--The $250,000 Phoenix Breeders' Cup Stakes (G3) at Keeneland Race Course will be renewed for the 150th time on Saturday, giving it the distinction as the nation's oldest stakes race, although it has not been continuously run. "We're proud that the country's oldest stakes race is run at Keeneland," said track President Nick Nicholson. "The Phoenix epitomizes what Keeneland is about—tradition and quality racing." The race was named in honor of Lexington's historic Phoenix Hotel, where a group of horsemen met in 1826 to form the Kentucky Association for the Improvement of the Breeds and Stock and later build the Kentucky Association racetrack. The race is the only vestige of the hotel and track, which at different times last century were given over to Lexington's urban development. Past winners include Vagrant, 1876; Fonso, 1880; Kingman, 1891; Chant, 1894; Halma, 1895; and Agile 1905; Devil Diver, 1941; Citation, 1948; Sea O Erin, 1955 and '56; Moccasin 1967; and Bet On Sunshine, 1997 and 2001.

In other news from Keeneland, the second race will mark the 10,000th call to the post from longtime bugler George "Bucky" Sallee. "Keeneland claims numerous icons in its rich heritage," Nicholson said. "Bucky is certainly one of those icons. Among our fans, he is as popular as burgoo and as recognizable as the Keeneland logo."

--Churchill Downs and Coors Light, the official beer of the Kentucky Derby (G1), have unveiled a commemorative edition can for the 129th running of the run for the roses on May 3 next year. The can will bear the new Derby logo on a background of silver-shaded images of Thoroughbreds racing past Churchill's Twin Spires. The can is scheduled to be distributed in Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. "This special product will deliver the Kentucky Derby brand into homes and retail outlets throughout our region, and Coors Light will benefit from its association with a race that is a great American tradition and one of the world's great sports events," Tyrone Tubbs, Churchill Downs, president of sales.

--Severe weather conditions expected from Hurricane Lili's assault on Louisiana's Gulf Coast has forced the closure of all of Fair Grounds's Finish Line off-track betting shops on Thursday, marking the second time in less than ten days the shops were shuttered by a tropical storm system. All locations are expected to re-open on Friday.

--A special race meeting was held at Sha Tin racecourse in Hong Kong on Tuesday to commemorate National Day of the People's Republic of China. The tradition of horse racing was kept when Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997. The Hong Kong Police Band played the national anthem and Ji Peiding, commissioner of the ministry of foreign affairs, kicked off the opening ceremony. Jeune King Prawn was the victor of a special National Cup Day race and was awarded a silver dish and a nine-inch Chinese silver bowl crafted circa 1880, by Gao Siren, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government.

--Sam Houston Race Park is now taking reservations for the inaugural National Thoroughbred Racing Association Great State Challenge, a $1.6-million six-race event for the nation's state-breds, to be held on December 7. "The NTRA Great State Challenge will be a tremendous opportunity for local race fans to see some of the best Thoroughbreds in the country," said track President Robert Bork. "We also look forward to hosting owners, trainers, and guests from states across the country and look forward to making December 7 a day to remember."