No Way to Take Down This Number--$30,000

Horseplayers have it tough. One of their common complaints is that the track takes a 15% cut before the starting gate opens. About once a year, though, the track inadvertently gives the betting public a gift . . . something besides a neon T-shirt or breakable drinking glasses.

After a recent race at Philadelphia Park in Bensalem, Pa., the stewards posted the wrong horse as the winner.

It took 20 minutes for track management to decide that it would honor tickets on the actual winner as well as the wrong winner. (The rules of racing state that after the stewards have declared a result official, no further ruling can affect the parimutuel pool.)

Even after paying off on both horses and both exactas, the track should be able to stay in business. The mistake cost a little more than $30,000.

Add wagering: Try this “Final Jeopardy!” clue, asked during a recent airing of the TV game show under the category of Names in the News: “Simultaneously on the covers of Time, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated in 1973, he was buried in 1989 in a 6-foot by 6-foot casket.”

While the challengers wrote in their correct responses (“Who was Secretariat?”), defending champion Eric Larsen took his shot:

“Who was Pete Maravich?”

No harm, no foul, however. Larsen bet conservatively and retained his crown.

Trivia time: On April 26, 1975, at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens, George Foreman fought and defeated five opponents. How many of them can you name?

Bottom lines: In its July issue, Inside Sports previews the 1990 NFL season with a series of “Hot Questions” and answers. Among them:

--”Did the Raiders fall apart because Al Davis had too many distractions?

“They may have been sidetracked more by having too much money to spend. By spending big bucks on quarterback Jay Schroeder, halfback Bo Jackson, wideout Willie Gault and a bunch of Plan B veterans, the Raiders complicated more problems than they solved.”

And . . .

--”Will the Rams shed their ‘Cheap Sheep’ image and shell out some bucks?

“Probably not. It’s hard to teach an old owner new tricks. When the 49ers beat the Rams in last season’s NFC title game, the league’s No. 1 payroll beat No. 26.”

Trivia correction: Wisconsin, it was pointed out here Tuesday, was the only NCAA Division I school to win two men’s national championships in 1989-90: ice hockey and rowing. However, UC Irvine also won two titles: in water polo and sailing. Although several schools compete in rowing and sailing, neither is an NCAA-sanctioned sport.

Trivia answer: Charley Polite, Boone Kirkman, Terry Daniels, Jerry Judge and Alonzo Johnson.

Quotebook: Mick Luckhurst, Turner Network World Cup soccer analyst, on his American audience: “I think there’s 25% to 30% who know exactly what’s going on, another 25% to 30% who have an idea of what’s going on and another 40% who don’t have a clue.”