150 Years of Royal Tradition, from Don Juan to Eye of the Leopard by Lou Cauz and Beverley Smith. An excellent history, in both words and pictures of the Queen's Plate, Canada's version of the Kentucky Derby and the oldest continually run stakes race in North America.

The American Graded Stakes Committee has assigned graded status to 487 races for 2010. 15 races were upgraded, including 3 new Grade 1 races: the Arkansas Derby, Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (left, won by Fabulous Strike in 2009), and Clark Handicap. There are also 6 new Grade 2 races and 6 races moving from ungraded to Grade 3. Get the details here.

In the 2009 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct, Kodiak Kowboy (right) got up in the final strides to win by 3/4 length over favorite Bribon with Vineyard Haven another head back in third. Also on the card, Flashing won the Gazelle Stakes going wire-to-wire and drawing off to win by 4 1/4 lengths. Get the results, charts, and photos here.

Also on the Cigar Mile card, Buddy's Saint (right) drew off to win by 4 3/4 lengths in the 2009 Remsen Stakes, while Tizahit held off favorite Protesting to win the Demoiselle Stakes. Get the results, charts, and photos here.