OAK TREE : Heat Probably Hurt Fan Turnout

With the introduction of cross-town betting, on-track attendance figured to take a big tumble when Oak Tree began its 23rd season Wednesday.

At the conclusion of the first of 32 days, there was almost a 25% drop from the same day in 1990. Wednesday’s crowd was 31,600 compared to 42,335 a year ago. No doubt, the 100-degree temperature in Arcadia also had much to do with the decline.

Factoring in the 11 intertrack sites, including Hollywood Park and Los Alamitos, total attendance was 50,496, a decrease of nearly 3% from 1990.

“We’re a little disappointed, but the heat may have been a major factor,” said Ray Rogers, the executive vice president of Oak Tree Racing Assn. “We won’t try to over-analyze the figures based on one extremely hot day. It’s probably going to take considerably more time with satellite wagering among the tracks in the local counties before we’ll be fully able to understand the impact of it.”

Bag, who would have been heavily favored in Wednesday’s Sunny Slope Stakes, was scratched in favor of the $200,000 Norfolk Stakes Oct. 13.

Trainer Jerry Fanning had been quoted as saying he wasn’t sure he wanted to bring the 2-year-old Devil’s Bag colt back so soon. Bag had won the Barrett’s Sale Stakes Sept. 19 at Fairplex Park after breaking his maiden by 16 lengths at Del Mar.

“There’s nothing wrong with him,” Fanning said. “We’ll just wait for the Norfolk.”

In Bag’s absence, Richard of England made it two victories in a row, outfinishing favored Ebonair by a length to win in 1:23.37 for the seven furlongs.

A gelded son of Tri Jet, Richard of England was third in his Aug. 24 debut before returning to win by 3 1/2 lengths Sept. 7 at Del Mar. In capturing his second in a row, he provided trainer Wayne Lukas with his third Sunny Slope success.

“I was hoping it would end up just like that,” said Lukas, whose other starter, Big Sur, ran third. “He’s got a hell of a turn of foot and mentally, he’s one of the best 2-year-olds I’ve ever had.”

“I asked Chris (McCarron) what kind of horse he is and he said, ‘push button.’ I’ve always used this kind of race as a prep for the Norfolk, so we’ll point him toward that. If he runs good in that one, we’ll have to look at the Breeders’ Cup. I think he’ll be at his best around two turns.”

Fourth early after being bumped around at the start, Richard of England joined Ebonair, the 4-5 favorite, around the far turn, was a head back with a furlong to run, but was starting to pull away at the finish.

Ebonair saved the place by a half-length over Big Sur, then came Never Round, African Colony and El Anelo.

“I think he might have bled,” Pat Valenzuela said of Ebonair. “He was going great until the end. He kind of ducked in when I got him to change leads. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked him to change leads.”

If the transportation is available, Fire The Groom will be a participant in Sunday’s Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp in France.

For a couple of hours Wednesday afternoon, the 4-year-old Blushing Groom filly, who was scheduled to leave at 10 Wednesday night, wasn’t going to make the trip.

After being told that it was raining in Paris and that rain was expected through Sunday, trainer Bill Shoemaker and R.D. Hubbard, who owns Fire The Groom in partnership with Ed Allred, decided to keep her home. “She doesn’t really care for soft going and Bill decided it wouldn’t be in the best interests of the filly to sent her and I agreed,” Hubbard said Wednesday afternoon.

Later in the day, the weather forecast in Paris had been revised and Hubbard phoned a reporter to say the trip was on again if transportation could be arranged. Gary Stevens, the filly’s rider, said he and assistant trainer Paddy Gallagher had canceled their plane reservations.

By virtue of her victory in the $500,000 Beverly D. Stakes Aug 31. at Arlington Park, Fire The Groom is in line for a $500,000 bonus if she were to win the Prix de l’Opera. The bonus is offered by the International Thoroughbred Challenge.

Horse Racing Notes

Richard Of England paid $5.20 as the 8-5 second choice while coupled with Big Sur and earned $46,425 for his owners Clover Racing Stable, Carrigan, Crockett, et al. . . . Santa Anita is now timing its races in hundredths of a second instead of fifths. . . . Mr. Integrity picked up his fourth consecutive victory with an easy triumph in the third race. The 4-year-old Mr. Prospector colt wasn’t challenged by River Master and five others. “I think the Goodwood (Oct. 12) would be too soon,” said trainer Bob Hess. “Maybe we’ll ship him somewhere. I’m hoping Santa Anita will write a race for non-winners of a stakes in 1991. Our ultimate goal is the Native Diver (Dec. 8 at Hollywood Park).”

Gary Stevens and Pat Valenzuela each won three times Wednesday. Beside Mr. Integrity, Stevens won with Yourcastleofdreams and Premiering Lady, and Valenzuela’s winners were Diamond Out, Renegade King and Txindoki. . . . Santa Anita will simulcast Saturday’s Jockey Club Handicap from Bay Meadows.