Notes on a Scorecard - Oct. 25, 1995

Breeders’ Cup day has become one of my favorites on the sporting calendar. . . . The Kentucky Derby might be the greatest two minutes in horse racing, but the Breeders’ Cup is the greatest 12 minutes. . . .

It is the equivalent of a boxing card with seven genuine world title fights. . . .

The order of races Saturday at Belmont Park, first post 8:55 a.m. on NBC: Juvenile Fillies, 1 1/16 miles; Sprint, six furlongs; Distaff, 1 1/8 miles; Mile on turf; Juvenile, 1 1/16 miles; Turf, 1 1/2 miles; Classic, 1 1/4 miles. . . .

Purses are $3 million for the Classic, $2 million for the Turf and $1 million each for the five other races. . . .

The total of $10 million means a pot of $1 million for the jockeys, who receive 10% of the purse money. . . .

You think of money riders and Eddie Delahoussaye is among those who immediately come to mind. . . .

He will be aboard four horses Saturday. None will be favored. But none should be counted out. . . .

Delahoussaye is tied for second on the all-time Breeders’ Cup list with seven victories. . . .

He is in a slump during the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita, but figures a big day in the Big Apple would be the perfect way to snap out of it. . . .

He loves the 1 1/2-mile dirt oval at Belmont. . . .

“It’s fair to everybody,” he said. “It can be fast, but it always has a give to it. It has those wide turns and you usually don’t have traffic problems.” . . .

Delahoussaye’s mounts will be Top Rung in the Distaff, Mighty Forum in the Mile, Diligence in the Juvenile and Tinners Way in the Classic. . . .

His best chance is probably with Diligence in the wide-open 2-year-old race. . . .

In the Classic, he and 12 others will be trying to spring the upset of the year against Cigar. . . .

“Cigar proved to me that he is a great horse when he won the Gold Cup at Hollywood Park so easily,” Delahoussaye said. “He’s the best I’ve seen since Spectacular Bid. But, yeah, he’s beatable. If Tinners Way runs his race, he’ll have a legitimate chance.” . . .

Usually, Delahoussaye’s horses run their races. . . .

He is the most patient of riders. In the lexicon of the game, he sits chilly. He always seems to know how much his horse has left for the stretch drive. . . .

“If I have a good horse under me and he’s relaxed, he’s going to run the race of his life,” he said. . . .

Delahoussaye, 44, took up race riding in his native Louisiana when he was 10. He rode match races on quarter horses, thoroughbreds, and Shetland ponies at bush tracks in Cajun country. At 16, he turned professional at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. . . .

When he heard about the Breeders’ Cup concept, he thought, “Man, if I can win just one of those races, I’ll be satisfied.” . . .

Seven winners later, he is eager to produce some surprises in Breeders’ Cup XII. . . .

*

Thumbs up to the Dodgers’ Fred Claire for his decision to try to re-sign Brett Butler, one of the youngest 38-year-olds in sports. . . .

The spirit and wisdom of Tim Wallach will be missed, but the Dodgers need a third baseman closer to his prime and ought to make a deal for, say, Robin Ventura of the Chicago White Sox. . . .

Maybe the Cleveland Browns should try to lure Otto Graham out of retirement. . . .

The ballroom-turned-fight-arena at the Warner Center Marriott is gaining a reputation as a house of upsets, but Gary Ballard will try to reverse the trend tonight against Esteban Cervantes. Ballard, a world-ranked light-heavyweight from South Africa, was stopped by prohibitive underdog Roman Santos a few weeks ago at Woodland Hills. . . .

Conditioning is often a problem for Riddick Bowe, but he has been working hard and long for his third match against Evander Holyfield Nov. 4 at Caesars Palace and appears to be physically fit. . . .

There was a tremendous outpouring of love and respect Tuesday at the Forum Club at a luncheon for Jackie McCoy, who was honored for his contributions to boxing as a fighter, manager, trainer and gentleman. . . .

His managerial career began 43 years ago with hard-punching lightweight Buddy Evatt. He later had world champions Mando Ramos, Raul Rojas, Carlos Palomino, Rodolfo Gonzalez and Don Jordan, countless other main-event fighters, and numerous prelim kids. All have benefited from his care and expertise. . . .

McCoy isn’t about to retire and isn’t celebrating a milestone in his career. Forum Boxing, Inc., simply felt it was time to recognize the achievements of someone who began life as Warren Spaw, but is the real McCoy.