NEWS - Thursday, July 27, 2006

[PaceAdvantage]

The Seven Year Itch:

PaceAdvantage.Com Turns Seven This Week!

Really? Has it been seven years already? It seems like only yesterday that I started a website in response to a certain popular message board discontinuing the policy of allowing folks to post without having to register. Of course, I soon realized that I wouldn't be able to maintain any type of sanity on my new message board without some sort of registration policy in force, so I committed the first of many somewhat hypocritical acts, and required my users to register in order to participate on the forums. Thankfully, not many folks ran away screaming when the LOG IN box first appeared, and we've been talkin' horses here ever since.

In case you're wondering how things looked seven years ago, check out this nifty link: WayBack Machine!

I wish to thank each and every person who has ever participated on these forums, and along with me, has expressed the delight, the wonderment, the curiosity, and the downright obsession that goes along with our wonderful little game. Here's to many more years!

==PA

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Cotton Blossom Gets Pletcher Started at Spa

Things haven't changed much at Saratoga Race Course, where the 138th season opened Wednesday. Trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez were back in the winner's circle after Cotton Blossom won the $111,300 Schuylerville (gr. III) for 2-year-old fillies before a crowd of 27,346. Blood-Horse

Saratoga sets opening day handle records
The opening of the Saratoga Race Course meet is generally a solid day for the New York Racing Association. Thoroughbred Times

Spot the Diplomat Wins Del Mar's Graduation
Harris Farms' Spot the Diplomat, the 8-5 favorite under Del Mar's defending riding champion Victor Espinoza, held on resolutely through the stretch to win Wednesday's $133,400 Graduation Stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds. Blood-Horse

Barbaro's foot doing 'as well as can be expected,' Richardson says
Injured Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Barbaro slept well after the bandage on his left hind foot, affected by severe laminitis, was changed on Tuesday. Thoroughbred Times

NTRA, Breeders' Cup Strike Modified Operating Agreement
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Breeders' Cup have struck a new joint operating agreement through at least 2008, ending speculation the two organizations could go their separate ways. In addition, they will have separate chief executive officers. Blood-Horse

After Tuesday meeting, no word Wednesday on Guild's actions
Directors of the Jockeys' Guild were mum on Wednesday as to what they decided at a Tuesday meeting concerning the hiring of a national manager. Thoroughbred Times

Magna Exercises AmTote Purchase Options
Magna Entertainment Corp. announced July 26 that it has exercised its first purchase option to acquire an additional 30% equity interest in AmTote International, Inc. and has sent written notice of its intention to exercise its second purchase option to acquire the remaining 40% equity interest in the wagering technology company. Blood-Horse

Grade I Winner First Samurai Retired to Claiborne
First Samurai, a two-time grade I winner as a 2-year-old last year, has been retired from racing and will enter stud at the Hancock family's Claiborne Farm near Paris, Ky. Blood-Horse