Eight Belles is a name race fans cannot forget easily. She is the three year-old filly who ran second to Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby in May. Eight Belles broke down soon after completing the trip and was euthanized.

A plaque was unveiled on September 7 in a ceremony honouring Eight Belles. The plaque is mounted under a magnolia tree in the garden where her remains are interred. Churchill Downs will have a stakes race in 2009 in the Derby undercard named for Eight Belles.

Larry Jones, trainer of Eight Belles, made a statement. “She stole a piece of my heart. When she fell, she ripped a big piece of my heart right out.”

Here is interesting news from the harness front. Deweycheatumnhowe had won 17 races in a row in an unbeaten career. The three year-old trotting colt was beaten in his 18th start at Mohawk Raceway in Toronto on Saturday. Deweycheatumnhowe was beaten by Crazed in an elimination for the million-dollar Canadian Trotting Classic to be held on September 13. In the final, Crazed has post three and Deweycheatumnhowe will leave from post ten. A serious handicap and there are many who doubt if Deweycheatumnhowe will rebound.

Ray Schnittker, who part-owns and drives Deweycheatumnhowe, offered no excuses. “It just seems like he threw in a clunker. I do not know at this point. We have been travelling a lot. I am hoping everything is OK with him.”

Rahy’s Attorney won Sunday’s Woodbine Mile at the Toronto track. A 12-1 chance, Rahy’s Attorney, was ridden by Slade Callaghan. The half money favourite, Kip Deville had every chance but came up empty to finish fifth.

Just Rushing set the pace for the first half mile. Rahy’s Attorney took over with less than 800 metres left. Ventura, a filly, challenged strongly in the lane but Rahy’s Attorney held on by a length and a quarter. A filly has never won the Woodbine Mile.

Rahy’s Attorney, a Crown Attorney gelding, is three for three at the mile distance and has won six times in nine outings on Woodbine grass. Rahy’s Attorney clocked 1 36.14 on yielding grass.

Jockey Slade Callaghan talked about his mount’s fondness for Woodbine. “I was close to the top early. I knew my horse would get the distance easily. I made an early move. It was a tremendous effort, especially beating Kip Deville. The key thing was we had home advantage.”

Richard Dutrow, Jr trains Kip Deville. “It is disappointing. May be the soft turf was the reason. I won’t complain. We will find out what went wrong.”

Kentucky Governor, Steve Beshear, has signed into law a measure that mandates testing for anabolic steroids. It will begin when the fall meeting at Keeneland starts. Governor Beshear expressed his happiness. “This is a historic day in Kentucky racing. This demonstrates our commitment to ensuring integrity of racing and safety of the participants.”

Backseat Rhythm, Javier Castellano up, came away victorious in Saturday’s $250,000 Grade I Garden City Stake. It was a race over 1800 metres on the grass and for three year-old fillies.

Backseat Rhythm came from behind and devoured ground late in the stretch to get the verdict. The El Corredor fiily ran the 1800 metres in 1 51.82.

Pat Reynolds, the winning trainer, talked about the filly’s near future. “She’s by no means an Amazon but she has a great stride. She’s a no excuse filly. We have been invited to the Queen Elizabeth II (turf) at Keeneland on October 11. I hear that if you are invited, you get a free meal. I am a sucker for that and we will see what happens.”

At Leopardstown on Sunday, Jim Bolger and jockey Kevin Manning teamed up to win two Group I races. Lush Lashes was the 9-4 favourite in the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes. The Galileo filly raced close to the top, struck the front 400 metres out and stayed on. The winning margin was a neck. Nahoodh, Mick Kinane aboard, ran on to be second. One half length away in third was Halfway To Heaven, the Aidan O’Brien runner. There were four runners from the O’Brien stable.

Trainer Bolger spoke about his options. “We’ll discuss the choices for the rest of the season. There’s the Sun Chariot in Newmarket. We have the Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp. Then the Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin, a race that Alexander Goldrun won. The Breeders’ Cup is a possibility. I would think she’ll be in training next year.”

Duke of Marmalade was withdrawn from the Champion Stakes, the other Group I event. New Approach was the 8-13 favourite in the eight-horse field. Jockey Manning had the Derby hero in second in the 2000-metre race. New Approach hit the front as the race took a serious turn. Under a drive, the Galileo colt held on by one half lengths from the 50-1 Traffic Guard. King of Rome, at 11-2 and next in demand with Colm O’Donoghue, was in striking range and beat a hasty retreat when the heat was on.

Aidan O’Brien, speaking after Duke of Marmalade’s withdrawal, could not offer anything specific about his ward’s future races. “The Arc is possible. The Breeders’ Cup is a viable option. The ground was too soft for him on Sunday at the Curragh.”

Goldikova raced to a fluent success in the Group I Prix Moulin on Sunday at Longchamp. The Longchamp grass was soft. Olivier Peslier steered Goldikova down the closest way (on the fence) and beat back a strong bid from Darjina. Paco Boy took third. Sageburg was fourth. The 6-4 Henrythenavigator had an outside post and had one beat at the final turn and finished fifth. The O’Brien sophomore star, ridden by John Murtagh, never was comfortable and lost for the first time this year.

Freddie Head was getting his eighth Group I win in 2008. “I have possibly the two best milers in France, Tamayuz and Goldikova. The latter is America-bound.”

Aidan O’Brien had a thought or two about Henrythenavigator. “It was touch and go. It was only in the last minute we decided to let him take his chances on soft ground. It did not work out.”

I called jockey Peslier. The ever polite Peslier was humble. “Yes, Tom, it was soft. My filly had no problems. She is coming to America for the Breeders’ Cup, may be the mile race. I will be in Los Angeles for four days. Will see you there. Won’t I see you in Paris for the Arc before that?”

I leave Chicago on September 21 for London. After taking in some English racing and a visit to Ascot for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (September 27), I head to Paris on October 2. The Arc weekend meeting at Longchamp is on October 4 and 5. After a trip to Switzerland, I return to Chicago on October 9. Then it is on to Los Angeles on October 22 for the Breeders’ Cup.

Indian Blessing was scratched from the Ruffian Handicap at Belmont Park on Saturday. The track was sloppy. Trainer Bob Baffert said, “we want to target her for sprints.”

 As it turned out, Bob Baffert’s other runner, Tough Tiz’s Sis ran away with the Grade I event. The Tiznow filly, who had done poorly in four races on the slop, went like a duck taking to water. The winning margin was 12 lengths. Edgar Prado was the jockey.

Closeout and James Theriot gave Mr Leonard Lavin a stakes victory at Arlington Park on Sunday. Close out closed well to catch Lucky Copy in the waning yards.

Colm O’Donoghue won the Group III At The Races Kilternan Stakes at Leopardstown on Sunday. His mount was the O’Brien-trained The Bogberry who was a 9-1 chance. The beaten favourite was the 2-5 Famous Name who was ridden by Pat Smullen.

The St Leger meeting at Doncaster begins on Wednesday and ends on Saturday. Haydock’s Betfred Sprint Cup and the St Leger will be run on Saturday.