OCEANPORT RACING REPORT.com MEADOWLANDS FINISH WIRE 2005

November 14, 2005

BRAVO NAILS 10TH RIDING TITLE; HONORS TO SERVIS & OCEAN VIEW
Big M.com

Joe Bravo secured his tenth Meadowlands riding title, and a pair of first-time winners were also end of meet honorees, when thoroughbred racing at the East Rutherford track drew to a close on Saturday night, November 12, 2005.

Top training honors went to Jason Servis, and the Ocean View Stables of Toms River, New Jersey claimed the top owner title.

Bravo, 34, the most dominant rider on the New Jersey circuit since winning his first Meadowlands crown in 1991, finished the season with 24 wins, 24 seconds and 19 thirds from 118 starts for earnings of $881,774. He also has 12 Monmouth Park crowns to his credit. This fall, he prevailed over apprentice Channing Hill with 19 wins, Rajiv Maragh with 17 wins and Chuck Lopez and Jose Lezcano, with 16 each.

Bravo won at a 20 percent clip and finished in-the-money with 57 percent of his mounts.

"I'm just lucky to get to ride the horses that I do,” said Bravo. “I have to thank all the owners and trainers who have confidence in me and let me go out there and do what I do. It's an honor and I'm happy that I was able to win the title. Hopefully, I'll be back next year and can do as well again."

West Virginia-born Jason Servis, 48, a lifelong horseman and former jockey’s valet, opened his public stable in December of 2001 and scored his first victory in March of 2002 with Hattab Be You at Aqueduct. Most of the horses in his 30-horse stable are owned by Dennis Drazin, Char-Mari Stable and the LaMarca Stable.

“It’s like a dream,” said Servis after Minor’s Gold won the second race on Saturday night. “I should play the lottery!”

Servis completed the Meadowlands fall thoroughbred meet with 15 wins, seven seconds and four thirds from 38 starts and purse earnings of $345,402 to claim his first training title. He won at a formidable 39 percent rate and finished in-the-money with 68 percent of his starters.

“All those years working in the jocks’ room, now my ship’s come in,” he said with a wide grin.

Trailing Servis in the trainer standings were Timothy Hills with 10 winners, Todd Pletcher with eight and four trainers tied with seven winners: Patrica Farro, Gregory Sacco, Jim Ryerson and Dennis Manning.

For Dr. Joseph Birnbaum of Toms River, New Jersey, whose nom de racecourse is Ocean View Stables, the leading owner title was a big surprise.

“I’ve owned and bred horses for about 25 years,” the endocrinologist said. “I got into it because of my ex-wife. I’m interested in the breeding and racing almost all homebreds. I do all the pedigree work. I find it is relaxing, compared to medicine.”

As a solo practitioner with a busy practice, Dr. Birnbaum does not always get to the track to see his horses compete at the Meadowlands, often watching the races on the Internet.

“I’ve got about 20 horses running and 13 broodmares at Colonial Farms [in Colts Neck, New Jersey],” he noted. “I’ve been very lucky picking out cheap studs who become something big later. The ones I pick are generally [standing for stud fees of] $10,000 or less.”

The Ocean View horses are split among three trainers – Glenn Thompson, J. Willard Thompson and Russell Cash.

“[The late] Buddy Raines used to train all my horses, I’d even say he trained me in the horse racing business,” Dr. Birnbaum added.

Ocean View Stables completed the meet with seven wins, one seconds and six thirds from 43 starts for earnings of $226,843. Three owners were tied with four winners each: Mac Fehsenfeld, Edward P. Evans and Joel A. Kligman.

Highlighting the 25-date meet were more than $2 million in added money races, including four graded stakes.

On October 7, Edward P. Evans’ Tap Day captured the track’s signature event, the Grade 2 $500,000 Meadowlands Breeders’ Cup, by three lengths over 5-2 favorite Alumni Hall with another length and a quarter back to Purge. Eibar Coa was in the saddle for the winning effort on the Mark Hennig-trainee. “He had a lot of work to do at the eighth pole, but he was ready,” said Hennig. “Those were two very nice horses in front of him. He had an edge because he’s run here before and he likes the track.” The time of the mile and an eighth on the main track was 1:48.4.

For three-year-olds the high point of the season was the Grade 3 $250,000 Pegasus Stakes on opening night of the meet, September 30. Elisabeth H. Alexander’s Magna Graduate held off 50-1 shot Crown Point to win by a length and a quarter. The mile and an eighth was clocked in 1:47.2.

Network was another five and three-quarter lengths back in third.

“He was very impressive,” said John Velazquez, who road the winner for trainer Todd Pletcher. “We inherited the lead a little earlier than I would have liked, but when the other horse came at him, he responded right away.”

A pair of Grade 3 stakes on the turf – the Cliff Hanger and the Violet -- each with a purse of $150,000 and carded at a mile and a sixteenth, were among the meet highlights.

Hotstufanthensome, ridden by Rajiv Maragh and trained by Norman Pointer, overcame a soft course, constant showers and an inquiry to win the Cliff Hanger on October 22. He drew off to a 14 and a half-length victory over Icy Atlantic with another half-length to Stormy Ray in third. Hotstufanthensome, racing for Lesley Steinger of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, covered the distance in 1:47.1.

The fillies were on display in the Violet on October 21 and the victory went to Humoristic in 1:42.1. It was Humoristic’s first stakes victory. Owned by Mrs. Arturo Peralta Ramos, the filly is trained by Hamilton A. Smith. Harry Vega was aboard for the three-length victory over 6-5 favorite Delta Princess. Brunilda was third, another half-length back.

On November 10, the Meadowlands hosted the Katrina Invitational Jockey Challenge, bringing together Louisiana natives Kent Desormeaux, Craig Perret, Eddie Martin Jr. and Mark Guidry along with Hall of Famer Gary Stevens to compete against the local jockey colony and sign autographs. The fundraising effort produced more than $25,000 dedicated to help the recovery efforts for Louisiana horsemen who suffered damage from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Plagued by heavy rain and winds, the Meadowlands meet was pared back by programs cut short [October 8 and 11] and five cancellations [October 12, 13, 14, 15 and 25].

On-track wagering for the 25 racing dates totaled $9,169,883 and with the addition of wagering at more than 350 simulcasting locations, the total handle was $46,395,883.

While the daily average on-track attendance of 4,372 on a total of 109,309 was up 6.3 percent as compared to 2004, wagering was off from 12 to 15 percent.

The average on-track handle was $366,795 [compared to $418,276 in 2004] and the average total handle, including wagering at simulcast locations, was $1,855,835 [compared to $2,204,704 in 2004].

Purse distribution for the meet was nearly $8 million.

FINAL STANDINGS

Meadowlands 2005 Meet Leading Jockeys – September 30 to November 12, 2005

Name	Sts	1st	2nd	3rd	Win%	$%	Purses
Joe Bravo	118	24	24	19	20	57	$881,774
Channing Hill*	114	19	17	20	17	49	$481,436
Rajiv Maragh	109	17	20	15	16	48	$561,525
Charles C. Lopez	101	16	14	15	16	45	$457,711
Jose Lezcano	82	16	9	12	20	45	$430,286
Michael C. Baze	115	15	11	14	13	35	$378,794
Aaron T. Gryder	56	13	12	5	23	54	$413,463
Christopher P. DeCarlo	44	11	10	4	25	57	$366,153
Elvis Trujillo	73	9	10	9	12	38	$274,045
Alan Garcia	56	9	9	6	16	43	$229,263
Jose A. Velez Jr.	52	9	8	8	17	48	$334,592
Kyle Kaenel*	53	9	5	4	17	34	$185,075

* Denotes Apprentice Rider

Meadowlands 2005 Meet Leading Trainers – September 30 to November 12, 2005

Name	Sts	1st	2nd	3rd	Win%	$%	Purses
Jason Servis	38	15	7	4	39	68	$345,402
Timothy A. Hills	49	10	8	5	20	47	$276,900
Todd A. Pletcher	38	8	10	4	21	58	$467,980
Patricia Farro	57	7	10	11	12	49	$225,032
Gregory D. Sacco	31	7	6	4	23	55	$159,265
Dennis J. Manning	36	7	5	6	19	50	$178,770
James T. Ryerson	35	7	2	3	20	34	$181,559
Kelly J. Breen	45	6	10	2	13	40	$187,810
J. Willard Thompson	64	5	13	13	8	48	$265,863
Edwin T. Broome	26	5	8	3	19	62	$158,775
Glenn R. Thompson	34	5	2	5	15	35	$167,799
Faustino F. Ramos	21	5	1	3	24	43	$93,440
Mark A. Hennig	16	5	0	2	31	44	$421,580

Meadowlands 2005 Meet Leading Owners – September 30 to November 12, 2005

Name	Sts	1st	2nd	3rd	Win%	$%	Purses
Ocean View Stables	43	7	1	6	16	33	$226,843
Mac Fehsenfeld	23	4	5	3	17	52	$123,354
Edward P. Evans	10	4	0	1	40	50	$387,520
Joel A. Kligman	16	4	0	1	25	31	$112,340
Patricia A. Generazio	21	3	4	3	14	48	$113,380
Silly Goose Racing Stb	12	3	3	2	25	67	$67,490
Jayeff B Stables	12	3	2	1	25	50	$125,040
Char-Mari Stable	6	3	1	0	50	67	$80,228
Daniel J. Ljoka	11	3	0	3	27	55	$53,700
Dogwood Stable	5	3	0	1	60	80	$69,940
New Farm	6	3	0	0	50	50	$59,004
Stone Ridge Racing Stb	3	3	0	0	100	100	$51,000
Rich Malouf/ET Broome	3	3	0	0	100	100	$43,800

SERVIS’ SHIP HAS COME IN – WINS FIRST TRAINING TITLE AT THE MEADOWLANDS
Big M.com

When Minor’s Gold crossed the finishing line first, winning the second race at the Meadowlands on Saturday night, it was the icing on the cake for trainer Jason Servis. “It’s like a dream,” Servis said. “I should play the lottery!”

Servis completed the Meadowlands fall thoroughbred meet with 15 wins, seven seconds and four thirds from 38 starts and purse earnings of nearly $350,000 to claim his first training title.

“All those years working in the jocks’ room, now my ship’s come in,” he said with a wide grin.

West Virginia-born Servis, 48, is from a horse racing family but most of his career was spent as a jockey’s valet, caring for the boots and saddles of the riders, including Hall of Famers Bill Shoemaker and Julie Krone. He also would gallop horses in the morning and work as an assistant to other trainers.

“I rode for a year – 1975 – at the bushes in Virginia, at Mountaineer and Thistle [Thistledown],” he recalled. “Then I came to Monmouth Park and an opening developed in the room [jockeys’ room].”

Servis’ break came in December of 2001 when Red Bank attorney Dennis Drazin asked him to take a couple of horses he owned to train and race in New York. Servis was up to 40 horses this past summer at Monmouth Park and plans to ship 30 to New York this winter.

“I have to admit I’m a bit surprised,” he said. “We work hard and have great owners, but it does amaze me, too. I can’t thank my owners enough.”

In addition to Drazin, Servis also conditions horses for the LaMarca Stable and the Char-Mari Stable.

Servis’ father, Joe, rode for a dozen years and then helped to run the Jockeys’ Guild before moving into the stewards’ stand at Charles Town in 1972.

He has two sisters – Jodie is a teacher’s assistant married to an airline pilot while Laurie is married to trainer Eddie Plesa.

And there is one brother in the family, John, who has had a pretty good run at training horses, too. He campaigned the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones.

“John took a lot of people along for the ride,” Jason noted. “We went to all the races, and it was a blast.”

Jason Servis and his wife of 27 years, Natalie, live in Eatontown, New Jersey and have two sons. Evan, 19, is a college student and Garrett, 15, is a tenth grader at Monmouth Regional.

Joey P., ridden by Joe Bravo, swooped to the lead in mid-stretch and drew off to a four and a half length victory in the $70,800 Rutgers University Stakes, the eighth race on Saturday, closing night of the Meadowlands 2005 thoroughbred meet.

“What can I say – he’s just an awesome horse,” said Bravo. “What happened at Belmont [seventh in the Sport Page Handicap on October 29] was not his fault. He got bumped into by another horse at the gate. Frank [trainer Frank Costa] did a great job getting him ready for this race. He bounced back great.”

The three-year-old gelding by Close Up opened his career with five straight at the six-furlong distance, including the Grade 3 Jersey Shore Breeders’ Cup on July 4 at Monmouth Park, which gave veteran trainer Costa his first graded stakes win.

Costa then tried Joey P. at two turns and he ran third in an allowance race and seventh in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational before returning to his best distance, and a win, in the $100,000 Friendly Lover Handicap at Monmouth on September 17.

Joey P. [$4.20, $2.40, $2.60] covered the Rutgers’ distance of six furlongs in 1:08.1.

Slam Bammy [$3.60, $3.40], who set the pace, held on for second. It was another length to Two Down Automatic [$3.80] in third.

Joey P. is a homebred owned by John Petrini, a retired state trooper from Vineland, New Jersey. The gelding now has seven wins and one third in 10 career outings for earnings of $324,749.

“I told him to lay off the pace,” trainer Costa said of his instructions to Bravo. “He's such a good horse. The owner lives near Atlantic City and couldn't make it here tonight. I can't wait to tell him. I don't know what's next for him. I have to talk to his owner.”

End of meet honors were presented Saturday night by Racing Secretary Michael P. Dempsey to leading jockey, Joe Bravo; leading

MEADOWLANDS’ JOCKEYS INVITATIONAL YIELDS $25,168 FOR HURRICANE KATRINA VICTIMS

Riders from Louisiana joined with local jockeys to raise $25,168 for hurricane victims on Thursday night at the Meadowlands. Riders from Louisiana joined with local jockeys to raise $25,168 for hurricane victims on Thursday night at the Meadowlands.

The Katrina Invitational Jockey Challenge drew Louisiana natives Kent Desormeaux, Craig Perret, Mark Guidry, Eddie Martin Jr. and Hall of Famer Gary Stevens as well as members of the local jockey colony who signed autographs. The jockey fees from four races – the third, fourth, sixth and seventh races – contributed to the fundraising effort along with $10,000 donated by the Meadowlands.

Racing fans and horsemen at the Meadowlands kicked in $2,790 with $12,378 from riding fees.

“I just want to thank the Meadowlands fans for digging in your pockets and reaching deep and having some heart and helping these people to have a little bit of comfort time when we show up with some money for them,” said Kent Desormeaux, who was elected to racing’s Hall of Fame in 2004.

The money raised will be turned over to the Race Track Chaplaincy program to benefit Louisiana horsemen.

“What it means to me is that the families whose lives weren’t just interrupted, they were altered,” noted Desormeaux, a 35-year-old native of Maurice, Louisiana. “Their houses are gone. They’re living in someone else’s home. These people aren’t going to have to wonder where they’re going to buy their next bottle of milk for their babies. We’re going to be presenting them in their hands, we’re going to give them money. And they’re going to know that for at least a little while that their child can be fed.

“Jockeys as a whole, we’re the kind of guys, unlike basketball players, we’re all on different teams really,” Desormeaux said. “We all go back to the same room. It gets ugly sometimes. We just got battled out in a Breeders’ Cup, and somebody might not have liked the position you put them in. But when the races are over, it’s like ‘good job, buddy, see you tomorrow.’ I’m proud of the guys for showing up. That’s the kind of rapport that jockeys have.”

The visiting jockeys opted to ride one race – the third race -- to allow more time for autographing and meeting the public.

MEADOWLANDS KATRINA INVITATIONAL JOCKEY CHALLENGE STRENGTHENS FAMILY BOND FOR HORSEMEN

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Together, they represent racing’s elite.

But on Thursday night at the Meadowlands, Hall of Fame memberships, trophies and riding titles will be secondary to the mission of Craig Perret and a group of jockeys he calls “real people” just trying to help their fellow horsemen.

Louisiana natives Perret, Kent Desormeaux, Mark Guidry, Eddie Martin and Eddie Delahoussaye will join Gary Stevens, Joe Bravo and team of local riders in an invitational fundraiser at the Meadowlands to benefit Louisiana horsemen affected by Hurricane Katrina.

The riders will square off in four races - the third, fourth, sixth and seventh – on a racing program that starts at 7:30 p.m. The competing jockeys will donate their riding fees from the selected races and the Meadowlands will contribute $10,000 toward the fundraising effort. Donations from the Katrina Jockey Invitational Challenge will go to directly to Louisiana horsemen through the Race Track Chaplaincy of America.

“These are six guys who are standing up,” said Perret, who is originally from New Orleans. “Gary is not from there, Joe Bravo is not, but these are men that are standing up because they are real people. They come to every cause. I’m proud to know them; I consider them my family. They’re there to do what is the right thing. It’s not about the money or material things, it’s about putting people back into their lives. Where do you start? Everything you’ve worked for your whole life is gone in the blink of an eye. My family’s shattered. How do you start rebuilding after that? All we can do is give them the faith and courage that we’ll help them get back on their feet. I appreciate the Meadowlands creating something that helps us do that.”

The riders will be available to speak with fans and sign autographs for fans who make a donation to the Katrina Fund between 7 and 11 p.m.

“I want the fans to meet and know each one of us as people,” Perret said. “We were lucky to make a great career because we had the talent to do it. We’re there for everybody. I want to meet them and talk with them as people. Whatever they can do will be greatly appreciated.”

Perret has 23 family members displaced by Katrina.

“Thank God they’re all safe,” Perret said. “I went through eight days trying to contact friends and family. I couldn’t reach anybody. There was no signal in or out. They were shipped from state to state. It’s a lot easier for me to understand it. I lived [Hurricane] Camille, but I didn’t live Katrina, my family did. Kent Desormeaux, Gary Stevens, Eddie Martin, Joe Bravo, Mark Guidry-- they’re my family and they’re putting their lives on hold to help people. My family is pretty shattered out. They put roots in the ground, raised a family and in the blink of an eye it’s gone. They are devastated. All I can do is be strong enough to help them know it will be okay. I love them all [the jockeys], They’re there for the right reasons, to help people who need help. Whatever it takes to put a show on and help those people, that’s what we’re going to do.”

Desormeaux, who was born in Maurice, Louisiana, also has someone close to his heart working through the devastation.
“I have a first cousin [Blair Hebert], it’s through him that I first got involved with horses through the 4-H,” he explained. “His home is underwater. He and his wife are living at his mother-in-law’s house. It’s horrible. They have a brand new baby and a two-year-old and they’re sleeping on couches until their home dries out. I have a classmate with a herd of horses, and they couldn’t find them all. Some of them drowned, and they still can’t find them all. I feel fortunate to say that everyone was safe. The rest is lumber and they can rebuild, but they just don’t have the wherewithal to do it.

“I can’t wait to raise some money and put it in their hands,” Desormeaux continued. “I’m looking forward to helping them rebuild their lives. I’d like to first thank the Meadowlands. Through their facility, we’re going to raise funds for these people. We also have to thank the local [jockey] colony. They’re donating as much as us. Those local boys are giving up their rides to help donate to the cause.”

Mark Guidry’s family was spared by a matter of miles.

“I was in Chicago watching on television,” recalled Guidry, who was born in Lafayette, Louisiana. “I lived it with Craig, calling him every day. My family lives in the middle of the state and they were spared from Katrina and Rita, but I put myself in their shoes. The riders always come to the aid, they’re all good people. We are not all from Louisiana, but we all know someone from there. For us to pull it together for this particular night is a big deal and I’m pleased to be part of it.”

Though they are not rooted in Louisiana, their racing kinship has connected Gary Stevens and Joe Bravo to the devastation.

“I don’t have any family there, but I have a lot of ‘brothers’ in the New Orleans area,” Stevens said. “So many stars – equine, trainers, jockeys - come from there. Their world has been turned into chaos. I am happy to help out. It’s a great cause.

“People watch us on simulcast every day and I know they enjoy it, but I’m not so interested in watching me ride but also mingling with [the fans], signing autographs and letting them know how to help,” Stevens continued. “There is no appearance fee. One hundred percent of our money is going to the horsemen affected by Katrina directly.”

“I’m just happy that we were able to pull this together,” Bravo said. “I have to put myself into their shoes. The horsemen were living a nice life down there, and then overnight, their area was turned into a third world country.

“This is a great experience to get these great riders to come out here,” Bravo added. “We want the fans to know that these are some of the best riders in the world and you’re going to have a great time watching them ride. I’m donating whatever I make in those races but it is going to be a great time to watch them. [The Meadowlands riders] were glad to see people around the country coming together.”

Rumor Has It [$35,80, $17.40, $8.20] was sent off as the longest price in the field of eight but someone forgot to tell the four-year-old gelding as he posted a gate to wire victory in the $60,000 John Henry Stakes, the sixth race on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

Rumor Has It, ridden by Harry Vega and trained by Hamilton Smith, covered the mile and three-eighths on the turf in 2:14.1, drawing off to a two and a quarter length victory over Westmoreland Road [$8.60, $6.40]. It was another nose to Publisher’s Phil [$7.40] who closed well for third.

Rumor Has It, owned by James F. Glenn and William S. Patterson, now has three wins and three seconds in 11 starts this year. The son of Awesome Again was making his stakes debut in the John Henry and earned $36,000, lifting his career bankroll to $87,400.

In two other stakes on the program, victories were posted by Schedule and Pegasusbystorm.

In the $60,000 Honey Bee for fillies and mares going a mile and a sixteenth on the main track, carded as the seventh race, Schedule [$11.20, $8.00, $5.20] turned in a front running effort, holding off Defrere’s Venture [$13.00, $7.60] to win by a length and a half in 1:44 flat. Ask Queenie [$4.80] was third b a nose. Schedule, ridden by Eddie King and trained by Alan Goldberg, races in the name of the Jayeff B Stables.

In a showcase for two-year-olds, Hidden Creek Farm LLC’s Pegasusbystorm [$13.40, $8.00, $2.20] held off Wilentz [$7.00, $2.10] and survived a claim of foul to win the $60,000 Storm Cat, the eighth race, by a length and a quarter. Saint Augustus [$2.10, coupled with Up an Octave] was third by six and a quarter lengths. The Michael Matz trained Pegasusbystorm, a son of Fusaichi Pegasus, now has two wins in three career starts. Jose Caraballo was in the irons for the colt’s first start in a stakes. The mile and a sixteenth was timed in 1:44 flat.

First Class Guy [$3.20, $2.10, $2.10 coasted to a six and a half-length victory in the $61,639 New Jersey Futurity, the eighth race on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

Chris DeCarlo was aboard as First Class Guy took the lead on the turn for home and pulled away in the stretch to post his second win in four career starts. The Jason Servis trainee is owned and bred by Charles and Marianne Hesse’s Char-Mari Stable of Leonardo, New Jersey, and has banked $79,383 in purse earnings.

He won at first asking on August 14 and was second in the Continental Mile on September 4, both at Monmouth Park, before a sixth-place effort on the turf in the World Appeal on October 4 at the Meadowlands.

Fagedaboutit Sal [$2.80, $2.10] was second, and it was another half-length to Defrere The Smile [$2.10] in third.

First Class Guy, a two-year-old son of Unbridled Jet, covered the six furlongs on the main track in 1:09.4.

In the $57,991 filly companion division of the New Jersey Futurity, the ninth race, Pure Disco [$7.80, $3.60] was a gate to wire winner in 1:10.3 for the six furlongs.

It was three and a quarter lengths to Highland Lass [$2.60] in second with another length and three-quarters to Morgan’s Wish in third.

With five betting interests, there was no show wagering.

Pure Disco, a two-year-old daughter of Disco Rico, was ridden to victory by Elvis Trujillo. Patricia A. Generazio bred and owns the filly who is trained by Frank Generazio Jr.

Pure Disco came into the New Jersey Futurity off of four starts at Monmouth Park last summer. She followed a victory in her racing debut on July 13 with a pair of stakes, finishing sixth in the Colleen on August 6, despite unseating her rider in the gate, and third in the Sorority on September 5. She had another bumpy start on September 16, finishing fourth.

The winner’s share of $34,795 lifted her earnings to $78,155.

In the $50,000 Thomas Edison Stakes, Tacirring [$4.80, $2.80] caught Special Judge [$4.40] in the final 70 yards to win the seventh race sprint by a length and a quarter. Old Dodge was third by another three-quarters of a length.

With only five starters, there was no show wagering.

Besecker, Gasper and Lake’s Tacirring, ridden by Roberto Alvarado Jr. and trained by Scott A. Lake, was timed in 56 seconds for the five-furlong event.

RIVERA’S RIDING RIPENS WITH AGE
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Not all sports favor the young. Just ask jockey Luis Rivera Jr. The Meadowlands-based Rivera has been riding horses professionally for more than 20 years.

"I know more [now], I’m smarter,” said the 38-year-old reinsman. “You learn through the experience of riding. Nothing else can teach you that. You know what to do in certain situations, and more important, what not to do. Patience comes with experience too. The longer you ride, the more likely you are to wait for things to happen, for a hole to open up. When you're younger, you might force it from time to time. That's all part of the process."

Rivera also counts experience with horses

"They get easier to ride, too, because you've seen them before,” he noted. “You know what they need, how to ride them, how to deal with them. If you haven't ridden horses like that before, there's no way to know. The longer you ride, the more ways you know of keeping a horse calm, of not letting them over-exert themselves, saving their energy for the race and not before it. Things like that."

At Monmouth this summer, Rivera finished in the money in 54 of his 228 starts and earned $368,591 for the season. At the Meadowlands, he has three wins, 11 seconds and four thirds in 51 starts and $120,000 in earnings.

In 1986, Rivera was the second leading apprentice in the nation with 158 wins. He rode primarily in New England before shifting his tack to the Garden State in the early 1990s. Career highlights include winning five races on a single card at Suffolk Downs. He posted his 1,000th career victory at Hialeah in 1997.

"It was around 1993 when I settled in here [in New Jersey],” he said. “Monmouth and the Meadowlands are pretty much my circuits now. I used to travel a lot to Florida to ride but not as much anymore."

Born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, Rivera attended riding school in his native country.

"There's a lot of competition in school there,” he explained. “There are only so many spots, but some that don't make it as a jockey still work somewhere in the business. I didn't ride in Puerto Rico. As soon as I was able to, I came here. Many riders don't ride there a lot, some just for a little experience. But there are many more opportunities here to ride."

Rivera followed his father, Luis Sr. into a career as a jockey. The elder Rivera is still active in the saddle.

"He's 63 and rides a little in Puerto Rico,” he said. “Not everyday though, but he keeps in top shape."

One thing that has grown old for Rivera is traveling for mounts.

"You know, the game is geared towards the rider who is not tied down,” he said. “Usually a single guy riding has an edge because he has less responsibilities and can maybe take an assignment out of town on short notice. They probably don't have a family to uproot. When you do have a family, you wind up spending a lot of time away from them. It's all part of the game."

JOCKEYS WILL RIDE TO BENEFIT KATRINA HURRICANE VICTIMS
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Ten of the country’s finest jockeys will ride to benefit Louisiana horsemen in the Katrina Invitational Jockey Challenge on November 10 at the Meadowlands Racetrack. A team of New Jersey and New York based jockeys will face riders from Louisiana in four races – the third, fourth, sixth and seventh races -- on Thursday night, November 10. First race post time at the Meadowlands is 7:30 p.m.

Donations will go to Louisiana horsemen through the Race Track Chaplaincy of America. The Meadowlands will contribute $10,000 toward the fundraising effort.

For a contribution to the Katrina fund, track guests will be able to obtain autographs from the riders between 7 and 11 p.m.

The competing jockeys will be donating their riding fees.

So far, those who have agreed to participate include Joe Bravo, Craig Perret, Gary Stevens, Kent Desormeaux, Aaron Gryder, Mike Smith, Mark Guidry and Stewart Elliott.

Captain of the Louisiana team will be retired Hall of Famer Eddie Delahoussaye.

“The winners in this competition will be the horsemen who have had their homes, farms and livelihoods washed away by Hurricane Katrina,” said Dennis Dowd, senior vice president for racing for the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority. “We hope the riders, trainers and horse owners as well as the public will be generous in their donations. With the funds raised by this event, hopefully we can help the Louisiana horsemen and kick start the rebirth of the racing industry in Louisiana.”

Desormeaux [Maurice], Perret [New Orleans], Guidry [Lafayette] and Delahoussaye [New Iberia] were all born in Louisiana.

Midnight Express coasted in the $55,000 Accordant Handicap and Cigno d’Oro cruised to victory in the $55,000 Queen Lib Handicap, the co-featured stakes for New Jersey-breds, on Tuesday afternoon at the Meadowlands.

In the seventh race, Midnight Express [$23.60, $6.40, $2.60], ridden by Michael Baze and trained by Glenn R. Thompson, drew off to a five and three-quarter-length tally over Monsterinmyroom [$2.40, $2.10] and Jay’s Wish [$2.40], covering the six furlongs in 1:08.1.

The four-year-old son of Private Interview – Midnight Train – Red Ransom picked up his first win in 11 starts this year. Owned by the Ocean View Stables, Midnight Express now has four wins, three seconds and three thirds from 25 career starts.

In the eighth race, Cigno d’Oro [$28.40, $12.00, $3.80] held off Totally Precious [$4.40, $2.40] by a length and a quarter for her second win in seven starts this year. Pickin Laurel [$2.10] was third by three and a quarter lengths.

Ridden by Stewart Elliott and trained by Robert Durso, Cigno D’Oror was clocked in 1:09 for the six furlongs. Owned by the GJ Stable, the six-year-old daughter of Tour d’Or – Signa – Roman Reasoning improved her record to six wins, seven seconds and six thirds in 43 career starts. Her last victory was in the $60,000 Spruce Fir Handicap on June 12 at Monmouth Park.

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Nine ghostly greys broke from the gate for the annual Halloween feature, the $35,000 Grey Ghost Starter Handicap, and victory was claimed by Triple X on Saturday night in the fourth race at the Meadowlands.

Triple X [$3.80, $2.60, $2.20], ridden by Joe Bravo and trained by Ann Merryman, got up for a three-quarters of a length victory over the pacesetting Tune of the Spirit [$5.00, $3.20]. It was another five lengths to Sidetrack [$7.40] in third.

The Grey Ghost is restricted to grey and roan horses like Triple X, a four-year-old son of Dixieland Band owned by David A. Ross.

Triple X covered the mile and a sixteenth on a turf course rated good in 1:46.2. He now has wins in seven of 17 career starts and six of 11 tries on the grass.

He Flies, who won the Grey Ghost in 2003 and 2004, finished fifth.

Keeping with the holiday spirit, the fillies and mares were on display in the $50,000 Witches’ Brew, the sixth race, won by C. Robert Valeri’s Platinum Perfect [$7.40, $3.20, $2.40] by nine lengths over Spring Rush [$3.00, $2.60]. Chez Audra [$3.40] was third by another length.

Platinum Perfect, ridden by Jose Lezcano and trained by Lynne Scace, posted a time of 55.2 for the five furlongs on the main track. It was the second straight victory for the four-year-old daughter of Jules who has a record of six wins in 14 career starts.

Ricardo A [$7.80, $3.60, $2.80] scored a gate to wire victory in the seventh race, the $60,000 Alysheba Stakes, holding off Trueamericanspirit [$4.00, $2.80] on the outside and Pushed [$3.80] on the inside for a half-lengt6h victory in 1:41.3 for the mile and a sixteenth on the main track.

Ricardo A, racing for the Pulpit Rock Stable, was ridden to victory by Aaron Gryder. The William Perry trainee has eight wins, eight seconds and three thirds for 37 career starts. He has been first or second in five of seven starts this year.

Celestial Legend [$3.40, $3.20, $3.20] took the lead at the top of the stretch and drew away to a three and a half-length victory in the $50,000 Holly Stakes for two-year-old fillies, the featured seventh race on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

Chris DeCarlo was aboard the daughter of City Zip – Lunar’s Legend who is now a perfect three-for-three.

The Dale Capuano trainee broke her maiden at first asking on August 24 at Delaware and scored a 13-length tally in her second start on September 15 at Laurel.

“Dale told me to break and go to the lead, but I looked at the [Daily Racing] Form and saw there was a lot of speed so I decided to break in mid-pack,” said DeCarlo, who was aboard the chestnut filly for the first time. “She is still a little green. In the stretch she was looking around at the lights. When I asked her, she really just opened up. She’s a really nice filly.”

Richard Schultz and David Menard own Celestial Legend, who was making her stakes debut. A $45,000 Fasig Tipton purchase in July of 2004, she has now earned $69,360.

Wild And Proud [$11.00, $3.80] was second, and it was five lengths back to Primary Motive [$3.40] in third.

The six furlongs was timed in 1:09.2.

HILL HOPES TO TAKE MEADOWLANDS & ECLIPSE TITLES
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Channing Hill is trying to become only the second apprentice in 22 years to lead the jockey standings at the Meadowlands.

With two weeks to go in the meet, the 18-year-old Nebraska native is seventh in the standings with six wins and nearly $150,000 in earnings.

Julian Pimentel was the last apprentice to accomplish the task, winning the title in 2001. Prior to that, Wesley Ward captured the Meadowlands riding crown and set the apprentice victory record of 124 wins during the 1984 meet. Two other riders to take home the title as an apprentice were Chuck C. Lopez [1979] and David Ashcroft [1980].

Channing Hill has been putting in a grueling schedule of riding at Belmont Park, where he currently has 11 wins and slightly under $500,000 in earnings, during the day and the Meadowlands at night. He has his sights set on the Eclipse Award for top apprentice jockey, an accolade that can help boost a burgeoning career to the next level.

"[Winning the Eclipse] is very important [to me],” Hill said. “That's my goal. I'm right there with the top ones, and I think I'm in front right now."

Hill grew up near Columbus Park racetrack in Nebraska and was riding at Prairie Meadows, where he caught the eye of jockey agent Matt Muzikar in 2004. Muzikar urged him to give New York a try. After finishing high school, Hill began riding at Aqueduct during the 2005 winter season and was the most successful apprentice at the meet until he was sidelined with a back injury over the summer. He returned to riding at Belmont and the Meadowlands in late September.

Hill’s gift with horses is inherited. His father, Allan, is a retired jockey who won more than 3,800 races while riding in the Midwest for more than 30 years. Soon after he turned 12, Channing was galloping horses. In addition to his father, Hill counts a few top-ranking riders among his influences.

"I watched all the guys for a long time, but if I had to name a few, it would be Robby Albarado and Mike Smith," Hill said.

Hill, who will lose his apprentice allowance on December 29, has had an easy time acclimating to racing at the Meadowlands.

"A great bunch of guys,” he said of the Meadowlands colony. “Top notch riders. They're willing to give you a helping hand. I like it here."

However, there is one big difference between life in Nebraska and the New York Metro area that he is not enjoying.

"The traffic,” he said. “I drive to both tracks every day. I live five miles from Belmont, but the traffic is hard to get used to."

Live thoroughbred racing at the Meadowlands has been cancelled for Tuesday afternoon, October 25, 2005. A nor’easter with heavy rain and gusting winds has created unsafe racing conditions.

The track is open for day and night simulcasting.

The next scheduled live racing program is on Wednesday night. First post is 7:30 p.m.

The Meadowlands 30-date thoroughbred meet runs through Saturday, November 12.

Nick Santagata has ridden thousands of horses but even at age 48 he is not ready to retire when there are two plateaus in his sights: 1,000 victories at the Meadowlands and 4,000 career trips to the winner’s circle.

Santagata is only five victories from being the first jockey to win 1,000 races at the Meadowlands. The career milestone of 4,000 is about 70 wins away.

"It's a lot of work,” the Brooklyn-born Santagata said. “I'm coming up on 34,000 mounts in my career, and if you add another 10 to 15,000 from [working horses in] the mornings, that is quite a bit. Thirty years can catch up with you.

"Today, you have to be a chauffeur to get around to the tracks, you have to be a public relations guy to get some of the mounts, and sometimes, right after the race, you have to be a politician to explain things,” Santagata said. “But it is great to be doing something you really want to do for a long time, when it doesn't feel like a job to you. You still need the most important thing of all to win races though, the horse. When you have the power, then you look good. Ninety percent or more is the horse."

A one-time professional bowler, Santagata broke into racing in the mid-1970s when Steve Cauthen dominated the sport.

“I caught the tail end of the Cauthen rage,” he recalled. “He was bigger than life then. I remember looking at the [entry] sheets coming out in New York and seeing a race with his name on every horse. It was unreal. That was right about the time they made the 'first call, second call rule' to prohibit that."

Santagata topped the standings at the Meadowlands in 1981 and has been a respected journeyman jockey at both Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands,.

"Thank goodness I'm doing well physically,” he said. “Jockeys have to be good athletes. Are they the best athletes among all sports? I'd say gymnasts are. It's amazing they can twist and spin and come down and land on a bar four inches wide. Ice skaters are another. I remember one time I got on the ice with my daughter. It lasted one minute. I quickly got off the ice, remembering that I had to make a living."

Winning is what motivates Santagata to keep going. "There's nothing like the feeling you get -- the rush -- of riding a winner,” he said. “It can be a nickel claimer or a stakes horse.

"One of the toughest things to do is to get beat, have a rough night, and have to come in the next day and have to lose weight and try again,” he noted. “Luckily for me, I haven't had much of an issue with weight. I've always been around 110 to 112 pounds. Sometimes you can ride a horse that can be so tough to handle. Other times, the horse can drag you around the track to the winner’s circle. In cases like that, it doesn't matter if you're 20 or 50.

"I try to apply the same principles in life as I do in racing -- be fair, be nice to everyone,” he said. “You never know when the guy sitting next to you can turn out to be the next D. Wayne Lukas or Bob Baffert."

Santagata goes where the work is and can be found at Philadelphia Park, Penn National, Laurel, and the New York tracks as well as the New Jersey circuit. There have been any number of high points in Santagata’s riding career. Among them was a chance to compete in the 1990 Kentucky Derby aboard a longshot named Dr. Bobby A, who finished 12th.

"[It was] an unbelievable experience,” he said. “I was on a 100-1 shot, so I can imagine the pressure the guys felt riding one of the choices. But you hear that song, My Ol' Kentucky Home, and the place gets so loud it feels like an earthquake, -- unforgettable cheering."

Whether there will be another Derby mount in Santagata’s life remains to be seen.

When he finally decides to hang up his tack, Santagata knows what he will and will not do with his life. "I will never, ever be a trainer, no chance,” he said. “I could see being a jockey agent though. Just give me a condition book and a remote control, and I'll be happy."

Hotstufanthensome [$12.00, $4.40, $3.40] overcame a soft turf course, constant showers and an inquiry to win the $150,000 Grade 3 Cliff Hanger Stakes on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

Hotstufanthensome [$12.00, $4.40, $3.40], ridden by Rajiv Maragh and trained by Norman Pointer, took the lead early in the stretch and drew off to a 14 and a half-length victory over even-money favorite Icy Atlantic [$4.00, $3.00]. It was another half-length to 30-1 Stormy Ray [$7.40] in third.

Jockey Aaron Gryder, aboard Stormy Ray, lodged an objection against Maragh and Hotstufanthensome and the stewards reviewed the far turn but did not find a reason to change the order of finish.

Hotstufanthensome covered the mile and a sixteenth on the off going in 1:47.1.

“He relaxed good,” said winning jockey Maragh. “He had no fight in the beginning so it made it easier for me. The grass was very soft, but he was handling it very well. My horse is very comfortable out there. Norman [trainer Norman Pointer] told me that if I tucked in behind the speed, he would relax and that’s what he did. He relaxed perfectly.

“I told Rajiv to take back off the pace some and let the speed go,” Pointer confirmed. “He really loves the soft turf. He won that race [Elkwood Stakes at Monmouth on July 16] on soft ground. He came out of the Fourstardave [with a sixth on August 27 at Saratoga] good, and I thought the Cliff Hanger would be a good spot with a little freshening. He might go next in the McKnight Handicap at Calder. This is a sweet win.”

The five-year-old gelded son of Awesome Again – Don’t Read My Lips by Turkoman races for Lesley Steinger of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He now has eight wins, three seconds and a third in 21 lifetime starts for career earnings of $342,220.

Hotstufanthensome now has finished first or second in 10 of 15 starts on the turf. This was a repeat appearance for him in the Cliff Hanger. He was fourth in the 2004 edition, which was won by Dr. Kashnikow, who finished eighth and last this year.

Longshot Humoristic took the lead on the top of the turn for home and held off the late charge of 6-5 favorite Delta Princess to win the $150,000 Grade 3 Violet Stakes, the sixth race on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

Humoristic, sent off at odds of 28-1, covered the mile and a sixteenth on the firm turf course in 1:42.1. It was the filly’s first stakes victory.

Harry Vega guided Humoristic [$58.40, $16.80, $7.00] to a three-length victory over Delta Princess [$3.20, $2.60]. It was another half-length back to Brunilda [$6.80] in third.

“She was really pulling me, tugging right along,” said Vega. “She wanted to go on the turn so I just let her. When you look at this filly, it takes a lot to get her going. I didn’t think I would get that close to the pace. It’s a good feeling to win these kinds of races.”

Hamilton A. Smith trains the four-year-old daughter of Sefapiano – Latania, for owner-breeder Mrs. Arturo Peralta Ramos.

Humoristic now has seven wins, two seconds and three thirds from 23 career starts and earnings of $273,929.

ROAD TO BREEDERS’ CUP THROUGH NEW JERSEY FOR 19 OF 117 PRE-ENTERED
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The road to this year’s Breeders’ Cup on Oct. 29 at Belmont Park clearly runs through New Jersey, at least for 19 of the 117 pre-entered in this year’s Cup races including the top two finishers in this year’s Haskell Invitational (G1), United Nations (G1) and winner of the Molly Pitcher (G2). In addition, horses that have raced at Monmouth Park and/or the Meadowlands will be represented in all eight of this year’s Cup races. Leading off the list of Breeders’ Cup runners with connections to the Garden State is this year’s Haskell winner Roman Ruler who is slated to start in the Sprint. Cherokee Run, who was favored in the 1993 Haskell, went on to capture the Breeders’ Cup Sprint the following year and was named Eclipse Champion Sprinter that season. While Roman Ruler is Sprint bound, Haskell runner-up Sun King will be headed for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The 2005 United Nations winner and last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Better Talk Now will return to defend his title and will be joined in this year’s starting gate at the Cup by U.N. runner-up Silverfoot with U.N. pacesetter Shake the Bank the 15^th pre-entrant in this year’s Turf Classic.

Capeside Lady, winner of last year’s Monmouth Oaks (G2) and this year’s Molly Pitcher (G2), is scheduled to make her next start in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

The entire list of Breeders’ Cup pre-entrants with ties to New Jersey, in Breeders’ Cup race order are:

JUVENILE FILLIES (2)
·    Dressed to Kill – Runner-up in the Salem County Stakes on Meadowlands turf in her last start (Oct. 1).
·    Keeneland Kat – Broke her maiden at Monmouth (July 23) and returned to take the Sorority (Sept. 3) by 2 ½ lengths.

JUVENILE (2)
·    Diabolical – Runner-up in the Sapling (G3, Aug 20) and the NATC Futurity (Sept. 24), both at Monmouth.
·    Henny Hughes – Broke his maiden at first asking, Monmouth Park (June 17) by six lengths.

FILLY AND MARE TURF (1)
·    Film Maker – Second in the Little Silver Stakes at Monmouth (July 6, 2003).

SPRINT (6)
·    Attila’s Storm – Winner of an allowance race at Monmouth (Sept. 8, 2005).
·    Gygistar – Third in this year’s Salvator Mile (G3) at Monmouth (July 24); third in last year’s Meadowlands Cup (G2, Oct. 8, 2004).
·    Lion Tamer – Winner of last year’s Formal Gold Stakes at Monmouth (Sept. 11, 2004) and eighth in last year’s Meadowlands Cup (G2, Oct. 8, 2004).
·    Pomeroy – Allowance winner at Monmouth (July 10, 2003); victor of Monmouth’s Jersey Shore Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G3, June 26, 2004); allowance winner at Monmouth (July 10, 2005).
·    Roman Ruler – Winner of this year’s Haskell Invitational at Monmouth (Aug. 7, 2005).
·    Wildcat Heir – Maiden winner at Monmouth (June 26, 2002); allowance runner-up at Monmouth on May 31, 2004 and allowance winner at Monmouth on June 26, 2004; runner-up in Monmouth’s Teddy Drone Stakes (Aug. 8, 2004); winner of the Icecapade Stakes at Monmouth (Sept. 6, 2004); winner of Monmouth’s Teddy Drone Stakes (Aug. 7, 2005).

MILE (1)
·    Host – Third in last year’s Cliff Hanger (G3) at the Meadowlands (Oct. 15, 2004).

DISTAFF (2)
·    Capeside Lady – Eighth in the Sorority (G3) at Monmouth (Aug. 30, 2003); winner of the Little Silver Stakes (July 5, 2004) and the Monmouth Oaks (G2, Aug. 15, 2004) at Monmouth; seventh in the Forth Monmouth at Monmouth (May 30, 2005); winner of Monmouth Park’s Monmouth Beach Stakes (June 18) and Molly Pitcher Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G2, July 9).
·    Pampered Princess – Second in her first career start at Monmouth (Aug. 17, 2002).

TURF (3)
·    Better Talk Now – Runner-up in Monmouth’s Battlefield (June 12, 2004); winner of the United Nations (G1, July 2, 2005).
·    Shake the Bank – Eighth in the United Nations (G1, July 2, 2005).
·    Silverfoot – Runner-up in United Nations (G1, July 2, 2005).

CLASSIC (2)
·    Rock Hard Ten – Sixth in last year’s Haskell (G1, Aug. 8, 2004), as the favorite.
·    Sun King – Runner-up in this year’s Haskell (G1, Aug. 7, 2005).

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Kyle Kaenel, one of the nation’s top apprentice riders, will add moonlighting at the Meadowlands to his regular New York riding duties beginning this week.

The 17-year-old Kaenel, who arrived from the West Coast to the New York metropolitan area just a few weeks ago, will get his first try at the Big M on Thursday. Danny Mellul, agent for Joe Bravo, will handle Kaenel’s calls in New Jersey.
Kyle Kaenel is the son of journeyman rider “Cowboy” Jack Kaenel, who won the Preakness Stakes in 1982 aboard Aloma’s Ruler.

MEADOWLANDS RE-OPENS TUESDAY WITH FREE ADMISSION, TWO ADDITIONAL TUESDAY PROGRAMS

Live thoroughbred racing returns to the Meadowlands on Tuesday afternoon after a week of rainstorms deluged the northeast and lead to multiple cancellations at the East Rutherford oval. Grandstand and clubhouse admission will be free for Tuesday’s matinee program [1:10 p.m. first post] and the Wednesday through Saturday night programs [7:30 p.m. post] this week.

Live racing will be added on a pair of previously dark Tuesdays – November 1 and November 8.

“The Meadowlands, the horsemen and our fans will be glad to get back to racing Tuesday afternoon,” said Dennis Dowd, senior vice president for racing. “We recognize the lost racing opportunities for the horsemen and will add November 1 and November 8 to the racing schedule. We also will work to incorporate added races to our existing schedule through the end of the meet."

The meet runs through November 12.

In addition to free grandstand and clubhouse admission for live racing programs this week, the Meadowlands will offer a special two-for-one promotion for horsemen on the nights they are racing at the Meadowlands. The two-for-one dining promotion for horsemen will be applicable for both the new Terraces buffet as well as the Pegasus buffet through Friday, October 28. Reservations should be made through the race office at Monmouth Park.

The Meadowlands’ weather-related woes began on Saturday, October 8, when the program was cut short after one race. Only three races were contested on Tuesday, October 11 and live racing was also washed out on Wednesday through Saturday.

Live thoroughbred racing at the Meadowlands has been cancelled for Friday, October 14 and Saturday, October 15.

In addition to canceling Wednesday’s live racing card at the Meadowlands, officials at the racetrack have moved ahead and cancelled Thursday night’s live card as well. “Despite working last Friday night and all-day Saturday, we were unable to reseal the track enough to keep the water out,” said Dennis Dowd, senior vice president of racing for the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. “After the first race last Saturday it was best to cancel and continue to work on the surface. In fact, work was done around the clock on Sunday and Monday by the track crew to address the problems, but there was just too much moisture in the track to entirely rectify the problems of the weekend weather.

“More important than any of these weather systems or events is the safety of our horses and our riders, and that will always remain paramount in any decision we make in regards to canceling live racing.

“The decision to cancel is not one that it taken lightly - it is done in consultation with the horsemen and the horsemen’s association, the riders, track management and the racetrack professionals that tend to the day-to-day maintenance of the course. In addition to all this, these decisions are made in conjunction with keeping the bettors and the betting public in mind.”

Following rains that began last Friday afternoon and have continued everyday since, the Meadowlands track crew has been working continuously to get the surface into racing shape.

“The problem right now is that there are inconsistencies with the track,” Dowd said. “That is what led to Tuesday’s cancellation and our decision to cancel Wednesday and Thursday. With a little help from Mother Nature we expect to be back on Friday. We’ll make that decision no later than 10:00 a.m. on Friday.

“The good news through all this is the turf course - it is perfect. Obviously it’s quite soggy right now, but we’ll be back on turf early next week.”

The Meadowlands and Monmouth Park will be open for simulcasting all day and night on Thursday.

The 2005 Meadowlands Thoroughbred meet runs through Saturday Nov. 12.

Live thoroughbred racing at the Meadowlands for Wednesday, October 12, 2005 is cancelled.

Heavy rainstorms and flooding continue to hit New Jersey, prompting the early decision on Wednesday morning.

The Meadowlands remains open for a full menu of day and night simulcasting.

Live racing is scheduled to resume on Thursday night with first post of 7:30 p.m.

The Meadowlands Racetrack cancelled live racing after the third race on Tuesday afternoon due to track conditions impacted by heavy rains and flooding in the northeastern New Jersey area.

A full menu of afternoon and evening simulcasting continued to be available.

Live racing resumes on Wednesday evening with a post time of 7:30 p.m.

The Meadowlands Racetrack cancelled live racing on Saturday night after the running of the first race due to inclement weather.

Live racing will return to the Meadowlands on Tuesday afternoon with a first post of 1:10 p.m. There will be no simulcasting at the Big M on Sunday due to the football game at Giants Stadium. The 2005 Meadowlands Thoroughbred meet runs through Saturday, Nov. 12.

Edward P. Evans’s Tap Day rallied through the lane before drawing off to a three-length score in the $500,000 Meadowlands Breeders’ Cup on Friday night.

Tap Day covered the mile and an eighth over a fast track in 1:48 4/5 and returned $9, $4.40 and $3.60 as the third choice in the field of eight. Alumni Hall, the 5-2 favorite, completed a $36 exacta and returned $3.20 and $2.80. Purge was another length and a quarter back in third, good for a $3.60 show mutuel.

“He had a lot of work to do at the 1/8^th pole but he was ready,” said winning trainer Mark Hennig. “Those were two very nice horses in front of him. He had an edge because he’s run here before and he likes the track. We’ll certainly take a look at it (the Breeders’ Cup) and if the numbers warrant it, we’ll put him in there.”

After encountering trouble in the first turn, Tap Day angled off the fence down the backstretch before powering past the leaders in the lane to win the Grade 2 event. “From the ½ mile pole I had to ride him a little just so the leaders wouldn’t get away from me,” said winning jockey Eibar Coa. “I was put in tight going into the first turn, but he was able to recover from that. Turning for home I knew I had the leaders. He was running on really well. His last three races have been tough and he’s a really improving colt.”
Tap Day, a 4-year-old colt by Pleasant Tap from the Dayjur mare Day Mate, improved his record to 10-2-1 from 21 career starts and earnings of $717,187. He was bred in Virginia by his owner.

FIELD OF NINE ENTERED FOR FRIDAY NIGHT’S $500,000 MEADOWLANDS BREEDERS’ CUP

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A field of nine have been entered for Friday night’s $500,000 Meadowlands Breeders’ Cup Stakes, a Grade 2 mile and an eighth contest for 3-year-olds and up. Raymond Dweck’s Unforgettable Max, who will be making his third consecutive start in the Meadowlands Cup, will be among those looking to upset Alumni Hall, rated 5-2 in the morning line, and Purge, installed at 3-1.

In 2003 Unforgettable Max finished third in the event but was disqualified and placed fourth for interference with Volponi shortly after the break. That was the colt’s fifth career start. He returned more seasoned last year and once again set the pace before tiring in the stretch, finishing fourth.

From 22 career starts, Unforgettable Max has a record of five wins, four seconds and one third for earnings of $379,079. His lone score in 2005 was an allowance win at Monmouth on June 11 with Chris DeCarlo aboard. The two will be reunited in Friday night’s Cup. Unforgettable Max, 10-1 in the morning line, leaves from post four.

“He ran well in that allowance race at Monmouth,” said trainer Ben Perkins Jr., from his Monmouth Park base. “We gave him the summer off after that and let him get himself back together after that. He ran well last out [fourth in the Charles H. Hadry at Laurel on Sept. 10]. Obviously we would have liked him to win it, but that was a good race to get him back and a good race to get him ready for this one.”

Unforgettable Max, a 5-year-old by Northern Afleet from the Hawkster mare Maggy Hawk, is a full-brother to dual-Classic winner and Horse of the Year candidate Afleet Alex.

“After this race or one more that will probably be it,” Perkins said. “I believe Mr. Dweck has a deal to stand him, so he’ll head to Kentucky soon thereafter.”

The field for Friday’s Meadowlands Cup, which will be run as the eighth race on an 11-race card, is:

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2005 MEADOWLANDS BREEDERS’ CUP AT A GLANCE
$500,000 Grade II Meadowlands Breeders’ Cup - Friday, October 7, 2005

¨ First race post time is 7:30 p.m.

¨ This is the 28^th edition of the Meadowlands Breeders’ Cup which debuted in 1977 [not run in 1997]. Since 1990 it has been contested at the distance of a mile and an eighth. The stakes record of 1:46 was set by KJ’s Appeal in 1998.

¨ Cup to Cup: Thirty-one past entrants – including 10 Meadowlands Cup winners -- have gone on to compete in the Breeders’ Cup – 25 in the Classic and six in the Mile. Three of the Breeders’ Cup Classic winners prepped in the Meadowlands Cup – Wild Again in 1984, Alysheba in 1988 and Volponi in 2002. Wild Again and Alysheba won the Meadowlands Cup and Volponi was second in 2002 and fourth in 2003.

¨ Meadowlands Breeders’ Cup fleece blanket giveaway, starting at 5:30 p.m. The 48-inch by 60-inch navy fleece blanket will be distributed to paid admissions while supplies last.

¨ Gas card giveaway [five winners each Friday, $500 value per card]. Good at ExxonMobil stations. Entry forms must be deposited by the fourth race.

¨ Fundraising to benefit Hurricane Katrina victims [also on October 8] in conjunction with the NTRA Charities’ Racing to the Rescue Fund. Cash donations collected to aid those impacted by the Gulf hurricanes both nights. Checks made out to NTRA Charities/ Racing to the Rescue Fund also accepted. Additionally, on October 8 the Meadowlands is donating its admissions revenue and track commission from a designated race which should yield about $10,000.

¨ Drawing for two clubhouse reserved seats for the 2005 Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Belmont Park. Entry forms must be deposited by the fourth race.

¨ Appearance by the Budweiser Clydesdales which will parade on the track [weather permitting] and also be on display in the East Apron in the early evening.
¨ 92.3 FM K-Rock’s Julie Slater will be greeting fans in the Clubhouse Sports Bar.

¨ National Anthem will be sung by singer/songwriter Melissa Chill of Asbury Park, New Jersey. Born in New York City, she landed her own radio show at Monmouth College, where she had the opportunity to interview Jeffrey Gaines and Mighty Purple, which led to a four-month road tour with this group. Since then, she has shared stages with Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Rob Thomas, The Smitherines, Patti Smith, Dave Mathews, John Mayer, Joan Osborne, Matchbox 20 and Tonic. She has previously sung the National Anthem at New Jersey Nets and New York Knicks games. Her new collection Water Color Disguise, is due for release in December 2005.

Jockey Eddie King Jr. recorded his 2,000th career victory aboard Annies Fuse in the fifth race on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

The 47-year-old reinsman guided the two-year-old filly to a 1:10.4 clocking in the six-furlong event and paid $9.80 to win.

King, a third generation jockey, won his first race in 1979 at Centennial in Colorado. He regularly rides the New Jersey circuit and was the Meadowlands’ leading jockey in 2002.

“I’m a lot smarter now than when I first started riding,” said King. “I use my brain now more than ever. Two thousand [wins] is wonderful, but I wish it was 3,000. I’ve missed an awful lot of time over the years due to injuries. My one goal is to make it to 3,000. That is the one thing I want more than anything.”

A New Mexico native who now resides in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, King piloted Frisk Me Now, who won the 1999 Iselin at Monmouth Park along with the Hutcheson, Flamingo, Ohio Derby, Pennsylvania Derby, Suburban and Gulfstream Park Sprint.

Big M.com

2005 Meadowlands Thoroughbred Dates: September 30 through November 12 – 30 dates

¨ Post times 1:10 p.m. on Tuesdays [in October only]; 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays through Saturdays.

¨ Purse structure – approximately $275,000 nightly. Graded and overnight stakes worth more than $2.6 million.

¨ Four graded stakes: $250,000 Grade III Pegasus on September 30, $500,000 Grade II Meadowlands Breeders’ Cup Stakes on October 7, $150,000 Grade III Cliff Hanger Stakes on October 14 and $150,000 Grade III Violet Stakes on October 21.

¨ Live streaming video available at www.thebigm.com. Recap program, Racing from the Meadowlands, on Fox Sports Net at midnight each racing date.

¨ Two handicapping tournaments: the free online Big M Thoroughbred Survival Challenge [internet-only selections for three designated races each day; must finish in-the-money in at least one of the three races to advance to the next day] and the $40,000 Big M Thoroughbred Handicapping Challenge on November 5.

¨ Prizes for the 2005 Big M Thoroughbred Handicapping Challenge on November 5 include two qualifying berths in the $500,000 DRF/NTRA Handicapping Championship at Bally’s Las Vegas on January 27 and 28, 2006. Payouts from the estimated $40,000 prize pool will go to top 10 finishers with a $1,000 bonus for most winners. Tournament cost if $400 [$200 entry fee and $200 tournament bankroll],

¨ Promotions include gas card giveaways each Friday [five winners each week, $500 value per card]; fundraising to benefit Hurricane Katrina victims on October 7 and 8; Meadowlands Cup fleece blanket giveaway on October 7; drawing on October 7 for two clubhouse reserved seats at the 2005 Breeders’ Cup; appearance by the Budweiser Clydesdales on October 7.

¨ Wine dinner featuring South American vineyard Concha Y Toro on October 21 in Pegasus. Cost of $58 per person includes admission and program. Tax and gratuity are extra.

¨ Special Terraces buffet menu for $27.95 per person [tax included, gratuity extra] on Wednesday through Saturday nights.

¨ Free admission to all levels on opening night, September 30. Free admission to all levels and free live racing program on closing night, November 12.

When the Meadowlands opens on Friday, September 30 with its seven-week thoroughbred meet, the horses will be running over a new surface.More than 11,000 tons of material has been used to create the sand, loam and clay racing surface on the one-mile oval.

“We’ve taken a number of steps which we think will produce the best possible racing surface for the thoroughbred horsemen,” said John Chevalier, director of properties at the Meadowlands. “The material we purchased from Hanson Aggregates has been double screened to dramatically reduce stones that can show up in racing material. Before we laid down the cushion, we graded off any excess trap rock from the standardbred surface, applied a tack coat and then rolled it to capture any loose particles. We kept watering it and the weight of the trucks compacted it even more.

“The tacking agent on the track and the material it adheres to will be thrown away when we lift the thoroughbred cushion for the switch over to the standardbred meet that starts on November 18,” Chevalier added. “We will be replacing about 2,000 to 3,000 tons of material each year but this should go a long way in keeping the surface free of stones and trap rock residue.”
The conversion of the track for the thoroughbred meet took place on Tuesday, September 13.
“We worked around the clock,” said Chevalier. “There was a threat of rain, and we wanted to get it down.”

“I’ve never seen the racetrack look so good,” said Mike Musto, executive director of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. “It looks impeccable, outstanding. Hopefully it will please the jockeys and trainers, too. We’re looking forward to the new meet and the new surface. We want to thank John Chevalier and his staff for their time and effort.”
The 30-date Meadowlands thoroughbred meet features night racing on Wednesday through Saturday nights, first post of 7:30 p.m., and matinee programs on Tuesdays in October, starting at 1:10 p.m. The meet runs through November 12.