Raleigh Burroughs, whose humor carried him through nearly a century of life, died Sept. 25 in Florida after suffering a heart attack. He would have turned 97 on Oct. 15.
Burroughs was born in Baltimore and lived his first 65 years here, serving as editor of Turf and Sport Digest and The Maryland Horse. He wrote columns carried in numerous magazines as well as an autobiography, "Horses, Burroughs, and Other Animals."
"In his prime, say 30 years ago, just about anybody who had anything to do with horses knew of Raleigh Burroughs," said Snowden Carter, a longtime friend. "He had a way of making a joke out of just about anything."
Rosecroft showcase
Rosecroft Raceway's marquee event takes place Saturday with the "Showcase of Champions," races worth an estimated $500,000 at the harness track in Prince George's County.
The races highlight "Maryland's Mane Attraction," a weeklong celebration of state harness racing. Events include a golf tournament Tuesday at Andrews Air Force Base. Proceeds benefit Horse Lover's United, a Maryland-based organization that finds homes for retired standardbreds.
On Thursday night at Rosecroft, a share in a racehorse will be given away. On Friday night, wallets containing vouchers for food and bets will be handed to the first 3,000 patrons.
On Saturday, "Showcase Night," the band Poco will perform at 6 p.m. Other events include free carnival rides, pony rides, face painting, a petting zoo, NASA space center for children, free hot dogs and lemonade for children 12 and younger, stable tours and a panel of trainers, drivers and owners answering fans' questions.
Finally, at 1 p.m. Sunday, the Chesapeake yearling sale will take place at Rosecroft.
For information about any of the events call 301-567-4000. Rosecroft's post time is 7: 20 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
'Million' deadline near
State thoroughbred racing's main fall event takes place a week later. That is, of course, Maryland Million day Oct. 17 at Laurel Park.
The deadline is Wednesday for pre-entries to Maryland Million races. Entry clerks will be on duty at Laurel tomorrow, Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Maryland Million program consists of 11 races for Maryland-sired horses, ranging from a $25,000 steeplechase race to the $200,000 Maryland Million Classic. Purses total $1,025,000.
The Maryland Million golf tournament is Thursday at Bulle Rock Golf Course in Havre de Grace. (For information, call 410-239-7022.)
The Maryland Racing Writers' Association "Salute to Maryland Million" crab feast is Friday night (More about that below.)
Other related events include the railsitters' Maryland farm tour on Saturday and Sunday. (Call 703-818-1644.) The Maryland Million Gala is Oct. 16, and the MHBA/TOBA new owners' seminar is Oct. 17. (For information about either, call 410-252-2100.)
Building the ranks
The Maryland Racing Writers' Association has resolved a problem facing turf-writer groups across the country -- a dwindling of their ranks -- by broadening its membership requirements.
The group recently adopted revised bylaws that open membership to "all persons involved in the dissemination of information about thoroughbred racing and/or breeding in Maryland." It plans to solicit members from the roster of TV broadcasters, who occasionally mention horse racing, as well as racing photographers. Founded in 1937, the Maryland association has 37 members.
Its main purpose is raising money for college scholarships for backstretch and farm workers. On Friday, at its annual crab feast and auction, the group will present a record $13,000 in scholarships. That includes contributions of $4,000 each from the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and Maryland Horsemen's Assistance Fund.
The racing writers also will present awards to four Marylanders for meritorious service to racing: Hal C.B. Clagett, the venerable breeder of horses including Little Bold John; Alan M. Foreman, a director of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association; Eugene A. Conti Jr., former secretary of the state department that oversees the Maryland Racing Commission; and Stuart S. Janney III, majority owner of Coronado's Quest.
For tickets to the crab feast, call 410-252-2100.
Fasig-Tipton at Timonium
Nine of the top 20 sires in the nation will have offspring in the show ring at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic's Eastern Fall Yearlings sale tomorrow and Tuesday at the Timonium Fairgrounds.
Included are the progeny of Crytoclearance, No. 2 on the current stallion list and sire of Triple Crown star Victory Gallop and Carson City, the leading sire of 2-year-olds. The other top 20 sires represented are Wild Again, Black Tie Affair, Runaway Groom, Tactical Advantage, Silver Deputy, Dynamformer and Red Ransom.
Also in the sale are the first yearlings fathered by the little come-from-behind dynamo, Concern, the local horse who won the Breeders' Cup Classic and more than $3 million.
Of the approximately 600 horses to be sold, 113 are nominees to the Maryland Million. Many are sired by such prominent state stallions as Allen's Prospect, Two Punch, Valley Crossing, Citidancer and Polish Numbers.
"We're cautiously optimistic about this sale," said Fasig-Tipton executive vice president Mason Grasty. "We would be happy with a 10 percent increase in the average. The sire lineup is a little stronger than usual."
The most interesting offering is an unnamed bay filly who was purchased as a weanling last November at Keeneland for $235,000. A daughter of Dehere out of Gold Issue, the filly is owned by Mr. and Mrs. S.H. Rogers Jr.
On average, yearlings -- foaled in 1997 -- are about nine to 10 months away from racing, so they generally bring a lower median price than 2-year-olds, who are more advanced in their training. Last year, yearlings from this sale averaged $16,982 with a median of $10,000.
The sale begins at 10 a.m. each day. (For information, call 410-392-5555.)
A wrap after 160,000 races
Jack Wilson, a 64-year-old native of Baltimore, has concluded his 42-year career with the Daily Racing Form. He estimates that he called more than 80,000 charts and saw more than 160,000 races.
The most memorable? Secretariat's Belmont in 1973.
"Whoever saw a horse win a classic race by 31 lengths in world-record time?" Wilson said. "Horses don't often do things like that, and that was the only time in my career that I editorialized in the footnote of my chart.
"I thought the feat deserved a little extra something without going too crazy about it. I said Secretariat won ' in a tremendous performance.' "
Sun staff writer Kent Baker and Thoroughbred Racing Communications contributed to this article.
Pub Date: 10/04/98