Here and There...

Over $34.7 million in stakes money will be available at Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga in 2002, as NYRA has scheduled 180 stakes worth $34.7for the 2002 racing year. Of those 180 stakes, 129 are graded with 39 grade I stakes up for grabs during the course of the year....Rhythm Bound has been retired from racing and will begin stud duty at Prinrock Farms near Chester, Il. The stud fee for the 5-year-old son of Silver Deputy out of the Secretariat mare Lady Speedwell is $1,000. Rhythm Bound retires with two wins from 14 career starts and $18,366 in earnings. ...Thoroughbred Charities of America benefit dinner and auction of stallion seasons and sporting memorabilia concluded on Dec. 1 with initial tallies showing well over $1-million in gross receipts. Nearly 400 attended the gala fete at Herb and Ellen Moelis' Candyland Farm in Middletown, DE where a live auction took place. Another 60 guests attended a party held at Cross Gate Gallery in Lexington where an audio feed of the live auction allowed them to participate in the bidding. The funds will be distributed to non-profit groups that support Thoroughbred rescue, retirement and research. The auction was topped by a $70,000 no-guarantee season to Three Chimneys stallion Rahy. Successful bidder Betty Moran of Brushwood Stable also bought a no-guarantee season to Lane's End stallion Dixieland Band. This year a West Coast telephone auction will be conducted from December 13-18 featuring seasons from Arizona, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Louisiana and Texas, as well as Kentucky, Maryland and New York. A complete listing of seasons available can be viewed on the TCA website www.thoroughbredcharities.com ... The Kentucky Horse Park is now accepting applications for its 2002 educational classes. Among them is an Equine Management Program which runs from Feb. 5 through June 28th, followed by another session July 9 through Nov. 20. For more information call (859) 259-4206... "The Legend of Seabiscuit," a special exhibit at the National Museum of Racing in Saratoga Springs, New York, has been extended until Dec. 15, 2002. "Though originally scheduled to close this month, the exhibit has been extended because of the great reception received by it and by Laura Hillenbrand's book, Seabiscuit: An American Legend," said Kate Cravens, curator of the Hall of Fame. "The Legend of Seabiscuit" includes artifacts, photographs, and audiovisual components, including classic broadcasts and Movietone news coverage of Seabiscuit's most famous races... Churchill Downs Management Company has sold a 15% interest in its Hoosier Park subsidiary to Centaur Racing LLC, for $4.5 million. The transaction, approved last week by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission, was part of a deal in which Centaur purchased the entire 10% Hoosier Park interest formerly held by Conseco HPLP, according to a press release from Churchill Downs. As a result of the latest transaction, Centaur now owns 38% interest in Hoosier Park, with options to purchase additional Churchill Downs Management Company partnership interests; CDMC owns 62% of Hoosier Park... On Sunday, Calder-based jockey Rosemary B. Homeister Jr. will become the first female jockey to ride in the Clasico del Caribe at El Comandante Racetrack in Puerto Rico. Homeister will be aboard the Panamanian filly Alexia. Homeister is third-leading jockey at the current Calder meet, with 18 wins.