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News and notes from around the Thoroughbred racing world, compiled by Thoroughbred Racing Communications, Inc. (TRC) (212) 371-5911.  NTRA UNVEILS SPONSORS, NEW COMMERCIALS AND $5 MILLION BONUS FOR FOX SERIES In a presentation at the 25th annual Symposium on Racing in Tucson, Ariz., Commissioner Tim Smith and other members of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) management team announced the addition of several new official sponsors and suppliers; the points and bonus system for the inaugural 'NTRA Champions on FOX' televised racing series; and unveiled eight new television commercials starring actor Rip Torn. In addition to Smith, the NTRA speakers included Rick Baedeker, senior vice president of marketing; Basil DeVito, senior vice president of television and sponsorships; Nick Nicholson, senior vice president and executive director; and Darby Abbott, director of sponsorships and new media. The NTRA announced that: AT&T;, which operates the world's largest communications network and is the leading provider of long-distance and wireless services, has become an Official Sponsor of the NTRA and will place television commercials in NTRA racing telecasts on ABC, ESPN, espn2, FOX and FOX Sports Net from January through November of 1999. Gallery Furniture has signed on as an Official Sponsor and Official Supplier in the office furniture category and will advertise on NTRA racing telecasts, in national print media and on the NTRA web site. The inaugural 'NTRA Champions on FOX' will feature a $5 million bonus for any horse sweeping the five Grade I events in the series televised on the FOX Network; a $1 million bonus for any horse who wins three races in the series and the last event, the Pacific Classic; and a $500,000 bonus for any horse who wins two of the events plus the Pacific Classic. In addition, a performance-based 'FOX Bonus Points' system has been added. The Jockeys' Guild has joined the NTRA as a Contributing Member. Guild members will participate in the NTRA's advertising campaign and public service announcements. Daily Racing Form has become an Official Sponsor and Winner's Circle member of the NTRA in a deal that will include a wide variety of cross-promotional ventures between the two organizations. Equibase, a general partnership between the Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America (TRA) and The Jockey Club, has become an Official Supplier to the NTRA and will be recognized as the Official Supplier of racing information and statistics. The Jockey Club Information Systems, Inc. (TJCIS) has become an Official Supplier and will be the NTRA's official source of breeding and sales information for the Thoroughbred industry. The NTRA also provided updates on sponsorship, advertising, membership, market research and the progress of the various NTRA work groups: Customer Service, Simulcast Standards, Product Enhancement, Database Marketing and Fan Education. TWO FLORIDA RACETRACKS TO BE SOLD? The state of Florida recently paid for a $185,000 feasibility study, which recommended that the city of Hialeah, Fla., purchase part of the historic Hialeah Park racetrack for $41 million and schedule a 21-day live meeting. The recommendation is based on the importance of Hialeah Park, both in an historical context and to the citizens of the City of Hialeah as the last remaining substantial open area in the city. The study concluded that the track's land and parimutuel permit are worth $32.6 million. Renovations are estimated at $8 million; however, 25 acres of remote parking lots could be sold for $5 million for development. The study also suggested that 40 of the racetrack's 61 live racing dates be transferred to nearby Gulfstream Park or Calder Racecourse. There has been no public comment on the recommendation from Hialeah officials. A public hearing has been scheduled at Hialeah City Hall on Dec. 17. Calder Racecourse is reportedly up for sale as well. The owners of the Miami racetrack indicate that they will decide within the next several weeks whether they will sell the track. Calder President Ken Dunn confirmed that Kawasaki Leasing, which took control of the track in 1991, has hired a firm to market the property and the owner has received offers from parties to purchase the track. While Dunn said no satisfactory offer had been made as of Tuesday, Kawasaki would likely determine what course of action to take within the next two weeks. Dunn said that Kawasaki is looking for three things from a new owner: the right price (believed to be approximately $80-million); a good corporate citizen who will work with horsemen; and someone who will retain the existing work force. Interested parties reportedly include Churchill Downs, Inc., Penn National Gaming Corp. and Wembley, Inc. ARCI ANNOUNCES UNIFORM LICENSING FOR OWNERS The Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) announced on Dec. 7 the introduction of a uniform, one-fingerprint, one-license multiple application form for racehorse owners, which will be used in 28 racing jurisdictions. The Multi-Jurisdictional Licensing Program for Owners will eliminate the often tedious chore of filling out repetitive forms and obtaining multiple fingerprint cards for owners who race their horses in more than one state or province. All of the major racing jurisdictions, including New York, New Jersey and California, among others, have agreed to the program, which will be instituted in 1999. Fingerprints will be required only once every five years instead of the previous three. EQUIBASE COMPANY DECLARES $525,000 DIVIDEND; BECOMES OFFICIAL SUPPLIER FOR RACING INFORMATION AND STATISTICS TO NTRA The Management Committee of Equibase Company, at its meeting in Tucson, Ariz., Dec. 10, declared a dividend of $525,000 to Equibase's partners. 'One of Equibase's original goals was to create a significant, ongoing revenue stream for both the member racetracks of the Thoroughbred Racing Associations and The Jockey Club,' said Equibase Chairman Alan Marzelli. 'This dividend brings our total distribution to $1.2 million in 1998.' This latest Equibase dividend follows distributions earlier this year of $675,000. The Company has been profitable each year since 1993, and was able to retire the initial start-up loan extended by The Jockey Club, in 1997.
Dec. 10, Racehorse Digest, 1:30-2:00 a.m., ESPN
Dec. 10, 1977: In his second year of riding, Steve Cauthen became the first jockey to win $6 million in a single season when he rode a three-year-old filly, Little Happiness, to victory in the sixth race at Aqueduct. Cauthen was dubbed 'The Six Million Dollar Man,' and 'Stevie Wonder' by his admirers and was named 1977 Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated, the Associated Press, ABC's Wide World of Sports and The Sporting News. He also received three Eclipse Awards, being voted an award of merit in addition to earning top honors as both a journeyman and apprentice jockey. Dec. 11, 1983: John Henry became the first racehorse to surpass $4 million in career earnings when he won the Hollywood Turf Cup with jockey Chris McCarron at Hollywood Park. Dec. 13, 1986: Jockey Kent Desormeaux had his first career stakes win, aboard Godbey, in the Maryland City Handicap at Laurel. Dec. 15, 1973: Sandy Hawley became the first jockey in history to win 500 races in a single year when he rode Charlie Jr. to victory in the third race at Laurel. Dec. 17, 1936: Crooner Bing Crosby announced plans to construct a new racetrack, to be called the Del Mar Turf Club. Dec. 17, 1993: Fire destroyed the 122-year-old grandstand of Fair Grounds, the nation's third-oldest racetrack. Dec. 18, 1983: Hollywood Park held the first $1 million race for two-year-old Thoroughbreds, the Hollywood Futurity, which was won by Fali Time, ridden by Sandy Hawley. Dec. 18, 1992: Tampa Bay began using Equibase Company past-performance information in its official track program, which enabled Equibase Company to cap its first year of operation with 25 subscribers using its past-performance data for live race meets.
Hollywood Futurity, 2yo, $200,000, 1 1-16 miles, Grade I, Hollywood Vernon O. Underwood Stakes, 3&up;, $100,000, 6 F, Grade III, Hollywood Louisiana Champions Day at the Fair Grounds: Ladies Handicap, 3&up; (f&m;), $100,000, 1 1-16 miles Turf Handicap, 3&up;, $100,000, 1 1-16 miles (T) Sprint Handicap, 3&up;, $100,000, 6 F Juvenile Stakes, 2yo, $100,000, 6 F Lassie Stakes, 2yo fillies, $100,000, 6 F What a Pleasure Stakes, 2yo, $100,000, 1 1-16 miles, Grade III, Calder Queens County Handicap, 3&up;, $75,000, 1 3-16 miles, Grade III, Aqueduct Paradise Mile Handicap, 3&up;, $75,000, 1 mile (T), Turf Paradise
Hollywood Starlet Stakes, 2yo fillies, $200,000, 1 1-16 miles, Grade I, Hollywood Dahlia Handicap, 3&up; (f&m;), $100,000, 1 1-16 miles (T), Grade II, Hollywood Boca Raton Stakes, 2 yo fillies, $100,000, 1 1-16 miles, Calder
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