LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Change abounds at Churchill Downs these days. The patchworked pattern of a 130-year-old frontside finally is yielding to modernity, and the ongoing construction has left the grounds in a state of transition that by 2005 will result in a spanking-new state-of-the-art facility.

Indeed, with the demolition that began hours after the track ended its spring meet July 6 already complete, the Churchill landscape is now dominated by the sights, sounds, and inconveniences of major reconstruction.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A career that spanned nearly 30 years and made Charlie Woods Jr. one of the all-time leading jockeys at Churchill Downs and Turfway Park is officially over. Woods announced Friday that he will not return from the latest in a series of riding-related injuries and has hung up his tack for good.

"I'm tired of getting hurt," said Woods, 53. "Everybody reaches their degree of success. I had a good career, met a lot of great people, made a lot of great friends. I just decided it was time to move on."

EDMONTON, Alberta - The 74-day Northlands season ends Sunday with a nine-race card.

The Thoroughbreds will not return until June 25, for a 70-day run. The 2004 opener will be a week later than usual because Stampede Park plans to extend its spring meet by a week in order to accommodate 47 racing dates.

Meanwhile, the racing fraternity is keenly awaiting Horse Racing Alberta's decision Oct. 31 on a 10-year racetrack license for Calgary, for which there are three applicants including incumbent Stampede Park.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Kalfaari looks like a standout over five other sprinters in the feature race at Hastings, an allowance worth $25,300.

Kalfaari has compiled an enviable record the past two years. He has won 9 of 11 starts and his only two losses were at distances his trainer and owner, Clint Willson, thought might be beyond his reach. One of the losses was in his most recent race, the 1 1/8-mile Sir Winston Churchill. But that effort only makes him look better in this 6 1/2-furlong sprint.

ELMONT, N.Y. - The key to Sunday's $75,000-added Miss Grillo Stakes may have a lot to do with figuring out which of the 2-year-old fillies can handle the footing.

The turf courses have been used sparingly the past several days. Though skies were clear and the grass was officially labeled as good on Thursday and Friday, five scheduled turf races were switched to the main track in the aftermath of a fatal breakdown in Thursday's first race, as management and riders believed the courses were uneven and unable to handle more than one race daily.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Omega Code and Olmodavor couldn't make the Breeders' Cup, but as the racing season marches on, they are just getting started. Their allowance-race performances Sunday at Santa Anita will determine whether they can be legitimate Grade 1 contenders in coming weeks.

Omega Code makes his third start following a layoff in race 4 and is expected to race gate to wire in the three-other-than sprint. Omega Code will then aim for the Malibu Stakes, a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds to be run Dec. 26, which is opening day of the Santa Anita winter meet.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Ninebanks, winner of the Grade 2, $200,000 San Francisco Breeders' Cup Handicap and the $100,000 California Turf Championship here earlier this year, is the one to beat over the Bay Meadows turf course in the $60,000-added Pacifica Handicap on Sunday.

The likely favorite in the field of 10 in the 1 1/16-mile race, Ninebanks, comfortably drawn in post 5, could have some tough competition.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Blonde Executive, arguably the best 2-year-old filly at Woodbine, shoots for her fourth straight victory Sunday in the $159,900 Fanfreluche Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for Canadian-breds.

Blonde Executive bucked her shins when she debuted May 24, and was given the next two months off by trainer Radlie Loney. She finished second to Silver Bird when she returned in a maiden race Aug. 2, and then graduated impressively two weeks later, beating My Vintage Port, who subsequently captured both the Muskoka and Princess Elizabeth stakes.

Jockey Alex Solis registered his 4,000th career victory in style Friday afternoon, guiding King Robyn to a gate-to-wire head victory over Medecis in the Grade 3, $100,000 Morvich Handicap at Santa Anita. It was three-quarters of a length back to Geronimo in third.

Breaking from post 3, Solis sent King Robyn immediately to the front and carved out fractions of 21.91 seconds, 43.82, and 1:06.85, and covered the about 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:13.22 over the firm turf course. King Robyn returned $7.20 as the favorite in the nine-horse field.

Diane Nelson, who was thrown from her mount, Sonn D'Oro, while leading on the far turn in Thursday's first race at Belmont, sustained two fractures in the bones connecting her left leg to her ankle. She was scheduled for surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan on Saturday and is expected to be out of action for about three months.

Javier Castellano, also unseated in the spill, took off his mounts on Friday but was scheduled to ride over the weekend.