ESPN Horse Racing

Think of an entire Saratoga meet, including all of the major stakes races, all of the on track excitement, all of the little town gossip, all of the empty bottles from Siro's, all crammed into less than one week. That is Royal Ascot.

The five day meet is held at a huge beautifully manicured race course on Queen Elizabeth II's property, about one hour from cental London. And this is no recently formed horse festival. They have been racing here since 1711!

So while American Andy Roddick is getting ready for Wimbledon, American Gary Stevens has been getting ready for Royal Ascot by being the contract rider for trainer Andre Fabre in France.

Just as the riding title at Saratoga is hotly contested and professionaly important, the jockeying for mounts for this five day "season" takes on the drama of John Kerry picking a running mate. And like everything in England---you can bet on it.

I have had some success bettng on Frankie Dettori over several of the past Junes. Once I cashed a bet in the race for The Ritz Club Trophy (given to the top jockey at Royal Ascot,) proving it is better to be lucky than smart.

Frankie had won the riding title in 1997 and 1998. I was shocked to see his odds were 9-1 for 1999.

I plunked down several pounds Sterling, only to find out the next day he would be on suspension the final day. Thus his high odds.

Well, sometimes you get lucky. Frankie had only 4 wins, but no other rider had more with a one day advantage.

This year Gary Stevens was 33-1 in the betting. He had no winners on opening day, but hit the board in several races. Gary was in front ten strides before the wire of the Grade One St. James's Palace Stakes with Diamond Green, but was passed by Azamor.

And in The Ascot Stakes he was 29th. and last past the stands for the first time, and was able to be third after 2 1/2 miles aboard Penny Pictures.

The biggest loser of the Tuesday card was Six Perfections.

Remember her great turn of foot under Jerry Bailey to win the Breeders' Cup Mile last fall at Santa Anita? Well, she did not have Bailey, and she did not have her usual closing kick in The Group One Queen Anne Stakes. She was favored against the boys, but was soundly beaten, and finished sixth. Gary was aboard Nebraska Tornado, and was in front three furlongs out, but was beaten less than a length, finishing fourth. In a furious final furlong, Frankie Dettori on Refuse to Bend beat Soviet Song by a neck.

On Wednesday, Dettori is favored to win the big race of the day, The Prince of Wales's Stakes on Sulamani. Gary does not have a mount in that one.

But our Yankee Doodle Dandy does have an interesting partner in the Royal Hunt Cup. Stevens will be aboard Camp Commander in a field of 32. Yes, 32. It takes three starting gates spread across the entire racetrack to get them on their journey for 8 furlongs straight ahead. The field usually splits into two groups. Half on the far side, the other half on the stand's side. It appears there are two races going on simultaniously. Not a race I would like to call.

In a contest like this, horses who draw close to one of the fences have an advantage. Gary's mount will exit from post 31. Camp Commander was second in this race last year.

But the most interesting riding assignment in Gary's book this week is on Saturday, where he is scheduled to ride Bahamian Pirate in the Grade One Golden Jubilee Stakes.

What is odd about this, is that Bahamian Pirate was beaten less than 2 lengths, finishing seventh, in the King's Stand Stakes on Tuesday. Leave it to the English trainer David Nicholls to use a five furlong Grade Two event as a prep for six furlongs in Grade One company only four days later! No rest for you. Go Baby Go!