An assortment of news and notes from around the world of horse racing:

North America

St Trinians to rest for 2011 campaign - ESPN
"St Trinians will miss the $300,000 Clement Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 7 because of soreness, trainer Mike Mitchell said on Saturday."

NYRA releases fall stakes schedules for Belmont, Aqueduct - Handicappers' Edge
"The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has announced the stakes programs for the 2010 Belmont Fall Championship Meet and the 2010 Aqueduct Fall Meet, featuring more than 30 graded stakes races and nearly $9 million in purses."

Quality Road Blasts Bullet at Saratoga - BloodHorse.com
"Quality Road, the top older male in training, continued preparations for the Aug. 7 Whitney Handicap (gr. I) with what trainer Todd Pletcher termed a "spectacular" five-furlong move."

Super Saver, Quality Road impressive in Saratoga works - Thoroughbred Times
"Gearing up for his first start since the Triple Crown, Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Super Saver breezed five furlongs in 1:00.77 on Monday morning at Saratoga Race Course."

Fly Down appears ready for Jim Dandy test - Thoroughbred Times
"Dwyer Stakes (G2) winner Fly Down showed his readiness for the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes on Saturday (G2) with a bullet half-mile work on Monday morning on the Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga Race Course."

Lookin At Lucky sizzles in final Haskell drill - Thoroughbred Times
"Champion Lookin At Lucky blazed five furlongs in :58.60 handily on Monday morning at Del Mar in his final workout for the $1-million IZOD Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) on Sunday at Monmouth Park."

International

Glorious Goodwood has it all: Horse Racing - Telegraph
"If ever there was an antidote to the wrangling and wrath which the racing and betting industries are immersed in, it has to be Glorious Goodwood."

Harbinger the best horse ever or maybe not - Steve Dennis - UK Horse Racing Blogs - Racing Post
"Anyone know that old tune by the mighty Johnny Nash? There are more questions than answers. You betcha. Anyone see that King George? Oh wow."

Rip Van Winkle takes on Canford Cliffs in bid for Sussex repeat - Thoroughbred Times
"Rip Van Winkle (Ire) will try for a repeat victory in the Sussex Stakes (Eng-G1) on Wednesday at Goodwood, but the multiple Group 1 winner must defeat a classic winner to win the one-mile turf race for the second straight year."

The reigning Horse of the Year easily went by pacesetter Queen Martha as she came off the final turn en route to winning the Lady's Secret by three lengths.

In other action, Devil May Care won the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks over Biofuel and Acting Happy; out at Del Mar, The Usual Q.T. won the Grade 1 Eddie Read.

2 May 1997: George Steinnbrenner stands with his horse Concerto at the 123rd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

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Most of the stories covering the death of George Steinbrenner will focus on his time as owner of the New York Yankees while neglecting the fact that Steinbrenner was a longtime thoroughbred owner and breeder.  In a sharp contrast to his profile as a baseball owner, Steinbrenner's racing operation was far from a Yankees-like dynasty.  Like many owners in this sport, even prominent ones, he had his share of winners and losers.  But even though Steinbrenner's horses never won a Triple Crown race or a Breeders' Cup race, they were fairly successful at the graded stakes level.

Steinbrenner's racing operation, Kinsman Stables, is located on a 860-acre farm in Ocala, Florida.  

During his almost 40 years of involvement within the thoroughbred industry, Steinbrenner served as the director and president of Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners Association.

Below are some of the horses that Steinbrenner owned or co-owned during his lifetime:

• Sweet Symphony, winner of the Grade 1 Alabama.
• Majestic Warrior, winner of the Grade 1 Hopeful.
• Dream Supreme, winner of the Grade 1 Ballerina and the Grade 1 Test.
• Spinning Round, winner of the Grade 1 Ballerina and the Grade 2 Alcibiades Stakes.
• Bellamy Road, winner of the Grade 1 Wood Memorial and the morning line favorite for the 2005 Kentucky Derby (finished 7th).
• Eternal Prince, winner of the Grade 1 Wood Memorial and the Grade 2 Gotham.
• Buy the Firm, winner of the Grade 1 Top Flight; Grade 2 Long Look; and Grade 3 Next Move, Athenia, and Carousel Handicaps.
• Acceptable, winner of the Grade 3 Kentucky Cub Classic; 2nd in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Grade 2 Blue Grass and Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes.
• Steve's Friend, winner of the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby; 3rd in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby; and 5th in the 1977 Kentucky Derby, the best finish for Steinbrenner in his six Derby starts.

A few news and notes from around the world of thoroughbred racing:

Zenyatta, Rachel Halters Total $8,777 in Bids - BloodHorse.com

Churchill concludes successful spring meet - Handicappers' Edge

Kinsale King looks to turn the tables in July Cup - Handicappers' Edge

Gayego to make U.S. return in Triple Bend - Thoroughbred Times

Whatsthescript back to racing after standing in California - Thoroughbred Times

More patient Rail Trip tries for second Hollywood Gold Cup - ESPN

Maiden Watch - Zanazzi has a Date With Destiny - BloodHorse.com Blog Stable

Jeremy Plonk: Racing's contraction pains - ESPN

Paulick Report - Blog Archive - BING…BAFFERT?

John Gichigi - Getty Images

3 months ago: EPSOM, ENGLAND - JUNE 05: Workforce ridden by Ryan Moore leads the field to win The Investec Derby during the Investec Derby Festival at Epsom Racecourse on June 5, 2010 in Epsom, England. (Photo by John Gichigi/Getty Images)

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There was a lot of racing activity that took place outside of Belmont Park this past weekend.  Here's a look at some of the items making headlines around the world of horse racing.

Belmont has $930K carryover - ESPN
All of the bombs that rolled home at the end of the Belmont Stakes card on Saturday helped to create a huge Pick 6 carryover for Wednesday's card.  I'll have an overview of the six race sequence tomorrow.

Mandurah Sets World Record for Mile on Turf - BloodHorse.com
A world record for a one-mile turf race was established at Monmouth Park June 6 when Colvin Green's Mandurah won a starter handicap in 1:31.23 on a firm course at the New Jersey racetrack.

Zenyatta Assigned 129 Pounds for Vanity - BloodHorse.com
Undefeated champion Zenyatta, bidding for a record 17th consecutive victory, was assigned 129 pounds for the Vanity Handicap (gr. I) at Hollywood Park June 13, the same weight she carried in winning the race a year ago.

Rachel Alexandra assigned 118 for Stephen Foster - Handicappers' Edge
Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro) has been assigned 118 pounds by Churchill Downs racing secretary Ben Huffman for next Saturday's $600,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) at 1 1/8 miles.

The Stephen Foster is one of four races in consideration for Rachel Alexandra's next start.

Lope de Vega completes French Guineas-Derby double - Thoroughbred Times
Lope de Vega drove to a dominant three-length victory in the Prix du Jockey Club (Fr-G1) (French Derby) on Sunday at Chantilly to give his connections a classic double.

Switch holds off Blind Luck to win Hollywood Oaks - Thoroughbred Times
Multiple Grade 1 winner Blind Luck was stymied by a slow pace as Switch made a determined charge down the center of the lane to capture the $150,000 Hollywood Oaks (G2) on Sunday at Hollywood Park.

EPSOM Workforce clinches Classic double for Moore - Racing Post
Ryan Moore landed a sensational Classic double with a stunning seven length Derby victory on Workforce

Top three from Belmont could meet again in Travers - Thoroughbred Times
The connections of Drosselmeyer, Fly Down, and First Dude all have an eye on the mid-summer Derby at Saratoga.

Daily Racing Form: Community: Crist Blog with Steven Crist
Daily Racing Form Publisher Steven Crist takes an amusing look at the 2010 Belmont Stakes day.

A look at some of the key headlines in thoroughbred racing on this Monday morning:

Free Fighter by two in Louisville Handicap at Churchill Downs - ESPN
Chicago invader Free Fighter got a great trip from just off the pace and went swooping to victory Saturday in the 73rd running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Louisville Handicap at Churchill Downs.

Treat Gently rebounds in Sheepshead Bay at Belmont - ESPN
Treat Gently, a 5-year-old mare coming off dull next-to-last-place finishes in the Santa Ana Handicap and the Jenny Wiley, rebounded to win the 52nd running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Sheepshead Bay at Belmont Park on Saturday.

Belmont hopeful Fly Down works at Saratoga - ESPN
Two of the 10 horses expected to run in the $1 million Belmont Stakes here on June 5 put in half-mile workouts Saturday in New York.

Hollywood Park Cancels Live Racing May 26 - BloodHorse.com
Pointing to an insufficient number of entries, Hollywood Park announced that it has canceled its May 26 program. Live racing will resume at the Inglewood, Calif., track on May 27.

Leparoux to Miss Five Weeks With Spine Injury - BloodHorse.com
Top jockey Julien Leparoux will be sidelined at least five more weeks with a spine injury suffered in a spill during a race May 14 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

Bay to Bay, Workin for Hops win convincingly at Arlington - Thoroughbred Times
Bay to Bay surged clear to a dominant win in the $200,000 American 1000 Guineas, and Workin for Hops coasted to a front-running win in the $100,000 Arlington Classic Stakes on Saturday at Arlington Park.

And some news from Europe:

Goldikova dazzles in season debut in Prix d’Ispahan - Thoroughbred Times
Last year, superb miler Goldikova (Ire) was unable win at the 1,850-meter (9.20-furlong) distance of the Prix d’Ispahan (Fr-G1) in her season debut, but she went on to win four of five subsequent starts, including a repeat win in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), en route to the Eclipse Award as champion turf female and the Cartier Award as Europe's champion older horse.

Japanese Oaks produces rare Group 1 dead heat - Thoroughbred Times
Apapane and Saint Emilion dueled through the straight at Tokyo Racecourse in a thrilling battle to the finish line in the Yushun Himba (Jpn-G1) (Japanese Oaks) with neither game filly willing to concede an inch.

Canford Cliffs Cruises in Irish 2000 Guineas - BloodHorse.com
Canford Cliffs rewarded trainer Richard Hannon's faith in his ability with a rousing three-length victory in the Abu Dhabi Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) at the Curragh May 22.

St Nicholas Abbey tops 19 acceptors for Epsom Derby - Brisnet Handicappers' Edge
A total of 19 contenders remained in the £1.25 million Derby (Eng-G1) following Thursday's forfeit stage, Epsom Downs announced Friday. There is one final chance to enter the June 5th classic, with supplementary entries having to be made by noon (British time) on May 31st, at a cost of £75,000.

2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra loses by a head to Unrivaled Belle in the Grade 2 La Troienne at Churchill Downs after a thrilling stretch duel.

There were really no excuses for Rachel as she just didn't explode away from the field coming off the turn like she did last year.

La Troienne chart (from DRF.com)

More on this later...