Columnist Ralph Siraco: Riding title on the line as Hollywood Park ends meet

FROM THIS DESERT to the California beach, from upstate in the Empire state to coast-to-coast contests, from a heated Hollywood finale toe the spas of racing, it's that time of year again.

While local race fans stay cool in the comfort of their favorite Vegas race books the heat of competition is set to rival our summer sweltering temperatures.

As we say goodbye Hollywood Park and hello Del Mar, local race players get ready to rumble, or as the NTRA says, Go Baby Go.

Today Hollywood Park ends its 67-day spring/summer meeting with the riding title on the line. The 60th season has Corey Nakatani and Chris McCarron in a heated battle for top dog in Inglewood. Nakatani, 27, had a one-win lead until McCarron's three-bagger on the Sunday program that included a smashing daylight victory aboard Old Trieste in the Swaps Stakes. McCarron, who is 16 years Nakatani's senior, goes into today's final day competition leading by two victories -- 52-50.

Although Nakatani won the 1995 spring/summer and the fall Hollywood Park titles, McCarron has captured 11 Hollywood titles with his dominance in the '80s and his latest crown in the fall of 1990. The rejuvenated McCarron could make it an even dozen and possibly be his final career run at another Hollywood trophy. Nakatani risked a chance at wrapping up the title last week when he took off riding to play golf in a pro-am event at Reno.

No matter how hot the competition get on the track when they move south to Del Mar on Wednesday, it will have no match for the offerings at Coast Casino properties to celebrate the spa racing season and local race players.

During Del Mar's 43-day stand, those players staying the dog days in the desert while simulcast playing won't be left out of summer racing fun -- and profits too.

Every Wednesday -- eight in all -- for the Del Mar Season Coast Casinos race books will conduct a free handicapping contest on the final five races on the card. The prize is $1,000 per Wednesday. The contest locales will rotate between the three Coast Resorts properties race books with the kickoff at the Orleans on opening day Wednesday and the final Wednesday, Sept. 9. The Coast Resorts newest property will also host the Aug. 12th contest. The Barbary Coast, with it's new boutique race book will conduct the Aug. 5 and 26 contest while the company's staple property, the Gold Coast, holds the July 29, Aug. 19 and September 2 renewals. In total, $8,000 will spice up Wednesdays at Del Mar for Coast Casinos race players.

Coast Resorts Race Book Director Robert "Muggsy" Miniz has kicked out the jams in customer offerings this year. Muggsy enjoys a visit to the seaside course as will as local racing fans. So, in addition to the handicapping contests, on the first four Wednesday's -- July 22 and 29, Aug. 5 and 12 -- A drawing for one free trip to Del Mar will be conducted following the day's racing card at 6 p.m. Round-trip air fare for two, two nights lodging and luxury sky-box seating at Del Mar Sept. 7 and 9 will be the accommodations for the lucky drawing winners. Each $20 race wager during those Wednesday's in the book will allow a drawing ticket for the Del Mar busman's holiday package.

And if that wasn't enough, Muggsy assured that the popular "Battle at the Barbary" handicapping tournament, now in it's fourth renewal, would be showcased again -- with one catch -- it changes venues to the more spacious Orleans race book this year. Simply too popular to hold in the boutique Barbary book, the Saturday seminars will be a donuts and danish Del Mar morning at Arville and Tropicana with the eight professional Southern California handicappers conducting "live" handicapping on the Saturday cards throughout the season. Now renamed the "Toast at the Coast" each handicapper, on a rotating basis, will host the seminars with Bruno De Julio, of Today's Racing Digest, the first up on opening Saturday July 25. The other seven "pro 'cappers" are Ken Daniels of the Ragozin Sheets, Aaron Hesz, a prominent owner, Steven Pollack of the "Thoroughbred Hotline" radio show, Jonathan Hardoon of the National Turf phone seminars, Brad Free of the Daily Racing From and Jeff Siegel who is a syndicated newspaper handicapper. Finally, Mike Labriola, a five-time tournament champion, will be the guest speaker on August 1.

Of Course, each handicapper will pick five plays per day during every one of the 43-day Del Mar meet. Those selections will be available at all three Coast Resorts race books, on printed selections sheets, before each day's races, so players can follow the competition and get their top picks in the process.

And speaking of tournaments, in conjunction with the Saturday seminars, a handicapping contest for all in attendance will be held on the first five races at the track. This customer contest is also free and each week's winner will receive a full complementary entry into the $250,000 National Handicapping Challenge to be held at the Orleans Oct. 15 to 17. The "Challenge" tournament, that assembles the top tournament handicappers in the world, is a must on the calendar of players and the Saturday free contest5s allows a chance to win your way into the Challenge -- a value of $500.

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