Wednesday, October 25, 2000
FUSAICHI PEGASUS, LEMON DROP KID, RIBOLETTA, BEAUTIFUL PLEASURE LEAD 135 HORSES PRE-ENTERED FOR BREEDERS' CUP CHAMPIONSHIP
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Led by Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, 1999 Belmont Stakes winner Lemon Drop Kid, Beldame winner Riboletta (BRZ) and defending Distaff champion Beautiful Pleasure, a record 135 horses have been pre-entered for the 17th Breeders' Cup Championship.
The Breeders' Cup Championship, Thoroughbred Racing's Greatest Day, consisting of eight grade I races, will be run on Saturday, November 4, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
A record 18 horses have been supplemented to this year's event, which is expected to boost total purses and awards for the eight races to more than $15 million.
An outstanding lineup has been pre-entered for the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic at 1¼ miles with Horse of the Year honors on the line. The 3-year-old Fusaichi Pegasus returns to Churchill Downs, where he electrified the racing world this spring by winning the Kentucky Derby in one of the most dominant performances in many years. After finishing second in the Preakness and suffering a foot injury while preparing for the Belmont, Fusaichi Pegasus returned in late September with a smashing victory in the Jerome Mile at Belmont Park. Trained by Neil Drysdale, who won the Classic in 1992 with A.P. Indy, Fusaichi Pegasus is expected to finish his
racing career with the Classic.
Among the many challengers of Fusaichi Pegasus in the Classic is Lemon Drop Kid. Trained by Scotty Schulhofer, Lemon Drop Kid has assembled an impressive total of major stakes victories over the past two years. Since winning last year's Belmont Stakes, the 4-year-old Lemon Drop Kid reeled off consecutive victories in the Brooklyn, Suburban, Whitney and Woodward Handicaps to develop into the nation's leading older horse. A victory in the Classic would likely earn him the Horse of the Year crown.
Lemon Drop Kid had his four-race win streak stopped in The Jockey Club Gold Cup on Oct. 14 by the 3-year-old Albert the Great. Trained by Nick Zito, Albert the Great has come on strong in the second half of the season, including a victory in the Dwyer Stakes, a close second in the Travers Stakes and an outstanding front-running victory in the Gold Cup.
Europe provides another formidable challenge in the Classic with Giant's Causeway. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Giant's Causeway has won five Group One races in Europe this year, including the Irish Champion Stakes in September.
Other contenders for the Classic include Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap winner Tiznow, Swaps Stakes winner Captain Steve and defending Classic champion Cat Thief.
The Classic is one of many outstanding races on the Breeders' Cup program. The day's first Breeders' Cup race, the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff at 1 1/8 miles features a showdown between Riboletta, the nation's top older female, against Beautiful Pleasure, the defending Distaff champion. After dominating her rivals on the West Coast over the summer, Riboletta, a 5-year-old Brazilian-bred mare, came east to Belmont Park where she won the Ruffian Handicap by 7 ¢ lengths and then defeated Beautiful Pleasure by two lengths in the Beldame.
The $2 million Breeders' Cup Turf, run at 1½ miles, features a powerful contingent of European stars led by the 4-year-old Montjeu (IRE). A son of Sadler's Wells trained by John Hammond, Montjeu has been Europe's top long distance turf star over the past two years, highlighted by victories in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes and last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Another formidable starter should be
Kalanisi (IRE), who defeated Montjeu last month in the Dubai Champion Stakes at Newmarket. Among the top Americans pre-entered is Maryland-based John's Call, who won both the Sword Dancer and the Turf Classic.
Last year, trainer Julio Canani won the $1 million Breeders' Cup Mile on turf with Silic. This year he will try to win it with the 5-year-old gelding Ladies Din, winner of the Eddie Read Handicap at Del Mar.
Trainer Bill Mott has pre-entered both King Cugat, a winner of four races this year, most recently the Jamaica Handicap at Belmont Park, and the 4-year-old Hap, who captured both the Four Star Dave and the Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga this summer. The European contingent is led by Prix de Moulin winner Indian Lodge (IRE) and and Arkadian Hero, second by a nose in the Atto Mile.
Canani may have another star in Tranquility Lake for the second running of the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, run at 1 3/8 miles. The 5-year-old mare is undefeated in three starts in California this year, including the Yellow Ribbon Stakes at Santa Anita.
Trainer Bob Baffert has pre-entered a potentially powerful group of horses for both the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile and the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, both run at 1 1/16 miles. For the Juvenile, Baffert has pre-entered Flame Thrower, winner of the Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita; and Arabian Light, who captured the Lane's End Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland. A top contender from the east is the Nick Zito-trained A P Valentine, who came from behind to win the Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park
on Breeders' Cup Preview Day in just his third start.
Baffert won the 1998 Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs with Silverbulletday. This time he brings in Notable Career, a four-length winner of the Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita. But she faces a stern test from Raging Fever, trained by Mark Hennig, who is unbeaten in five career starts, capped off by a dominating performance in the Frizette Stakes last month.
Last year, Kona Gold finished second by a half-length in the $1 milllion Breeders' Cup Sprint at six furlongs. This year, trainer Bruce Headley sends the 6-year-old gelding into the Sprint as the probable favorite off three straight victories. But there is plenty of speed to contend with in this race against the likes of Caller One and the 3-year-olds More Than Ready and Trippi.
Pre-entered fields appear on the following pages. In races which are oversubscribed (more than 14 horses pre-entered) the top eight Breeders' Cup point earners gain automatic berths. The remaining six horses are selected by the Breeders' Cup racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. The panel has also ranked all horses not selected into the body of the field in preference order. Should there be a defection from a field, horses will fill any vacancies in the order of ranking until the time of entry, Wednesday, November 1, at 10:00 a.m. ET. Post positions for all eight Breeders' Cup Championship races will then be drawn.
BREEDERS' CUP DISTAFF
HORSE OWNER TRAINER
Beautiful Pleasure John C. Oxley John T. Ward, Jr.
Crimplene (IRE) Sheikh Marwan al Maktoum Clive E. Brittain
Heritage of Gold Jack Garey Thomas Amoss
Jostle Fox Hill Farms, Inc. John Servis
Lu Ravi Yoshio Fujita Carl Bowman
Plenty of Light Aaron U. & Marie D. Jones W. Elliott Walden
Riboletta (BRZ) (20%) Aaron U. & Marie D. Jones Eduardo Inda
Spain The Thoroughbred Corporation D. Wayne Lukas
Speaking of Time Nakkashian, Plan B Stables & Roberts, etal
Barry Abrams
Surfside Overbrook Farm D. Wayne Lukas
Tranquility Lake Mr. & Mrs. Martin J. Wygod Julio Canani
TOTAL HORSES IN RACE: 11
Crimplene (IRE) has second preference in the Mile
Speaking of Time has second preference in the Filly & Mare Turf
Tranquility Lake has first preference in the Filly & Mare Turf
(Supplementary fee)
BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE FILLIES
HORSE OWNER TRAINER
Caressing Carl F. Pollard David R. Vance
Cash Deal Overbrook Farm D. Wayne Lukas
+ Cindy's Hero (9%) Tom & Elizabeth Baxter David Hofmans
Freefourracing Stonerside Stable LLC Neil D. Drysdale
Jetin Excess Perdomo, Malley, Saltonstall & Calabria A. Pico
Perdomo
+ Nasty Storm D. Crum, D. Elser, J. Riccelli, R. McDonald
Dallas Stewart
& D. Stewart
+ Notable Career Golden Eagle Farm Bob Baffert
+ Out of Sync (9%) Andrew Farms Nicholas P. Zito
Platinum Tiara M375 Thoroughbreds, Inc. Joseph Waunsch
+ Raging Fever Edward P. Evans Mark Hennig
+ She's a Devil Due Brian Griggs & Mike Goetz Kenneth
McPeek
+ Stormy Pick Raymond Dweck Ben Perkins, Jr.
Thunder Bertie Bertram Klein, Elaine Klein & Richard Klein
Bernard Flint
+ Xtra Heat Kenneth P. Taylor, Sr., etal John E. Salzman, Sr.
Not selected into the field and listed in order of preference by the
Breeders' Cup
Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel:
La Vida Loca (IRE) Lewis Lakin Aidan P. O'Brien
Two Item Limit Joseph Graffeo Stephen L. DiMauro
Top of the League Stronach Stables, Inc. Joseph F. Orseno
TOTAL HORSES IN RACE: 17
+ denotes qualification based on points
(Supplementary fee)
BREEDERS' CUP MILE
HORSE OWNER TRAINER
+ Affirmed Success Albert Fried, Jr. Richard E. Schosberg
+ Altibr Shadwell Stable Kiaran P. McLaughlin
Arkadian Hero Lindy Regis & Mrs. B. Kelly Luca M. Cumani
Dansili (GB) Juddmonte Farms, Inc. Andre Fabre
Distant Music Juddmonte Farms, Inc. Barry William Hills
+ Forbidden Apple Arthur I. Appleton Christophe Clement
+ Hap Allen E. Paulson Living Trust William I. Mott
Indian Lodge (IRE) (9%) Mr. S. Cohn & Sir Eric Parker Amanda
Perrett
+ King Cugat Centennial Farms William I. Mott
+ Ladies Din (12%) J. Terrence Lanni & Bernard Schiappa
Julio Canani
Manndar (IRE) Columbine Stables, Nichols & Jones C. Beau
Greely
Muhtathir (GB) Godolphin Racing Inc. (Lessee) Saeed bin Suroor
+ North East Bound Julian DeMarco & Richard J. DiSano
William W. Perry
+ War Chant Marjorie Cowan & Irving Cowan Neil D. Drysdale
Not selected into the field and listed in order of preference by the
Breeders' Cup
Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel:
Walkslikeaduck Bienstock, Parks & Winner etal Patrick Gallagher
Crimplene (IRE) Sheikh Marwan al Maktoum Clive E. Brittain
Quiet Resolve Sam-Son Farm Mark R. Frostad
Kingsalsa Daniel Wildenstein Andre Fabre
Diktat (GB) Godolphin Racing, Inc. Saeed bin Suroor
Brahms Thomas F. Van Meter II W. Elliott Walden
Band Is Passing Stanley M. Ersoff Stanley M. Ersoff
Sharan (GB) Manfred Ostermann Jean-Pierre Dupuis
One Won One Heavenly Syndicate Ms. Joanna Morgan
Bertolini Godolphin Racing Inc. (Lessee) Saeed bin Suroor
Bernstein Michael Tabor & Mrs. John Magnier Aidan P.
O'Brien
Aly's Alley Eaglestone Farm, Inc. John J. Tammaro
Mister Deville Darwin Olson Wilson L. Brown
Sudden Storm L.O.R. Stables Ltd. Henry B. Johnson, Jr.
Watchman's Warning (12%) Richard A. Englander Scott A.
Lake
TOTAL HORSES IN RACE: 29
Manndar (IRE) has first preference in the Turf
North East Bound has second preference in the Classic
Crimplene (IRE) has first preference in the Distaff
+ denotes qualification based on points
Quiet Resolve has first preference in the Turf
(Supplementary fees)
Bertolini has first preference in the Sprint
Aly's Alley has first preference in the Turf
BREEDERS' CUP SPRINT
HORSE OWNER TRAINER
Agnes World Takao Watanabe Hideyuki Mori
Bet On Sunshine David P. Holloway Racing Inc. Paul J. McGee
+ Caller One Carolyn Chapman & Theresa McArthur James K.
Chapman
Delaware Township New Farm Ben Perkins, Jr.
+ Dream Supreme Kinsman Stable William I. Mott
+ Elaborate Trudy McCaffery & John Toffan J. Paco Gonzalez
Five Star Day Columbine Stable & Kitchwa Stable C. Beau
Greely
+ Honest Lady Juddmonte Farms, Inc. Robert Frankel
+ Kona Gold Headley, Molasky, Molasky & High Tech Stable
Bruce Headley
+ More Than Ready James T. Scatuorchio Todd A. Pletcher
Shadow Caster Gatsas Thoroughbreds LLC John P. Terranova
Successful Appeal Starview Stable & Walmac International John
C. Kimmel
+ Trippi Dogwood Stable, Inc. Todd A. Pletcher
+ Valiant Halory Celtic Pride Stable Nicholas P. Zito
Not selected into the field and listed in order of preference by the
Breeders' Cup
Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel:
Bertolini Godolphin Racing Inc. (Lessee) Saeed bin Suroor
Lexicon Mr. & Mrs. Jerome S. Moss Richard E. Mandella
Max's Pal Raymond Dweck Ben Perkins, Jr.
Wake At Noon Bruno Schickedanz Abraham R. Katryan
Proven Cure Stonecrest Farm Murray W. Johnson
TOTAL HORSES IN RACE: 19
Bertolini has second preference in the Mile
+ denotes qualification based on points
BREEDERS' CUP FILLY & MARE TURF
HORSE OWNER TRAINER
+ Caffe Latte (IRE) (9%, credit) Stonerside Stable, LLC Bob Baffert
Catella (GER) (9%) Gestut Schlenderhan Peter Schiergen
Collect the Cash Stronach Stables, Inc. Joseph F. Orseno
+ Colstar (9%) Beverly R. Steinman Paul R. Fout
Fly for Avie Ivan Dalos David Bell
Goldamix (IRE) Wertheimer & Frere Carlos Laffon-Parias
Maltese Superb Yoshio Fujita Masahiro Horii
+ Perfect Sting Stronach Stables, Inc. Joseph F. Orseno
Petrushka (IRE) (9%) Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Ltd. Sir
Michael R. Stoute
+ Pico Teneriffe Eugene Melnyk Todd A. Pletcher
+ Snow Polina Gary A. Tanaka William I. Mott
+ Spanish Fern Juddmonte Farms, Inc. Robert Frankel
+ Tout Charmant Stonerside Stable, LLC Ronald L. McAnally
+ Tranquility Lake Mr. & Mrs. Martin J. Wygod Julio Canani
Not selected into the field and listed in order of preference by the
Breeders' Cup
Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel:
Speaking of Time Nakkashian, Plan B Stables & Roberts, etal
Barry Abrams
TOTAL HORSES IN RACE: 15
Tranquility Lake has second preference in the Distaff
Speaking of Time has first preference in the Distaff
(Supplementary fee)
+ denotes qualification based on points
BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE
HORSE OWNER TRAINER
+ A P Valentine Celtic Pride Stable Nicholas P. Zito
Arabian Light (9%) The Thoroughbred Corporation Bob Baffert
+ Burning Roma Harold Queen Anthony Dutrow
+ City Zip Carl Bowling & Charles R. Thompson Linda Rice
Dollar Bill Gary & Mary West Dallas Stewart
+ Flame Thrower Gary Garber Bob Baffert
Macho Uno Stronach Stables, Inc. Joseph F. Orseno
Noverre Godolphin Racing Inc. (Lessee) David Loder
+ Point Given The Thoroughbred Corporation Bob Baffert
+ Scorpion Robert R. Baker, David Cornstein D. Wayne
Lukas
& William Mack
+ Street Cry (IRE) Godolphin Racing Inc. (Lessee) Eoin Harty
Trailthefox Liebau, Liebau & Volkman Patrick-Louis
Biancone
Turnberry Isle (IRE) Michael Tabor & Mrs. John Magnier
Aidan P. O'Brien
+ Yonaguska Michael Tabor D. Wayne Lukas
Not selected into the field and listed in order of preference by the
Breeders' Cup
Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel:
Holiday Thunder John C. Oxley John T. Ward, Jr.
Mongoose Gary & Mary West William I. Mott
Unbridled Time Robert B. Lewis & Beverly J. Lewis D. Wayne
Lukas
Mr. Miesque Martin Racing Stables & Betty Massey Keith
Desormeaux
Unreal Party (9%) Richard A. Englander Michael Pino
TOTAL HORSES IN RACE: 19
(Supplementary fee)
+ denotes qualification based on points
BREEDERS' CUP TURF
HORSE OWNER TRAINER
+ Aly's Alley Eaglestone Farm, Inc. John J. Tammaro
+ Boatman Juddmonte Farms, Inc. Robert Frankel
+ Ciro Jayeff "B" Stables Christophe Clement
Craigsteel (GB) Catherine R. Wills Christophe Clement
+ Down the Aisle Charles H. Deters William I. Mott
+ Fantastic Light Godolphin Racing Inc. (Lessee) Saeed bin Suroor
Fruits of Love Michael J. Doyle Mark Johnston
+ John's Call (12%) Trillium Stable, Inc. Thomas H. Voss
Kalanisi (IRE) H.H. The Aga Khan Sir Michael R. Stoute
+ Manndar (IRE) Columbine Stables C. Beau Greely
Montjeu (IRE) (9%) Michael Tabor John Hammond
Mutafaweq Godolphin Racing Inc. (Lessee) Saeed bin Suroor
Mutamam (GB) Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum Alec Stewart
+ Quiet Resolve Sam-Son Farm Mark R. Frostad
Not selected into the field and listed in order of preference by the
Breeders' Cup
Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel:
Williams News On Target Racing Stables Thomas Amoss
Subtle Power (IRE) (9%) The Thoroughbred Corporation William I.
Mott
TOTAL HORSES IN RACE: 16
Aly's Alley has second preference in the Mile
Manndar (IRE) has second preference in the Mile
Quiet Resolve has second preference in the Mile
(Supplementary fee)
+ denotes qualification based on points
BREEDERS' CUP CLASSIC
HORSE OWNER TRAINER
+ Albert the Great Tracy W. Farmer Nicholas P. Zito
+ Captain Steve (9%, credit) Michael E. Pegram Bob Baffert
+ Cat Thief Overbrook Farm D. Wayne Lukas
Dust On the Bottle Sharon Hild Glenn Hild
Euchre Stronach Stables, Inc. Robert Frankel
+ Fusaichi Pegasus Fusao Sekiguchi Neil D. Drysdale
+ Gander (9%) Gatsas Thoroughbred LLC John P. Terranova
Giant's Causeway Michael Tabor & Mrs. John Magnier
Aidan P. O'Brien
+ Golden Missile Stronach Stables, Inc. Joseph F. Orseno
+ Lemon Drop Kid Jeanne G. Vance Flint S. Schulhofer
North East Bound Julian DeMarco & Richard J. DiSano
William W. Perry
Pine Dance George & Kay Hofmeister Dermot K. Weld
+ Tiznow (9%) Michael Cooper & Cecilia Straub-Rubens Jay M.
Robbins
Vision and Verse Bruce Lunsford & Yoshiyuki Ito William I.
Mott
Not selected into the field and listed in order of preference by the
Breeders' Cup
Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel:
Guided Tour Morton Fink Niall M. O'Callaghan
Agol Lack Prince Sultan Al Kabeer Andre Fabre
Jadada Sterling Stud Mitch Shirota
TOTAL HORSES IN RACE: 17
North East Bound has first preference in the Mile
(Supplementary fee)
+ denotes qualification based on points
LATEST TOTE PRICES FOR THE BREEDERS CUP
BREEDERS' CUP SPECIALS
Just Champion - Sir Michael Stoute Double 100/7
Rule Brittannia - Winners trained in Britain (Excluding Godolphin)
None Evs, One 7/4, Two 3/1, Three 25/1, Four 250/1.
BREEDERS' CUP CLASSIC
9/4 Fusaichi Pegasus; 4/1 Giant's Causeway; 5/1 Albert the Great; 6/1 Tiznow; 13/2 Lemon Drop Kid; 14/1 Captain Steve; 16/1 Golden Missile, Pine Dance; 20/1 Cat Thief; 25/1 Gander; 33/1 Dust on the Bottle, Euchre, North East Bound, Vision & Verse [Also Eligible 33/1 Guided Tour, Agol Lack, Jadada.]
BREEDERS' CUP TURF
3/1 (With a run) Montjeu; 3/1 Kalinisi; 5/1 Manndar; 7/1 Ciro, Fantastic Light, Mutafaweq; 8/1 John's Call; 9/1 Mutamam; 14/1 Boatman; 16/1 Fruits of Love; 20/1 Craigsteel; 25/1 Down the Aisle, Quiet Resolve;33/1 Aly's Alley [Also Eligible 14/1 Williams News; 33/1 Subtle Power]
BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE
11/4 Flame Thrower; 7/2 AP Valentine; 11/2 Street Cry; 6/1 Macho Uno; 7/1 Arabian Light; 12/1 Point Given, Yonaguska; 16/1 Noverre; 20/1 Burning Roma, City Zip, Turnberry Isle; 25/1 Dollar Bill; 33/1 Scorpion, Trailthefox [Also Eligible 25/1 Holiday Thunder; 33/1 Mongoose, Unbridled Time, Mr Miesque, Unreal Party]
BREEDERS' CUP FILLIES & MARES TURF
2/1 Petrushka; 10/3 Perfect Sting; 13/2 Tranquility Lake; 9/1 Colstar, Snow Polina;11/1 Caffe Latte; 12/1 Tout Charmant; 16/1 Spanish Fern; 20/1 Fly for Avie; 25/1 Catella, Collect the Cash; 33/1 Goldamix, Maltese Superb; 50/1 Pico Tenerife
[Also Eligible 33/1 Speaking of Time]
BREEDERS' CUP SPRINT
2/1 Kona Gold; 10/3 Caller One; 7/1 Five Star Day; 8/1 More Than Ready; 10/1
Trippi; 12/1 Agnes World; 14/1 Delware Township, Dream Supreme; 16/1 Bet on
Sunshine; 25/1 Shadow Caster, Successful Appeal, Valiant Halory; 33/1
Elaborate, Honest Lady [Also Eligible 25/1 Bertolini, Max's Pal; 33/1 Lexicon, Wake at Noon, Proven Cure]
BREEDERS' CUP MILE
5/1 Arkadian Hero; 11/2 War Chant; 13/2 Ladies Din; 8/1 Affirmed Success, Hap; 10/1 Indian Lodge, King Cugat; 12/1 Altibr, Dansili, Forbidden Apple, Mutathir; 14/1 Distant Music, Manndar; 33/1 North East Bound [Also Eligible 16/1 Walkslikeaduck, Crimplene; 20/1 Kingsalsa, Diktat; 25/1 Quiet Resolve, Bernstein; 33/1 Brahms, Band is Passing, One Won One, Bertolini, Aly's Alley; 40/1 Sharan, Watchman's Warning; 50/1 Mister
Deville, Sudden Storm]
BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE FILLIES
11/4 Raging Fever; 7/2 Notable Career; 13/2 She's a Devil Due; 8/1 Cindy's Hero, Nasty Storm; 12/1 Freefourracing, Platinum Tiara; 14/1 Cash Deal; 16/1 Out of Sync, Stormy Pick, Xtra Heat; 20/1 Thunder Bertie, 33/1 Caressing, Jetin Express, [Also Eligible 20/1 La Vida Loca; 33/1 Two Item Limit, Top of the League]
BREEDERS' CUP DISTAFF
10/11 Riboletta; 10/3 Beautiful Pleasure; 9/1 Heritage of Gold, Jostle; 10/1 Plenty of Light; 16/1 Surfside; 20/1 Crimplene, Lu Ravi, Spain, Tranquility Lake; 33/1 Speaking of Time
BIG OPEN RACES CLOSED TODAY
Entries for two of the feature races, the £80,000 Thomas Pink Gold Cup and the £50,000 Direct Answers Hurdle, at The Open 2000, the very prestigious three-day meeting in November at Cheltenham, closed today, Wednesday, October 25.
Plenty of interest from owners and trainers is expected for both races which are run for the first time under their new names this year.
The Thomas Pink Gold Cup, the top handicap chase over two miles, four and a half furlongs and staged at 2.55pm on Saturday, November 11, is the most valuable race of the meeting.
A number of runners in today's £15,000-added Thwaites Smooth Beer Handicap Chase at Cheltenham, run over the same distance, are likely to be among the entries, including Boardroom Shuffle. Last year's winner of the Thwaites-sponsored race, The Outback Way, went to win the 1999 equivalent of the Thomas Pink Gold Cup.
There will be a preliminary announcement about the Thomas Pink entries on Friday, October 27, 2000, with the full entries and weights issued on Wednesday, November 1, 2000.
The Direct Answers Hurdle is the highlight of the last day of the Open 2000, Sunday, November 12. The handicap hurdle, over two miles and half a furlong, will have its entries released on Monday, October 30, with the weights being available on November 1.
Edward Gillespie, Cheltenham's Managing Director, said today: "The concept of The Open 2000, which launches the core National Hunt season, is getting across and we are delighted with the record level of advance bookings by racegoers for the meeting.
"The new sponsors who have come in to support The Open 2000 are very enthusiastic and the entry stage for two of the features races, the Thomas Pink Gold Cup and the Direct Answers Handicap Hurdle, is today, indicating that countdown to the meeting is really under way."
All the other 16 races at The Open 2000, which takes place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 10,11 & 12, and has record prize money of £435,000, close at the five-day stage.
These include the £30,000-added Sporting Index Chase over Cheltenham's cross-country course, the £20,000 Capel Cure Sharp Novices Hurdle (2m 110yds) and the £20,000-added Mitsubishi Shogun Trophy (2m) on the first day.
Others major races to close at the five-day stage are the £50,000 Intervet Trophy, the new handicap chase over three miles, three and a half furlongs, and the £30,000-added Tote Bookmakers Hurdle (3m 2f) on the Saturday, while the Sunday has the £25,000-added Ladbroke Casinos Hurdle (2m 5f) and the £25,000 Independent Novices' Chase (2m).
Leading Current Trainers at The Open (1990-1999)
Last season's champion, Martin Pipe, is the trainer with the best record at what is now The Open 2000, with 19 successes over the last ten years at the meeting.
This tally includes two winners of the equivalent of The Thomas Pink Gold Cup - Challenger Du Luc (1996), and Cyfor Malta (1998). The Nicholashayne-based handler also won this leading contest on a third occasion, with Beau Ranger in 1987. He had the fourth, Northern Starlight, from three runners last year.
Pipe was responsible in 1999 for the winner of what is now the Direct Answers Hurdle, with Rodock holding on by three-quarters-of-a length from Irish challenger She's Our Mare in a thrilling finish.
Martin Pipe 19 (4 last year)
Nigel Twiston-Davies 13
Josh Gifford 8
Nicky Henderson 8
Paul Nicholls 5 (2 last year)
Kim Bailey 4
Toby Balding 4
Philip Hobbs 4
Oliver Sherwood 4
Tony Martin IRE 3 (2 last year)
Leading Current Jockeys at The Open (1990-1999)
Champion Tony McCoy holds the accolade of being the most successful
jockey over the last decade at what is now The Open 2000, with 13 wins under
his belt, five of which were achieved in 1999.
His victories then were on Rodock in the equivalent of the Direct
Answers Hurdle, Legal Right, Heros Fatal, Nahakham and Moondigua.
After finishing second in the 1997 equivalent of The Thomas Pink Gold
Cup on the previous year's winner Challenger Du Luc, he went one better in 1998
when taking the valuable event on Cyfor Malta.
Tony McCoy 13 (5 last year)
Adrian Maguire 10
Mick Fitzgerald 8 (1 last year)
Carl Llewellyn 6
Norman Williamson 6 (2 last year)
Philip Hide 4
Joe Tizzard 3 (2 last year)
DEATH OF SEA PIGEON
Sea Pigeon, hero of the 1980 and 1981 Champion Hurdles, has had to be put down at the age of 30.
He was also successful in the Welsh Champion Hurdle, Chester Cup and Tote Ebor. As a three-year-old he finished seventh to Morston in the 1973 Derby. Over hurdles he amassed £130,395 from 21 victories while his 16 triumphs on the flat earned him £96,985.
Peter Easterby, who trained the gelding stated: "He was a horse of a lifetime."
"The two races that stick out in my memory are his second Champion Hurdle, when John Francome rode him, and the Ebor, when Jonjo O'Neill dropped his hands near the line and nearly got caught. I think Jonjo was the only one who thought he'd won."
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