Race Track

Magna International Inc.'s Arcadia-based entertainment unit, split from the Canadian auto-parts firm earlier this year after some investors criticized Chairman Frank Stronach's interest in horse racing, said Wednesday it agreed to buy the operator of the Bay Meadows racetrack in San Mateo, Calif. Magna Entertainment Corp., which already has six racetracks, including Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, said it will pay $24.1 million for Bay Meadows Operating Co.

If any horse is due a big win at Saratoga, it's Behrens. One of six who will run in today's $750,000 Whitney Handicap, the 6-year-old is winless in three tries at the track, but two of the losses were extremely tough defeats. A year ago, Behrens missed by a nose to Victory Gallop in the Whitney in what was arguably the most thrilling race of 1999. In 1997, Behrens, the son of Pleasant Colony, was beaten by a nose by Deputy Commander in the Travers Stakes.

Johnny Gray was thinking about calling a news conference to announce his retirement from track and field Thursday night, but the logistics were a little impractical. At the time, Gray was halfway through his first-round 800-meter qualifying heat at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials. "I quit in the middle of the race," said Gray, who at 40 was trying to become the first American male track athlete to compete in five Olympics. "Because I quit the sport.

Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. said it has agreed to sell its Turf Paradise racing track, including its horse-racing operations and 275 acres in Phoenix, for $53 million in cash to private investor Jerry Simms. Glendale-based Pinnacle, which was formerly known as Hollywood Park Inc., in 1999 sold its Hollywood Park horse-racing track in Inglewood to Churchill Downs, host of the Kentucky Derby. Pinnacle also is in the process of selling its two Mississippi casinos, Casino Magic Bay St.

For years, Santa Anita has allowed its disabled and handicapped horse racing patrons to form a single line and to be admitted five minutes before others. Now Santa Anita says it has stopped this practice because no other race track does this. The new owners of Santa Anita have built a "world-class restaurant," a seven-story elevator and TV and made other changes, but they can't give five minutes' early admission to the elderly and the ill. JERRY BRES Covina Santa Anita's reply: "In past years, Santa Anita allowed handicapped patrons early entrance to the track primarily because of a lack of adequate handicapped facilities and less-than-adequate access to the various seating areas of the track.

Rusty Wallace isn't looking to pick a fight with anyone at Texas Motor Speedway, and insists his outburst of two years ago was simply one of frustration. "I'll always think that I got a bum rap at Texas after that first race," said Wallace, who crashed out in the troublesome fourth turn. "I hit the wall big-time. I had no more gotten out of the race car and a guy sticks the microphone in my face."

Event Of The Year is running on what many horseplayers consider the event of the year: opening day at Santa Anita. The Arcadia track, under new ownership for the second time in as many years, launches its 62nd season with a solid field for the featured Malibu Stakes.

Magna International Inc., Canada's largest auto-parts maker, completed its purchase of Santa Anita Race Track from Meditrust Cos. for $126 million, adding to its real estate holdings. Magna bought the thoroughbred horse-racing track, racing operations and adjoining land in Arcadia through its MI Developments real estate and entertainment unit. While Magna last month said it would spin off MI Developments, it hasn't set a date.

High noon, Friday. More than seven hours before post time at Los Alamitos Race Course the buzz of activity is dizzying. Tote machines in the grandstand click with wagers on races in Canada and Australia.