Western Kentucky's Riverside Downs closes

Wire, Special Reports

HENDERSON — Riverside Downs, a longtime horse-training facility, has been closed, another blow to local horsemen worried Ellis Park will shut its doors for good following the 2009 meet.

Henderson-based trainer John Hancock said the facility and barns are now closed. He's leased the facility since December from Cross International.

Hancock told The Gleaner in Henderson that uncertainty surrounding Ellis Park was a factor in his decision to close.

He said seven or eight other trainers were using the facility until Ellis Park opened its barns in May.

Ellis Park owner Ron Geary has said the track will almost certainly close at the end of this year's meet after a bill that would have permitted Kentucky racetracks to operate electronic slot machines failed in the legislature.

Goldikova back in the winner's circle

SUFFOLK, England — Defending Breeders' Cup Mile champion Goldikova was back to her best Wednesday as she powered to a victory in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse.

The 4-year-old filly struggled to a seventh-place finish over a yielding turf course at Longcahmp in her season debut May 17.

Goldikova recovered from that performance, her only finish out of the money, with a half-length victory in Wednesday's Group I, $330,520 race.

Heaven Sent laid down a mighty challenge in the closing stages, but the French filly held her off under jockey Olivier Peslier to complete the mile in 1:36.21 and take her fourth career Group I victory.

Trainer Freddie Head said after the race that he would like to bring Goldikova back to California in November to defend her Breeders' Cup crown.