Here and There

Secret Firm, a son of Secret Hello whose seven wins from 10 starts included the King's Bishop Stakes (gr. II), has been retired and will enter stud next year at Green Willow Farms in Westminster, Md. His fee will be $2,500. In addition to the King's Bishop, in which he defeated Horse of the Year Favorite Trick, Secret Firm also won the Amsterdam Stakes (gr. III). The earner of $242,716 was raced by William and Phyllis Dixon's Mea Culpa Stables and was acquired fully by William Dixon at the Mea Culpa dispersal last year. The horse was being trained toward a comeback with Bob Baffert when an injury forced his retirement. Dixon also announced that Mr. Zill Bear will also be relocated to Green Willow form Corbett Farm in Monkton, Md. First foals sired by the son of Salutely are yearlings this year...Mr. and Mrs. John Mabee's King of the Hunt, a full brother to successful sire General Meeting, has been retired to enter stud at Golden Eagle Farm in Pomona, Calif., in 2001. The son of Seattle Slew will stand for 2001. King of the Hunt broke his maiden at Santa Anita in March 1999, but chips in both knees and his stallion potential have led to his retirement, according to an announcement from Golden Eagle...In an effort to improve the quality of the country's bloodstock, the Hong Kong Jockey Club has purchased three yearlings at North American auctions this year. The purchases were a Hennessy--Ransom Queen (by Red Ransom) colt, bought at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga August sale for $200,000; a Quiet American--To Be a Lover (The Minstrel) colt, purchased for $165,000 at the current Keeneland fall yearling sale; and a Gulch--Accountable Lady (The Minstrel) colt bought for $125,000 at Keeneland's September sale. All three yearling purchases will be sold at the 2001 Hong Kong International Sale.