Ed Friendly

Ed Friendly, a producer who brokered the deal that brought "Laugh-In" to television and who created the series "Little House on the Prairie" after noticing his daughter reading the books, has died. He was 85. Friendly, who also forged a second career as a Thoroughbred racehorse owner, died of cancer Sunday at his home in Rancho Santa Fe, said Warren Cowan, his longtime publicist and friend.

Ed Friendly, a producer who brokered the deal that brought "Laugh-In" to television and who created the series "Little House on the Prairie" after noticing his daughter reading the books, has died. He was 85. Friendly, who also forged a second career as a Thoroughbred racehorse owner, died of cancer Sunday at his home in Rancho Santa Fe, said Warren Cowan, his longtime publicist and friend.

A meeting of the California Horse Racing Board's committee on night racing at Hollywood Park, held Thursday in El Segundo, emphasized a broader potential problem for the sport: A split between owners and trainers who share membership in the California Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Assn. "The HBPA has failed to represent owners," said Mace Siegel, who races a large stable based in California. "The HBPA is no longer benevolent, and it is not protective of my interests as an owner."

A meeting of the California Horse Racing Board's committee on night racing at Hollywood Park, held Thursday in El Segundo, emphasized a broader potential problem for the sport: A split between owners and trainers who share membership in the California Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Assn. "The HBPA has failed to represent owners," said Mace Siegel, who races a large stable based in California. "The HBPA is no longer benevolent, and it is not protective of my interests as an owner."

Timeless Answer, unbeaten in two sprint handicaps at the current Hollywood Park meeting, will carry high weight of 118 pounds for Saturday's $150,000-added Bel-Air Handicap to be contested at one mile over the main track. The 4-year-old colt, owned by Ed Friendly and trained by Ron Ellis, was assigned one pound more than Annual Date, who defeated Music Merci in a one-mile race at Hollywood Park in his last outing.

Preparing for a race against Thirty Slews in the Los Angeles Handicap on May 16, Gray Slewpy broke the sesamoid bone in his left front leg and his career is probably over. According to owner Ed Friendly, the 5-year-old Slewpy ridgeling didn't cool out well at trainer Dan Hendricks' barn after completing a six-furlong workout in 1:12 4/5 Thursday morning. The break was then discovered. "It's too early to discuss what we're going to do," Friendly said.

Natalie B. Friendly, 75, former vice president of Ed Friendly Productions, the television production company founded by her husband, died of cancer Thursday at her Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., home. Friendly persuaded her husband to buy the TV rights to Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House on the Prairie" books, turning them into the successful, long-running NBC series that starred the late Michael Landon.

Tyler Baze rode both of the stakes winners Sunday at Santa Anita, winning the $82,500 Santa Paula with Friendly Michelle and the $75,520 El Cielo Handicap with Cayoke. Both horses were odds-on favorites, Friendly Michelle paying $3.40 and Cayoke returning $3.60. Friendly Michelle, owned by Ed Friendly, rebounded from a third-place finish, behind A.P. Adventure and Hollywood Story, in the Las Virgenes on Feb. 15. The Santa Paula winner was 20-1 that day.

Victory Spy was one of the most impressive maiden winners of the Del Mar meet. A 3-year-old daughter of Victory Gallop owned by Gary Barber and trained by John Sadler, Victory Spy quickly made the lead through fast fractions -- she ran the half mile in 44 2/5 -- and drew away to win by five lengths. She completed the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03 2/5 under jockey Martin Pedroza. Dispatched at 5-1 on Sept.

My Miss Storm Cat was an open secret when she debuted for owner Ed Friendly and trainer Bob Baffert on May 29. The 2-5 favorite against five opponents, the 2-year-old daughter of Sea Of Secrets won by 10 lengths. Stretching out to six furlongs today, My Miss Storm Cat will be favored against 10 others in the $100,000 Landaluce. Since her big win, My Miss Storm Cat has continued to train well for Baffert, who won this race with Hookedonthefeelin in 1998 and Notable Career two years later.

Friendly Michelle has won at four of the five tracks where she has raced for owner Ed Friendly and trainer Bob Baffert. The 3-year-old Artax filly has won at Del Mar, Santa Anita, Churchill Downs and Belmont Park. The only place where she hasn't been successful is Saratoga. Friendly Michelle made one appearance there during the summer, finishing fourth as the 2-1 favorite in the Test.

POP/ROCK The Wizard of Floyd: Recent media and Internet reports that Pink Floyd's 1973 album "Dark Side of the Moon" may be a secret soundtrack to the 1939 movie "The Wizard of Oz" have spawned a sales surge for the rock album, as buyers snapped up 18,000 copies last week, according to SoundScan, far surpassing the usual 7,100 to 7,400 in weekly sales.