Here and There...

Magna Entertainment chairman Frank Stronach will be the featured speaker at the California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association's fall seminar at Harris Ranch on Sept. 22-34. According to the CTBA, Stronach will discuss future plans for the multitude of racing properties now under the umbrella of his racing enterprises, which includes Santa Anita Park, Bay Meadows, and Golden Gate Fields in California. The seminar, with a theme of "Raising Better Thoroughbred Racehorses," will include discussions of equine reproduction, parasite control, vaccinations and injections. Also, a presentation will be made describing the numerous alternative careers for Thoroughbreds...Turfway Park planned to resume live racing Thursday after a power outage of an unknown origin halted the Wednesday night card following the third race. The outage shut down a portion of the track's power, including the tote board, mutuels, and track lighting. Although most of the power was restored after 20 minutes, a bank of track lights were still out, leading to the cancellation. Each patron was given a free admission pass for any day during the meet and will be able to exchange the night's program for a complimentary program...Sir John Astor, who raced top European horses such as Cut Above, Sharp Edge, Provoke, and Rosalba, died at age 82, according to the Racing Post. In addition to being a prominent owner and breeder, Astor was an amateur rider, public trainer, and Jockey Club steward...Might and Power, the dual Australian Horse of the Year who is topweighted for this year's Foster's Melbourne Cup, finished last, nine lengths behind the winner, in Thursday's Shannon Stakes at Rosehill in Sydney, according to Sportiing Life. The race was the 7-year-old gelding's second in his comeback after being out of competition for 22 months. Might and Power also finished last in his first race back...Purses during the recent 36-day Saratoga meet rose to a record $20,409,163, according to the New York Racing Association. Daily average purses of $566,921, up 7.47% over the 1999 meet, were a Saratoga and New York Racing Association record. Average purse per race of $40,747 was also a NYRA record.