CHICAGO - In a drawn-out Tuesday meeting in downtown Chicago, the Illinois Racing Board restored Chicago's traditional Thoroughbred schedule while keeping alive the National Jockey Club, which will race next year at Hawthorne Race Course rather than its historic home, Sportsman's Park.

Business was up in every category at the seven-day fall meet that ended Monday at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky.

All-sources handle for the 44-race meet totaled $9,521,638, an increase of 2 percent over comparable 2001 figures and 17 percent over 2000. Ontrack wagering totaled $391,293, up 14 percent over 2001 and 3 percent over 2000. Attendance totaled 5,018.

The average field size was a track-record 10.4 horses per race.

This Guns For Hire, never off the board in eight lifetime starts, deserves a shot at the big time, according to his trainer, John Terranova, and he will get it Friday night in the Grade 2, $350,000 Pegasus Handicap at The Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J.

"It's just pretty much the next logical step for him," Terranova said. "He's just a nice horse, up-and-coming, and I think he's got a lot of talent."

MIAMI - Trainer Milt Wolfson has racked up the frequent flyer miles this summer traveling across the country with The Judge Sez Who, who has made his last four starts at Thistledown, Mountaineer Park, Remington Park, and Louisiana Downs. He may find himself adding to those mileage totals during the fall with his newest star, Super Frolic, who remained undefeated with an impressive 4 1/4-length victory at Calder on Saturday in the $100,000 Foolish Pleasure Stakes.

CHICAGO - In this case, the statistics do not lie. The 8-year-old gelding Reno Rumble has started 48 times in his career and won 13 times. And though only 19 of his races have come over the Arlington grass course, Reno Rumble has won over it 10 times. On paper, it seems Reno Rumble runs here like he runs nowhere else, a suspicion his trainer, Chris Block, can confirm.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Because of spiraling workers' compensation costs in California, Washington-based trainer Len Kasmerski faced a tougher decision than usual when deciding whether to ship 16 horses to Bay Meadows from his home base of Emerald Downs.

A lot of people at Emerald Downs, said Kasmerski, "are hesitant to go because of the costs."

But Kasmerski was committed to coming because his horses seem to fit well in the northern California program.

POMONA, Calif. - Handicappers will have no difficulty identifying the pacesetter Thursday in the $50,000 Gateway to Glory Stakes at Fairplex Park. Finding the likely winner is a different story altogether.

ELMONT, N.Y. - After running Golden Corona in four consecutive graded stakes, trainer Joe Orseno hopes he has found an easier spot for her Thursday in a nine-furlong classified allowance race over Belmont Park's inner turf course.

In the spring and early summer, Golden Corona was quite competitive in graded stakes company, finishing second behind Voodoo Dancer in the Beaugay; third, beaten a head, by Tweedside in the Sheepshead Bay; and second, beaten a neck, to Secret River in the All Along Breeders' Cup at Colonial Downs.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Nadia, one of the leading candidates for Sunday's Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine, had her final major tune-up for that $750,000 race here Tuesday, breezing six furlongs in 1:15.40 on a turf course labeled good.

The E.P. Taylor, a 1 1/4-mile turf race for fillies and mares, will share the Sunday spotlight with the Grade 1 Canadian International, a $1.5 million race over 1 1/2 miles on the turf.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Paul Nicolo sees so many films each week that he should have an Academy Awards vote.

Nicolo, a 46-year-old former rider, is the clerk of scales and film analyst at Golden Gate Fields and Bay Meadows, and when he gives a "thumbs down," it really means something.

In his job as film analyst, he serves as a liaison between jockeys and stewards, often reviewing rides with jockeys before they appear before the stewards.