.

Oct. 26, 1990: Jockey Julie Krone rode her 2,000th career winner, aboard John Forbes-trained Rainbow Quartz, at The Meadowlands.

Oct. 26, 1996: The Breeders' Cup was held outside the U.S. for the first time, at Woodbine Racecourse in Toronto, Canada. At Woodbine, Jenine Sahadi became the first female trainer to saddle a Breeders' Cup winner when she sent Lit de Justice to victory in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

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WEEKEND STAKES RACES (unrestricted stakes worth $75,000 and up)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20