There was one winning Pick Six ticket at Santa Anita on Monday. The payoff was $3,120,256. There had been a $1,269,223 carryover. Monday’s Pick Six pool was $3,337,881. The pool had swelled to $4,607,104. The winning ticket was bought at a New Jersey location. Talk of chasing gold at the end of the rainbow and this was it!

Vodafone will sponsor the (Epsom) Derby one more time. The phone company will sponsor the Derby to be run on Saturday, June 7, 2008. The Princess Elizabeth Stakes, another race that will carry the Vodafone name, has been moved from Friday to Saturday. Other races in the two-day festival will have different benefactors.

Simon Lewis, an official at Vodafone, said, “We have had a long association with the Derby and we’ll be sponsoring this historic race one final year.”

Alan Munro, 41, went to Lingfield, an all weather course in England, on Monday to ride Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained General Blucher in a maiden race over 2,000 metres. Munro won the race by three parts of a length over Smooth Sovereign. General Blucher was the 8-11 public choice.

Jockey Munro was delighted. “It’s the perfect way to do it, especially to ride in Pete’s colours. We have been friends for a long time. I hope to keep busy now but I’ll have to wait and see what the opportunities are like. If they come, I will be pleased. If they don’t, I will understand.”

Here is more news from Great Britain. Great Leighs in Essex will open on April 4. It is the first race course to open in England in 81 years. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has given the ‘go ahead.’

John Holmes, the owner and promoter, was thrilled. “It has been a long, hard journey but I am delighted. We have to thank the BHA for their encouragement, advice and support which has been unflagging. We see April 4 as a ‘soft opening’ and if we can achieve the headline ‘Great Leighs goes off without a hitch” that will be a triumph. Eight fixtures in April upon which to build will be helpful.”

Denis of Cork, Robby Albarado up, made it three for three lifetime with a two and one quarter length win in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas on Monday. It was a 1600-metre race on dirt and a Grade III event. Denis of Cork, a sophomore, now moves into the reckoning for the Kentucky Derby.

In The Buena Vista handicap at Santa Anita, Garrett Gomez rode Costume to victory. Costume is a Danehill filly. It was a Grade II turf race over 1,600 metres.

Winning Colors has been euthanized. The 23 year-old mare, the 1988 Kentucky Derby winner, was put down because of complications resulting from colic.

Only three fillies have won the Kentucky Derby. Regret did it in 1915. Genuine Risk was successful in 1980. Winning Colors, in the hands of Gary Stevens and trained by Wayne Lukas, made it all in 1988. Forty Niner, Pat Day up, was a neck away in second. Winning Colors gave Gary Stevens and Wayne Lukas their first Derby victory. Eugene Klein was the owner and he called the Derby win, ‘the greatest thrill of his life.’

Winning Colors was in foal to Mr Greeley and the foal was lost.

In 1988, Winning Colors won the Santa Anita Oaks and the Santa Anita Derby by wide margins before winning the Derby. The grey mare, racing in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, came within a nose of beating the mighty Personal Ensign. It was a case of a four year-old beating a three year-old. Personal Ensign’s record was 13 for 13.

In the Preakness, Winning Colors and Forty Niner waged a duel that paved the way for Risen Star to pass them both in the lane. Risen Star won the Belmont Stakes as well beating Winning Colors.

Winning Colors was the champion sophomore girl in 1988. She won eight races from 19 starts. She produced ten foals. Only seven made it to the races. Only one by Mr Prospector, was able to get black type. Golden Colors was the bridesmaid in Japan’s Daily Hai Queen Cup. There are two fillies yet-an unnamed freshman by Orientate and a yearling by Mr Greeley.