The broadcast schedule for ``Emirates Airline Summer Racing Presented by the NTRA'' has been set with the kickoff telecast slated for Saturday, July 25. The series, to air on the ESPN networks, will provide comprehensive, live coverage of Grade I summer racing fixtures from three of America's most loved racing venues.
The series begins with the Grade I, $350,000 Eddie Read Stakes on the turf from Del Mar (ESPN2, 8-9 p.m.). The series concludes on August 29 with the $1 million Shadwell Travers Stakes from Saratoga (ESPN, 4:30-6 p.m.). Known as the ``Mid-Summer Derby,'' the 2009 Travers could bring together all three winners from this year's Triple Crown events: Derby winner Mine That Bird, Preakness heroine Rachel Alexandra and Belmont Stakes victor Summer Bird.
July 3, 1937 - The Del Mar Turf Club, with crooner Bing Crosby as president and actor Pat O'Brien as one of the club officers, opened for racing.
July 3, 1977 - Seattle Slew's nine-race winning streak came to an end in the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park, when he finished fourth, beaten 16 lengths by J.O. Tobin.
July 3, 1982 - D. Wayne Lukas-trained Landaluce, ridden by Laffit Pincay Jr., won the first of her five consecutive victories at Hollywood Park. The daughter of Seattle Slew, owned by Barry Beal and Lloyd French, died of a viral infection in November of that year, but was posthumously voted champion two-year-old filly of 1982.
July 4, 1954 - Two-year-old Ribot won his first race, the Premio Tramuschio. He concluded his career in 1956, with 16 wins in as many starts.
July 4, 1972 - Two-year-old Secretariat, ridden by Paul Feliciano, ran fourth to winner Herbull in his racing debut, blocked badly throughout the race, at Aqueduct. It was the poorest placing of Secretariat's career.
July 4, 1976 - Charlie Whittingham swept the top three spots in the American Handicap at Hollywood Park with his trainees King Pellinore, Riot in Paris and Caucasus. On July 26, he repeated the feat in the Sunset Handicap, with Caucasus first, King Pellinore second and Riot in Paris third.
July 4, 1978 - Trainer D. Wayne Lukas won his first $100,000 stakes race over the turf taking the American Handicap with Effervescing, ridden by Laffit Pincay Jr., at Hollywood Park.
July 4, 1998 - Elusive Quality ran the fastest mile in history in the Poker Handicap at Belmont Park. The five-year-old horse was timed in 1:31 3/5 over a firm turf course.
July 4, 2000 - Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze scored his 7,000 career victory aboard This Is the Moment at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Calif. Baze became the sixth jockey to join the 7,000-win club.
July 5, 1991 - Jockey Ray Sibille won his 3,000th career race, aboard Sporting Surf at Pleasanton.
July 6, 1975 - Locust Hill Farm's undefeated filly Ruffian engaged Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure in a match race at Belmont Park. Racing on the lead, Ruffian sustained a severe leg injury and was pulled up by jockey Jacinto Vasquez. The filly was euthanized the following day when efforts to save her proved futile.
July 6, 1977 - In the second of their 10 meetings, Alydar defeated Affirmed to win the Great American Stakes at Belmont Park. This was the first of Alydar's three victories over Affirmed.
July 7, 1934 - Mary Hirsch became the first female to be licensed as a Thoroughbred trainer, in Illinois. Hirsch subsequently was licensed in Michigan that year and two years later, on April 9, she was licensed by The Jockey Club to train in New York.
July 10, 1982 - Landaluce, a two-year-old daughter of Seattle Slew, won the Hollywood Lassie Stakes by 21 lengths under the guidance of Laffit Pincay Jr. She ran the six furlong race in 1:08, just 3/5 of a second off the track record at Hollywood Park.
Bashford Manor Stakes, 2yo, $100,000, Grade III, 6F, Churchill Downs
Flawlessly Stakes, 3yo fillies, $100,000, 1M (T), Hollywood Park
United Nations Stakes, 3&up, $750,000, Grade I, 1 3-8M (T), Monmouth Park
Suburban Handicap, 3&up, $400,000, Grade II, 1 1-4M, Belmont Park
Prioress Stakes, 3yo fillies, $300,000, Grade I, 6F, Belmont Park
Salvator Mile Stakes, 3&up, $250,000, Grade III, 1M, Monmouth Park
Dwyer Stakes, 3yo, $200,000, Grade II, 1 1-16M, Belmont Park
Firecracker Handicap, 3&up, $150,000, Grade II, 1M (T), Churchill Downs
American Handicap, 3&up, $150,000, Grade II, 1 1-8M (T), Hollywood Park
Chicago Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $150,000, Grade III, 7F, Arlington Park
American Oaks Invitational, 3yo fillies, $700,000, Grade I, 1 1-4M (T), Hollywood Park
Triple Bend Handicap, 3&up, $300,000, Grade I, 7F, Hollywood Park
Tom Fool Handicap, 3&up, $200,000, Grade III, 7F, Belmont Park
Jersey Shore Stakes, 3yo, $200,000, Grade III, 6F, Monmouth Park
Locust Grove Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $100,000, Grade III, 1M (T), Churchill Downs
Dr. James Penny Memorial Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $200,000, 1 1-16M (T), Philadelphia Park
Indiana Downs Distaff Stakes, 3yo fillies, $100,000, 1M (T), Indiana Downs
Oliver Stakes, 3yo, $200,000, 1M (T), Indiana Downs
