Treasure Island to host 100% payback NHC Qualifiers April 7, May 6 and June 10 (NTRA.com)

Learn more about the 2012 Daily Racing Form NHC Tour (NHC)

In other NHC news: Last month’s million-dollar NHC winner Michael Beychok will be recognized Saturday at Fair Grounds, the “home track” of the Baton Rouge, La., native. As part of the Louisiana Derby Preview Day festivities, Beychok will be honored in the winner’s circle following the day’s 5^th race. True to his passion, Beychok will also preview the race 5 field from the paddock along with Fair Grounds host Katie Mikolay…Who will follow Beychok’s path to NHC riches and fame? It could be Edward Lawless of Schenectady, N.Y., Eric Moomey of Aldie, Va., Kurt Preisigke of Williamsville, N.Y., or Robert Witt of Peotone, Ill. All four qualified for next January’s NHC 14 at Treasure Island Las Vegas by topping the standings board at last Saturday’s free contest for Daily Racing Form NHC Tour members at NTRA.com. To join the NHC Tour, learn more about it, or peruse the latest schedule of NHC qualifying events, visit www.nhctour.com.

Feb. 23, 2011: In her initial year as a broodmare, Zenyatta, the 2010 Horse of the Year, was bred to Bernardini.

Feb. 24, 1947: Acting upon an earlier recommendation by The Jockey Club stewards, the Thoroughbred Racing Associations unanimously approved lip tattoos as a method of identifying Thoroughbred racehorses.

Feb. 24, 1979: Trainer J.C. Williams set a North American record by saddling eight winners in 12 attempts at Waterford Park in West Virginia. Williams also owned seven of those eight winners, which established a record for most wins by an owner in one day at one racetrack.

Feb. 24, 2007: On his 96^th birthday, Noble Threewitt officially retired from training Thoroughbreds, ending a career that spanned eight decades.

Feb. 25, 1990: The 11th race at Charles Town was declared a no-contest because the starting gate could not be removed from the track after the race had begun. The track announcer warned the jockeys to pull up their mounts, and the track subsequently refunded all wagers on the race.

Feb. 26, 1973: With Secretariat having been named Horse of the Year for 1972 and champion two-year-old, it was announced by Claiborne Farm that the colt had been syndicated for a then-record $6,080,000—equivalent to 32 shares at $190,000 each.

Feb. 27, 1982: Florida apprentice Mary Russ became the first female jockey to win a Grade I stakes in North America when she captured the Widener Handicap aboard Lord Darnley at Hialeah.

Feb. 28, 1957: John Longden became the first jockey in history to reach 5,000 victories.

Feb. 28, 2004: Hall of Famer Richard Mandella became the seventh trainer to pass the $100-million mark in career purse earnings.

Feb. 28, 2006: A two-year-old son of Forestry became the most expensive Thoroughbred ever sold at a public auction at the Fasig-Tipton Calder sale in Miami.  The colt, later named The Green Monkey brought a final bid of $16 million from Demi O’Byrne. O’Byrne purchased the colt for a partnership headed by John Magnier and Michael Tabor.  The previous record for a horse of any age at auction was the $13.1 million paid for Seattle Dancer as a yearling in 1986. The Green Monkey ran three times in his career, never won, and earned $10,440.

March 1, 2005: At a two-year-old-in-training sale in Miami, Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum paid a record $5.2 million for a son of Tale of the Cat.

March 1, 1969: Tuesdee Testa, 27, became the first female jockey to win a race at a major American Thoroughbred track when she won the third race at Santa Anita Park aboard Buz On.

March 1, 1989: Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa, holds its inaugural day of racing in 20-degree temperatures during a snowfall. Jockey Cindy Noll wins the first race aboard Holmish in a $2,300 claiming event. 

March 1, 1991: Pat Day, 37, became the sixth rider in history whose mounts earned $100 million when he rode Wild Sierra to a second-place finish in the first race at Oaklawn Park.

March 2, 1940: Beaten by a nose in both the 1937 and 1938 Santa Anita Handicaps, Seabiscuit finally won the Big ’Cap in his final race. He retired the then-leading money-winning horse in the world.

March 2, 1966: Kelso, Horse of the Year 1960-64, ran his last race, finishing fourth at Hialeah Park.

March 3, 1966: Ogden Phipps’ Buckpasser won the Flamingo Stakes by a nose, under the guidance of Bill Shoemaker. The colt was such a prohibitive favorite among the field of nine that the race was declared a non-wagering contest and was dubbed “The Chicken Flamingo.”

March 3, 1985: Bill Shoemaker became the first jockey in history to win $100 million in purses after he won the Santa Anita Handicap aboard Lord at War (ARG).

March 3, 1993: Russell Baze had his 4,000th career win, with Frank Musso, at Golden Gate Fields.

March 3, 2004: Santa Anita Park set a North American record with a gross Pick Six pool of $7,302,848, which included a three-day carryover of $1,413,136. There were three winning tickets worth $1,567,984 each. 

March 5, 1988: Carl Gambardella had his 5,000th career winner, aboard John’s Goldenapple, at Suffolk Downs.

March 5, 2011: Chantal Sutherland became the first female jockey to win the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap when she piloted Game On Dude to a nose victory. Before the race was declared official, Game on Dude and Sutherland had to survive a 12-minute stewards’ inquiry regarding a bumping incident with favored Twirling Candy who finished fifth.

March 6, 1965: Jockey Earlie Fires rode his first winner, Carnation Kid, at Oaklawn Park. By year’s end, Fires had amassed nearly $600,000 in purse earnings to earn the title of champion apprentice jockey.

March 6, 1988: Julie Krone became the winningest female jockey in racing history when she won the 1,205th race of her career riding a filly named Squawter in the ninth race at Aqueduct Racetrack.

March 7, 2009: Helen Pitts-Blasi became the first female to train the winner of the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap when she saddled 7-year-old Einstein to victory.

Risen Star Stakes, 3yo, $300,000, Grade II, 1 1-16M, Fair Grounds

Davona Dale Stakes, 3yo fillies, $250,000, Grade II, 1 1-16M, Gulfstream Park

San Carlos Stakes, 4&up, $200,000, Grade II, 7F, Santa Anita Park

Rachel Alexandra Stakes, 3yo fillies, $200,000, Grade III, 1 1-16M, Fair Grounds

Tampa Bay Stakes, 4&up, $150,000, Grade III, 1 1-16M (T), Tampa Bay Downs

Borderland Derby, 3yo, $150,000, 1 1-16M, Sunland Park

Fair Grounds Handicap, 4&up, $125,000, Grade III, 1 1-8M (T), Fair Grounds

Mineshaft Handicap, 4&up, $125,000, Grade III, 1 1-16M, Fair Grounds

Sabin Stakes, 4&up (f&m), $100,000, Grade III, 1 1-16M, Gulfstream Park

The Very One Stakes, 4&up (f&m), $100,000, Grade III, 1 3-8M (T), Gulfstream Park

Busher Stakes, 3yo fillies, $75,000, 1 1-16M, Aqueduct

Colonel Power Stakes, 4&up, $75,000, 5 1-2F (T), Fair Grounds

Miracle Wood Stakes, 3yo, $75,000, 7F, Laurel Park

Turf Paradise Derby, 3yo, $75,000, 1 1-16M, Turf Paradise

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26

Fountain of Youth Stakes, 3yo, $400,000, Grade I, 1 1-16M, Gulfstream Park

MacDiarmida Stakes, 4&up, $150,000, Grade II, 1 3-8M (T), Gulfstream Park