(Edited Keeneland Association report)

Lexington, Ky. – Keeneland concluded its September Yearling Sale on Monday with sales negatively impacted by a market in the midst of a correction, and exacerbated by an unprecedented crisis in the global economy.

(Edited Oak Tree at Santa Anita report)

ARCADIA, Calif. — One of the most popular events on the Southern California racing calendar, the California Cup, a series of 10 races for California-bred horses with purses totaling $1 million, will be staged for the 20th time  Saturday, Oct. 3, at Santa Anita’s Oak Tree meeting.

(Edited Churchill Downs Inc. release)

Based on a review of its eperimental three night racing cards during the spring meet, Churchill Downs Inc. announced Sept. 28 it will install permanent lights at its flagship racetrack in Louisville, Ky.

(Edited Meadowlands Racetrack report)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Meadowlands Racetrack opens this Thursday, Oct. 1, with a nine-race program that attracted a total of 88 entries.  The 47-day meet will run through Dec. 5.

David Zenner
Arlington Park

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – The 98-day meeting at Arlington Park ended Sunday, Sept. 27, with owner Frank C. Calabrese and trainer Wayne Catalano in their familiar positions atop the standings in their respective divisions while jockey Junior Alvarado picked up his first riding title at the suburban Chicago racetrack.

David Zenner
Arlington Park

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Timothy Keely’s Peyote Patty captured her fifth straight race when making her turf debut in the $100,000 Virginia H. Tarra Illinois Owners Stakes, the closing day feature at Arlington Park.  Tim Thornton rode the Steve Fridley-trained daughter of Cactus Ridge who covered the mile and a sixteenth over a turf course rated “good” in 1:44.94.

Ed Golden
Oak Tree at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. – Mine That Bird, who shocked the racing world by winning the Kentucky Derby at 50-1 and thrust relatively unknown trainer Bennie (Chip) Woolley Jr. into the national spotlight, has settled in well at Santa Anita after arriving at 2 a.m. Friday morning to prepare for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic hosted by the Oak Tree Racing Association on Nov. 7.

(Edited Keeneland Association report)

Lexington, Ky. – A colt by Whywhywhy sold for $50,000 to top the Sunday session of Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale.

Patrick Biancone signed the ticket on behalf of Flying Zee Stable. The colt, consigned by Eaton Sales, agent, is out of French stakes winner Marche de Paix (FR), by Marchand de Sable. 

Jenny Kellner
NYRA/Belmont Park

ELMONT, N.Y. – Chester and Mary Broman’s heavily-favored Mineralogist and Richlyn Farms’ longshot Make Note both scored their first stakes victories at Belmont Park Sunday afternoon, with Mineralogist drawing clear in the $108,500 Joseph A. Gimma and Make Note taking over in the final yards of the $107,000 Bertram F. Bongard.

BUT FOLLOWS NATIONAL TREND WITH WAGERING DECLINES

(Edited Monmouth Park report)

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Monmouth Park concluded its 2009 meeting Sunday showing a significant gain in average attendance, even as wagering followed what has become this year’s national downward trend.