LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The last time Churchill Downs hosted a second-level turf allowance for older horses, pretty much everyone came to the party.

In fact, the margin from first to eighth was barely more than two lengths in that Nov. 1 race, illustrating just how well matched the Kentucky grass horses happen to be in that prevailing two-other-than category. So when the $50,000 feature is run under similar conditions Friday at Churchill, it should come as little surprise if both the wagering and results are as scrambled as what occurred nearly three weeks ago.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - In the weeks since Gold Sphinx won an allowance race on the undercard of the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita on Oct. 25, trainer Gary Mandella has become more enthusiastic about the performance.

His opinion is based not only on Gold Sphinx's 1 1/2-length win, but subsequent victories by second- and third-place finishers Six Numbers and Rock n Rosh, as well.

Gold Sphinx, a 4-year-old Storm Cat colt, returns in a $46,000 allowance race over 1 1/16 miles on turf Friday at Hollywood Park, a race that could lead to a stakes this winter for him.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Lakota Road and Merrigoldround will square off in Friday's top race at Portland Meadows, a six-furlong sprint for $2,500 fillies and mares that has drawn a full field of 12.

Lakota Road tuned up for Friday's race, the sixth on a nine-race card, with a second to Rated Up Blue in a 4 1/2-furlong sprint for similar company here on Nov. 7, when she was beaten two lengths in a race that was run in 55.70 seconds. That was her first start since January, and she seems certain to benefit from the effort.

Representatives of Maryland's horsemen and officials of the Maryland Jockey Club worked out a deal on Wednesday to keep the stable area at Pimlico Race Course open during the winter, officials said late Wednesday.

Under the deal, Pimlico has agreed to keep the stable area open in exchange for the horsemen's vow to drop its plan to revoke approval for simulcasts. The horsemen also promised to support the MJC's effort to obtain approval for slots machines at its tracks in Maryland, according to a Pimlico racing official.

The Churchill Downs Simulcast Network and the Southern Racing Cooperative reached an agreement late Wednesday over simulcast rates, and as a result the Churchill-controlled signals of Churchill Downs, Hollywood Park, Calder Race Course, and Hoosier Park were to be restored to the cooperative tracks on Thursday.

"Both parties really wanted this over, and that forced us together to find a resolution, and we found one today," said Bobby Geiger, spokesperson for the cooperative.

Jockey Russell Baze scored his 400th victory of 2003, winning aboard Hooked on Niners on Wednesday at Golden Gate Fields.

Baze, the fourth all-time winningest jockey in history with 8,474 victories, has reached 400 victories in 11 of the past 12 years. He is currently second in the nation behind Ramon Dominguez in victories for the year but leads all riders with 200 or more victories with a win rate of 31.

An investment firm hired to evaluate the worth of Monmouth Park and The Meadowlands has recommended that New Jersey put the two tracks up for sale or lease them to a private company, according to officials of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, the owner of the tracks.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Bowman Mill has run over seven turf courses in 10 starts, overcoming an injury in 2000 and becoming a stakes winner this year at age 5.

This week, the Maryland-based Bowman Mill starts on his eighth turf course, and his first in California, in the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup over 1 1/2 miles.

Trainer Michael Dickinson chose the Turf Cup in an effort to avoid a soft turf course.

"He should like the firmer turf here," Dickinson said.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Breeders' Cup crowd at Santa Anita oohed and aahed as Bien Nicole kept getting farther ahead in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, but all Donnie Von Hemel could do was cringe.

"All I was thinking was, 'Slow down!' " said Von Hemel, who trains Bien Nicole for John and Kristine Richter.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Despite the heavy rain that hit the area Wednesday and was scheduled to last into Thursday, Aqueduct track superintendent Jerry Porcelli was "somewhat hopeful" that Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Red Smith Handicap would be run on the turf as scheduled.

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens has horses to run regardless of the surface on which the Red Smith will be run, but he stands a better chance to win the race if it is moved to the main track. Jerkens would run Snake Mountain in the Red Smith if it is on dirt and Haggs Castle if it remains on turf.