Ralph Siraco’s notes

Tuesday, Sept. 21, 1999 | 10:01 a.m.

Trainer Neil Drysdale's trials and tribulations continue with his class miler Hawksley Hill. After going 5-for-10 last year that included a second-placed finish by a neck in the Breeders' Cup Mile, the 6-year-old gelding had his first victory of this year taken away by disqualification, and it wasn't even his fault.

The Rahy offspring finished first in the $1 million Atto Mile at Woodbine on Sunday, only to have his number taken down when his rider, Pat Day, mistakenly hit another horse in the head with his whip that caused the horse, Jim and Tonic, a placing.

Jim and Tonic, who shipped in from France for the race, was traveling between horses and inside of Hawksley Hill in mid-stretch during crunch time when Day, while in the heat of competition, hit Jim and Tonic in the head with his whip. Hawksley Hill managed a gutty victory over 43-1 longshot Quiet Resolve, who nipped out Rob 'n Gin for the second spot, as Jim and Tonic checked in fourth.

The stewards reviewed video tapes after posting the inquiry sign and ruled that Day's actions were cause for a disqualification. Hawksley Hill was placed behind the horse that Day impeded, officially into fourth place.

As a result of the DQ Quiet Resolve was given the upset victory. Rob 'n Gin was moved to second and the victim, Jim and Tonic was moved into third. So, Hawksley Hill now remains winless in a half-dozen efforts this year to the frustration of trainer Neil Drysdale and company.

Hawksley Hill started the year as runner-up by a head in the Grade II Arcadia Handicap on the Santa Anita lawn in early March, followed by another photo-finish beat -- by a head again -- while runner-up in the Explosive Bid Handicap at the Fair Grounds in March. He went on to compete on Derby day at Churchill Downs in the Early Times Turf Classic and again, finished in a photo-finish as he was beaten a neck while third.

He returned to Southern California for his next start in the mid-June Shoemaker Mile and suffered a 5-wide trip while beaten a half-length when third on the Inglewood lawn. He bounced back from a dismal performance at Del Mar in the Eddie Read Handicap with the big effort on Sunday.

Now, one has to wonder what Hawksley Hill and his trainer must do to snap the streak. But if they move on to the Breeders' Cup Mile at Gulfstream Park on Nov. 6, it would be poetic justice if they got the big prize to end the slump.

Jockey Gary Stevens was honored at Belmont Park on Saturday with the Mike Venezia Award. The annual award that is given to riders who exemplify extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship was created to commemorate the rider who was killed in a spill at the NYRA track on Oct, 13, 1988. Stevens, however, had more than the award to be thankful for.

It seemed that Stevens survived a late-night flight scare on the way to pick up the hardware. He was one of 114 passengers on a Delta flight that had to make an emergency landing just 25 minutes into its scheduled flight after an electrical fire filled the cabin with smoke. Stevens became part of the rescue team when the plane came to a sudden stop and the slides released.

The 36-year-old rider was sitting in first class and consequently was the first one down the ramp. When there was only one fireman at the bottom, Stevens was put into service to catch other passengers as they slid to safety. Stevens was relieved in the nick of time when he was knocked to the ground trying to catch a rather large passenger and another fireman showed up.

So much for first class. Stevens dedicated his Venezia trophy to jockey J.C. Gonzalez, the 23-year-old rider who was killed during a spill at Fairplex Park on Sept. 9.

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