The road to Florida may have been crowded with horses headed for the Breeders' Cup yesterday, but seven other runners of distinction traveled instead to Aqueduct to take a shot at another target, the $500,000 N.Y.R.A. Mile.

Ahead, the engineer could see a wagon drawn by a pair of horses headed in their direction.

In the Kentucky Derby, Captain Steve poked his head in front as the 19 horses headed for home, but he was bumped by Wheelaway and finished eighth.

There were yells of derisive triumph and the pounding, rumbling sound of horses headed away in the night.

Since 1996, Keeneland has had an on-site repository containing X-rays of horses headed for the auction ring.

During the night, horses headed by her men accidentally stampede through the Cables' camp, leading Paul and Martha to scold the men.

And, in the confused rush of horses headed for the Triple Crown, he solidified his ranking as perhaps the best horse to come out of Florida and aim for the May 1 Kentucky Derby.

The race has lost its meaning for horses headed for the Derby and now offers at best a last-chance opportunity for certain late-comers.

Although he scored a personal success, he didn't do much to clarify the rankings among horses headed for the landmark races that will decide the year's championships.