Paddock

NEW YORK -- A transformer burned out on Hempstead Turnpike and cut electric power at Belmont Park for 1 hour, 20 minutes yesterday, delaying races and eliminating betting on the fifth race.The loss of power occurred at 2:10 p.m., between the third and fourth races, and knocked out lights throughout the track, the infield tote board, the automatic betting machines and the public-address system.The starting gate is activated by battery, so the fourth race was run after a delay with no further betting, except for telephone accounts.

Standing in the mist at Pimlico yesterday, Nick Zito smiled at the brouhaha brewing over the idea of a skittish colt named Coronado's Quest possibly receiving special treatment before Saturday's Preakness."

The Maryland Racing Commission approved this week a $2.29 million stakes outlay for Laurel Park's fall meeting.That is $100,000 more than last year because of the shift of the Safely Kept Stakes, a six-furlong filly race, from Colonial Downs, Va. It is scheduled here Nov. 7.The total does not include purses for the Maryland Million on Oct. 17, the fall meeting's highlight.Commissioners also received affidavits from Leucadia National Corp. that detail its holdings in Laurel Park and Pimlico.

Gin Talking closed in on her rivals while under a hammerlock, found room along the rail turning for home and burst through to win the $100,000 Grade III Anne Arundel Stakes yesterday at Laurel Park. Jockey Ramon Dominguez and Gin Talking beat 10 other 3-year-old fillies in 1 minute, 50 1/5 seconds for the nine furlongs. "At the top of the lane the rail opened up, and she just accelerated by the leader," Dominguez said. "She drew off on her own courage. Robin [Graham, the trainer] has done such a magnificent job with this horse.

Moves Baseball ORIOLES: Named Mike Fontenot (Bowie) Brooks Robinson Minor League Player of the Year, John Maine (Delmarva, Frederick) Jim Palmer Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Mike Huggins (Frederick) Elrod Hendricks Minor League Community Service Award winner, Dave Trembley (Bowie) Cal Ripken Sr. Player Development Award winner and Lamar North (Georgia/Tennessee) Jim Russo Scout of the Year Award winner. Hockey CANADIENS: Assigned G Olivier Michaud, D Andrew Archer and RW Jozef Balej to AHL Hamilton.

Pro basketball -- Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest had surgery on his right elbow to remove bone chips yesterday and will miss three to four weeks. After missing two games, Artest had a magnetic resonance imaging. He is averaging 19.1 points in 19 games, having missed the first seven games of the season because of suspension. Hockey -- More people tuned in on New Year's Day to see the NHL play outdoors than any other regular-season game in more than a decade. The Pittsburgh Penguins' victory over the Buffalo Sabres in snowy Buffalo, N.Y. -- the first regular-season outdoor NHL game in the United States -- drew a 2.6 overnight rating and a 5 share on NBC. Those were the best numbers since a six-game regional telecast on Fox drew a 3.0 overnight rating and a 7 share on Feb. 3, 1996.

BaseballCalifornia Angels -- Placed IF Rex Hudler on the 15-day DL Monday, retroactive to Saturday, and recalled IF Rod Correia from Triple-A Vancouver.Jhicago White Sox -- Sent P Jeff Schwarz to Triple-A Nashville.Milwaukee Brewers -- Activated P Bill Wegman and P JoseMercedes from the 15-day DL. Optioned 3B Jeff Cirillo to Triple-A New Orleans. Placed P Jeff Bronkey on the 15-day DL retroactive to May 25.Montreal Expos -- Signed from last June's amateur draft: P David Moranga from Sacramento City Community College and P Chris Weidert from Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kan.Bowie Baysox (Double-A)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Despite the sagging horse industry, several prominent thoroughbred owners and auctioneering personnel announced yesterday they have formed a horse sales company in Maryland called Horsemen's Bloodstock Services.The company plans to hold its first auction, a select yearling sale, at the paddock at Laurel Race Course in September and follow that up with a mixed sale at the Timonium Fairgrounds later in the year.Milton J. "Laddie" Dance, an auctioneer with the Fasig-Tipton Co. for 43 years, is the firm's chief executive officer, and Josh Taylor, a former Fasig-Tipton Midlantic executive, is general manager.

A 25-year-old man who sells stereo speakers from his van was robbed Monday of a set of speakers worth $210 by a man who implied that he had a gun, county police said.Tommy Ray Pointer of Crofton told police he was selling speakers in the parking lot of the Starting Gate Lounge at Whiskey Bottom Road and Route 198 shortly before 7:30 p.m.When a customer agreed to pay $300 for the speakers, Mr. Pointer loaded them into the man's white 1982 Chevrolet Blazer and got into the passenger seat to get the money, police said.

Filly Rachel Alexandra , the 2009 Horse of the Year who knocked off the Kentucky Derby winner in the Preakness and finished the year 8-0, has retired, majority owner Jess Jackson announced Tuesday. "Despite top training and a patient campaign, Rachel Alexandra did not return to her 2009 form," Jackson said in a statement. "I believe it's time to retire our champion and reward her with a less stressful life. " After winning the Kentucky Oaks by 20 lengths the day before the 2009 Kentucky Derby, Rachel Alexandra stumbled at the start of the Preakness but was good enough to beat Mine That Bird, the Derby winner, to the wire.