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

Tim Smith, Commissioner of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), today announced that Herb Moelis, Allaire duPont and Gary Biszantz --three of Thoroughbred racing's best-known philanthropists -- have joined the board of NTRA Charities as independent directors. Smith, along with NTRA board members and representatives Bill Bork, Robert Clay, Douglas Donn, Thomas H. Meeker, Terence Blair Meyocks and Bill Walmsley, will also serve on the board.

'We are honored to have such distinguished members of the Thoroughbred industry join the board of NTRA Charities,' Smith said. 'Not only do these individuals care deeply for their own horses, each of them has worked tirelessly to ensure that former racehorses receive daily care, adequate shelter, retraining and a permanent home. Besides caring for our equine athletes, they also understand the needs of horse people and racing communities. They are an inspiration to many other like-minded members of the racing community.'

Moelis, a retired CPA and tax attorney, raises Thoroughbreds with his wife Ellen at their CandyLand Farm in Delaware. In 1990, he and Ellen initiated a stallion season auction to benefit Thoroughbred charities. Proceeds from the first auction, which totaled $15,000, were donated to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, which provides aftercare for retired racehorses and education programs on equine management that benefit prison inmates. Since then, the Moelises have annually hosted a stallion season auction, raising well over $1 million for equine-related charities. In 1997, the Moelises formed Thoroughbred Charities of America, which conducts the annual auction and distributes grants to organizations that are involved in equine medical research and retirement programs for ex-racehorses.

Allaire duPont, best-known as the owner of five-time Horse of the Year Kelso, is a member of The Jockey Club, a trustee of the Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association, a member of the board of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, a founder and member of the board of Greener Pastures, and a founder and vice president of Thoroughbred Charities of America. In addition to her efforts on behalf of Greener Pastures, which provides care, shelter and adoption services for former racehorses, she has long been involved with fundraising for the protection and retirement of Thoroughbreds.

In 1998, Gary Biszantz, a Thoroughbred owner and the former chairman of Cobra Golf, donated $220,000 to the United Pegasus Foundation (UPF), which offers sanctuary for ex-racehorses. With UPF's opening of the Harry A. Biszantz Memorial Center for Thoroughbred Rehabilitation and Retirement in Tehachapi, Calif., the state's former racehorses now have a safe haven that provides shelter, retraining and retirement. The 40-acre, 65-stall facility was established through Biszantz's gift in memory of his father.

Formed in 1999, NTRA Charities is a nonprofit subsidiary of the NTRA, which is dedicated to helping horses, horse people and racing communities that are home to Thoroughbred racing. NTRA Charities serves to increase recognition for and financial contributions to established charities that merit the support of the Thoroughbred industry.

On Preakness Stakes Day, Saturday, May 15 at Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Md., NTRA Commissioner Tim Smith and Thoroughbred Charities of America President Herb Moelis will jointly present checks totaling $100,000 to eight charitable organizations that have been selected to receive the first-ever distribution of funds from NTRA Charities. NTRA Charities is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), which is dedicated to helping horses, horse people and civic communities that are home to Thoroughbred racing.

The grant recipients, all based in the Mid-Atlantic region, are: Greener Pastures Thoroughbred Retirement, a division of the National Humane Education Society providing care and shelter for horses; the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, one of the country's foremost equine medical research facilities; Freedom Hills Therapeutic Riding Academy, which offers riding programs for challenged youth; Days End Rescue Farm, a Maryland-based horse-rescue program; Ryerss Farm for Aged and Retired Equines, a home to horses for nearly 100 years; the Father Martin Ashley House, a rehabilitation program for backstretch workers with substance-abuse problems; the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, serving thousands of horses each year from Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia; and the Maryland Horsemen's Assistance Fund, which provides financial aid to needy backstretch personnel.

'Preakness Day affords us a wonderful opportunity to reaffirm the importance of the horse in the Mid-Atlantic region, which has long supported Thoroughbred racing and breeding,' said Smith. 'It is a privilege to recognize these worthy charities for their efforts on behalf of the horse as well as the many people who devote their lives to caring for horses.'

'I am happy to recognize the good work being done by these organizations, which add so much to the quality of life for horses,' said Moelis. 'This occasion is equally important for marking the launch of NTRA Charities as a significant funder for equine-related charities. I think it is fitting that the kick-off for NTRA Charities takes place at Pimlico-Maryland farms and Maryland horse owners have been enormously supportive of the TCA for many years.' Moelis added that a similar presentation ceremony will be held at the Belmont Stakes.

Formed in 1999, NTRA Charities serves to increase recognition for and financial contributions to established charities that merit the support of the Thoroughbred industry. The work of NTRA Charities is made possible through a collaboration between the NTRA and TCA, a nonprofit charity staffed by volunteers devoted to raising funds for equine research, retirement and rescue organizations. Both organizations provide funding for NTRA Charities. The NTRA is raising funds for NTRA Charities through an NTRA affinity card, which will be issued by First USA Bank. Net royalties generated by card usage will flow to NTRA Charities. In addition, the NTRA will donate television airtime and production services for a series of public service announcements on live racing telecasts to publicize NTRA Charities and the charitable and benevolent projects now existing in the racing industry.

The Woodlawn Vase, annually presented to the Preakness Stakes winner, has a colorful history that rivals the classic race itself. The beautifully designed silver art prize is displayed by the Maryland Jockey Club on the winner's stand immediately after the great race at Pimlico.

In 1983, the silver was assessed for $1 million, easily the most valuable trophy in American sports. The Woodlawn Vase, 34 inches in height and weighing 29 pounds, 12 ounces, was created by Tiffany and Co. in 1860 for R. Aitcheson Alexander as a trophy for the now-defunct Woodlawn Racing Association in Louisville. It has been raced for in Louisville, Elizabeth, N.J., the Coney Island Jockey Club, Jerome Park, Morris Park, and since 1917, at Pimlico Race Course.

Created as a challenge cup, the Woodlawn Vase was first won by Capt. T. G. Moore's mare, Mollie Jackson, in 1861. The same owner retained possession the following year through the victory of the famous mare Idlewind. The outbreak of the Civil War prevented further competition until 1866. The vase in the meantime was buried at Woodlawn with others of the Moore family plate, so it wouldn't be discovered and melted into shot.

In 1917, the vase was presented to the Maryland Jockey Club to be used as the Preakness trophy that year. The vase remained in the possession of the winning Preakness owner each year until 1953, when Alfred G. Vanderbilt's Native Dancer won it. The vase was forwarded to the Vanderbilt's residence at Oyster Bay, Long Island, but Mrs. Vanderbilt declined to accept responsibility for its safekeeping. A half-size reproduction, valued at $25,000 which requires eight weeks' execution by the Kirk-Stieff Co., Baltimore silversmiths, is now awarded to the owner of the Preakness winner on a permanent basis. The original is on display at the Baltimore Museum of Art and is brought to Pimlico under guard at Preakness time.

As soon as the Preakness Stakes winner has been declared official, a painter climbs a ladder to the top of a replica of the track's Old Clubhouse cupola at the Baltimore racetrack. He applies the colors of the winning owner's silks on the jockey and horse, which are part of the weather vane atop the infield structure.

The practice started in 1909 at Pimlico when a horse and rider weather vane sat at the top of the old Members' Clubhouse, which was constructed when Pimlico opened in 1870. The Victorian building was destroyed by fire in June of 1966. A replica of the old building's cupola was built to stand in the Preakness winner's circle in the infield.

Originally, the ancient building had an arrow-shaped weather vane, but in 1909 it was struck down by lightning. To replace it, the Maryland Jockey Club commissioned an ornamental iron worker to forge a vane in the form of a horse and a rider. It was christened that spring by coating it with the colors of the silks worn by Effendi, winner of the 1909 Preakness.

The jockey on Effendi was Willie Doyle, who later served as one of the best racing officials in America and whose ashes, upon his death at the age of 67 in 1950, were spread across the finish line of the track where he scored his most famous victory.

In recent years, Tommy Ennis, a Charles Town, W. Va., sign painter, had the honor of applying the winning colors on the five foot wide aluminum model of horse and rider weather vane on the replica of the old clubhouse. Ennis retired in 1987. Michael Willinger of Sykesville, Md., took over the job for the 1987 Preakness. Lawrence Jones, who lives in the Pimlico neighborhood, has the job now.

When Willinger had the assignment to paint the new colors on the weather vane, he commented, 'It is just the thrill of being able to participate in a big local and national event like this. Let's face it, its the only televised sign painting job in the country.'

The Jockey Club Foundation, which provides financial assistance to needy individuals and their families within the Thoroughbred racing industry, and The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, a comprehensive research center dedicated to finding more effective treatment and, ultimately, a cure for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury, will be the joint beneficiaries of the 1999 Breeders' Cup Gala at Turnberry Isle Country Club in Aventura, Fla., Friday, Nov. 5.

'Although by design we don't hear much about the good deeds of The Jockey Club Foundation, it has helped countless individuals and their families in our industry in times of need through the years. We're proud to raise funds on its behalf to ensure further assistance to our fellow racetrackers in the months and years ahead,' said D.G. Van Clief Jr., president of Breeders' Cup Ltd. 'We're equally proud to help The Miami Project because we recognize the organization's commitment and dedication to improving conditions for those with spinal cord injuries, including jockeys and exercise riders from our sport.'

Arrangements for the Breeders' Cup Gala will be handled by Nancy Kelly, the director of development for The Jockey Club Foundation, and Lily Abello, the executive director of the South Florida Breeders' Cup Host Committee. A featured entertainer will be announced in the coming weeks. 'All involved with The Jockey Club Foundation are grateful to the Breeders' Cup and honored to share the evening with The Miami Project,' Kelly said.

Miami Project Ambassador Marc A. Buoniconti applauded the Breeders' Cup Host Committee's choice of The Miami Project as its co-beneficiary. 'This speaks volumes about their vision and commitment to help eradicate the catastrophic effects of spinal cord injury. The propensity for injuries is a risk that the Thoroughbred racing industry knows all too well. Supporting our research is testimony to their foresight and belief that our goal is attainable and a cure for paralysis will be found.'

The Jockey Club Foundation, a charitable trust founded in 1943, is maintained under the auspices of The Jockey Club and its financial support is derived through individual and corporate contributions. The Foundation provides financial assistance for medical and hospital expenses, monthly living expenses and rehabilitation and therapy.

The Miami Project was founded in 1985 through the vision and dedicated efforts of Dr. Barth Green, an internationally recognized expert in the field of spinal cord injury. National attention focused on The Miami Project following the injury to Marc Buoniconti, the son of the football legend Nick Buoniconti. The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, located at the University of Miami School of Medicine, is the world's largest and most comprehensive research center dedicated to spinal cord injuries.

The 16th running of the $13 million Breeders' Cup Championship will be held Saturday, Nov. 6 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Fla.

May 13, 1845: The Great Sectional Match, the North versus the South, was run at Union Course in New York. Fashion, representing the North, raced against the South's Peytona in a match race won by Peytona. Three years earlier, Fashion had defeated Boston, who represented the South, in another North-South rivalry.

May 13, 1891: Kingman, the only African American-owned horse to win the Derby, did so with jockey Isaac Murphy in the irons. Kingman was owned and trained by African American Dudley Allen. The win gave jockey Isaac Murphy back-to-back Derby victories and made him the first jockey to win three Derbies.

May 13, 1939: Louis Schaefer became the first person to have ridden and trained a Preakness Stakes winner after he saddled Challedon to victory. Schaefer won the 1929 Preakness as a jockey, riding Dr. Freeland. Schaefer's double was replicated by jockey-turned-trainer John Longden, who rode Count Fleet in the 1943 Preakness and trained Majestic Prince to win the race in 1969.

May 13, 1973: Secretariat worked five furlongs in :57 2-5 at Pimlico Racecourse in preparation for the May 19 Preakness Stakes. He was eased after completing his workout distance, but still ran six furlongs in 1:10.

May 14, 1978: Having recovered from the often-deadly Colitis X virus, Seattle Slew won his first start as a four-year-old in an allowance race at Aqueduct.

May 14, 1989: E.P. Taylor, owner of Windfields Farms and breeder of Northern Dancer, died at age 88.

May 15, 1918: Two horses -- War Cloud and Jack Hare Jr. -- were declared the winner of the Preakness Stakes, not because of a dead heat, but because the race was run in two divisions.

May 15, 1952: John Longden won his 4,000th victory, riding at Hollywood Park.

May 15, 1954: Nashua won his first race, running 4 1-2 furlongs over a straightaway at Belmont Park.

May 15, 1993: Genuine Risk, the second of three fillies to have won the Kentucky Derby since it began in 1875, gave birth to her first foal after 13 years of failed attempts and miscarriages. The foal, a son of Rahy, was named Genuine Reward.

May 16, 1884: Buchanan became the first maiden to win the Kentucky Derby. Only two other maiden horses have gone on to win the Run for the Roses: Sir Barton in 1919, and Brokers Tip in 1933.

May 16, 1925: The first network radio broadcast of the Kentucky Derby aired from WHAS in Louisville.

May 16, 1979: Gary Stevens rode his first career winner, named Lil Star, trained by his father, Ron Stevens, at Les Bois Park.

May 16, 1998: Bob Baffert became the first person to train Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winners in successive years. In 1997, Baffert won the Derby and Preakness with Silver Charm; the following year, he won with Real Quiet.

May 17, 1875: America's oldest continuously held sporting event, the Kentucky Derby, was first run. The race was won by Aristides, who was ridden and trained by African Americans Oliver Lewis and Ansel Williamson, respectively. The day marked the opening of Churchill Downs; an estimated 10,000 spectators witnessed the first Derby.

May 17, 1881: James Rowe Sr., then age 24, became the youngest trainer to saddle a Kentucky Derby winner after Hindoo took the 7th Derby for his owners, brothers Phil and Mike Dwyer, both notorious gamblers.

May 17, 1915: Rhine Maiden, in winning the Preakness Stakes, produced the only Kentucky Derby-Preakness wins by fillies in the same year. The 1915 Derby was won by Regret, who did not compete in the Preakness.

May 17, 1930: Two-year-old Equipoise gave owner C.V. Whitney his first stakes victory when he captured the Keene Memorial Stakes at Belmont Park at odds of 3-5.

May 17, 1947: Seabiscuit, owned by Charles S. Howard, succumbed to a heart attack at Ridgewood Ranch in Willits, Calif. He was 14.

May 17, 1976: Sixteen-year-old Steve Cauthen rode his first winner, Thomas Bischoff-trained Red Pipe, in the eighth race at River Downs. By the end of his first year of apprenticeship, Cauthen had won 240 races from 1,170 mounts and $1.2 million in purses.

May 18, 1931: Fifteen-year-old Eddie Arcaro rode his first race, finishing sixth, at Bainbridge Park, Ohio. At year's end, he remained winless after 36 tries.

May 18, 1935: The Seagram family won the Queen's Plate stakes (then called the King's Plate), a record 20th time. From 1891-1898, the Seagrams' horses won the Plate every year.

May 18, 1957: Eddie Arcaro set the record for most number of Preakness Stakes wins by a jockey, six, when he rode Bold Ruler to victory for Wheatley Stable.

May 18, 1968: Judy Johnson became the first female trainer to saddle a horse for the Preakness Stakes. Her horse, Sir Beau, finished seventh in a field of 10.

May 18, 1968: Calumet Farm set the record for most number of wins in the Preakness Stakes by an owner, seven, when Forward Pass won the race by six lengths.

May 18, 1985: Patricia Cooksey became the first female jockey to compete in the Preakness Stakes. Her mount, Tajawa, finished sixth in a field of 11.

May 18, 1996: Jockey Pat Day won his third consecutive Preakness Stakes and his fifth Preakness overall, after riding Louis Quatorze to victory. The win, for trainer Nick Zito, snapped the Triple Crown race win-streak of trainer D. Wayne Lukas, which had run to six, beginning with the 1994 Preakness, won by Tabasco Cat.

May 18, 1998: Trainer Aimee Hall saddled four winners from five starters at Suffolk Downs, with all of the winners being ridden by her husband, Jose Caraballo. The wins are believed to be the first involving a married couple as jockey and trainer.

May 19, 1961: Jockey Bill Shoemaker notched his 4,000th career win aboard Guaranteeya at Hollywood Park.

May 19, 1964: Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. won his first race, aboard Huelen, riding at Presidente Remon in Panama.

May 19, 1973: Secretariat's winning performance in the Preakness Stakes was marred by a controversy over the timing of the race. The original teletimer time was 1:55 for the 1 3-16-mile race; Pimlico amended it to 1:54 2-5 two days later.

May 20, 1916: In an unprecedented sweep, Mandarin, Gala Water and Gala Day finished first, second and third, respectively, in the King's Plate at Woodbine for their owner, distiller Joseph Emm Seagram. Three days later, Mandarin and Gala Water again finished one-two, this time in the Breeders' Stakes.

May 20, 1941: Seventeen days after his Kentucky Derby win and 10 days after his Preakness victory, Whirlaway raced against older horses for the first time. Carrying 108 pounds, Whirlaway defeated his four rivals in the Henry of Navarre Purse at Belmont Park.

May 20, 1954: At odds of 13-1, Rex Ellsworth's two-year-old colt Swaps won his maiden race by three lengths at Hollywood Park.

May 20, 1973: Having won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, Secretariat shipped from Pimlico to New York in preparation for the Belmont Stakes, final jewel in the Triple Crown.

May 20, 1977: Two-year-old John Henry won his first start ever, a four-furlong maiden race at Jefferson Downs, by a nose. When he was retired in 1984, the gelding had 39 wins, 15 seconds and nine thirds from 83 starts, seven Eclipse Awards and earnings of $6,597,947.

May 21, 1978: John Henry made his first start for Dotsam Stable, winning a $25,000 claiming race at Aqueduct.

May 21, 1992: Jockey Gary Stevens hit his 3,000th winner in the fifth race at Hollywood Park, aboard Sharp Event.

May 22, 1974: Locust Hill Farm's Ruffian won her first start, a maiden race for two-year-old fillies, by 15 lengths at Belmont Park. Sent off at odds of 4-1, Ruffian completed the 5 1-2 furlongs in 1:03.

May 23, 1936: Rushaway, ridden by John Longden, won his second derby in as many days, taking the 1 1-4-mile Latonia Derby at Latonia in Covington, Ky. Rushaway had won the 1 1-8-mile Illinois Derby, run at Aurora, outside Chicago, the previous day.

May 23, 1992: Jockey Jacinto Vasquez had his 5,000th career winner, aboard Susan Pixum, at Calder Racecourse.

May 23, 1992: Angel Cordero Jr. made his first start as a trainer, with Puchinito, who finished fifth in the fifth race at Belmont Park.