Eclipse-winning Photographer Marten Dies

Michael Marten, a two-time Eclipse Award-winning photographer, died May 28 of cancer at his Del Mar, Calif., home.

Reddam, Gutierrez Team Up Again in Gamely

J. Paul Reddam's Quiet Oasis, an upset winner in her first start of 2012, will seek to keep it going when she returns to grade I stakes company in the $250,000 Gamely Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park May 28.

Jockey Injured at Los Alamitos Race Course

A jockey was injured in a fall at Los Alamitos Race Course in Orange County, California during the fourth race on the track's May 25 night racing card.

CHRB Severely Restricts Use of Clenbuterol

The bronchodilator clenbuterol, possibly being misused for its anabolic steroid properties, will be severely curtailed for the next year at all California racetracks.

Hangin' With Haskin: Lava Man Revisited

The cheers that accompany his star pupil, I'll Have Another, are always within ear shot, and Lava Man has no reason to believe they are not meant for him.

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Breeders' Cup Extends Deal With Poker Pro

Breeders' Cup said May 15 it will continue a partnership with professional poker play Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi that began in 2011.

Top Barretts Horses Going to Baffert, O'Neill

Doug O'Neill and Bob Baffert, who train the one-two finishers in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), will also be training several of the high-priced horses out of the Barretts 2-year-old sale May 14.

Breeders' Cup Hoping 'Best Is Yet to Come'

Breeders' Cup marketing will have new look in the lead up to the 2012 World Championships at Santa Anita Park.

Barretts May Sale Has 116 Juveniles

Barretts has cataloged 116 horses for its May sale of 2-year-olds in training. The auction will be held May 14 at Barretts' Hinds Pavilion at Fairplex Park in Southern California, beginning at 6:30 p.m. (PDT).

Off-the-Turf Las Cienegas Not Upgraded

Moving the April 14 Las Cienegas Handicap at Santa Anita from turf to the main track resulted in the grass race losing its grade III status for this year.

Willa B Awesome to Skip Kentucky Oaks

Willa B Awesome will not advance to the May 4 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) in spite of winning the Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I). The California-bred filly will instead be pointed to the Melair Stakes at Hollywood Park April 28.

Dogwood, Eclipse Form Joint Venture

Dogwood Stable and California-based Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners have formed a joint venture, according to an April 3 press release.

Winner Appointed to Serve on CHRB

Charles Winner, 71, of Beverly Hills, has been appointed has been appointed by California Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. to the California Horse Racing Board, it was announced April 3.

Former Racetrack Executive Marje Everett Dies

Marje Everett, the longtime chairwoman of Hollywood Park, died March 23 at her West Los Angeles home. She was 90.

Golden Gate Fields Makes Stakes Changes

Golden Gate Fields has changed two upcoming stakes, moving the Golden Poppy Stakes from May 5 to May 6 and making the Berkeley Handicap (gr. III) a handicap race.

California Racing Lobbyist Rod Blonien Dies

Rod Blonien, a tireless California lobbyist for horse racing and gambling interests, died at his home in Sacramento March 13 of an apparent heart attack.

Betfair Buys Hollywood Park Naming Rights

The international exchange wagering company promises to upgrade the racetrack and woo younger fans through social media and innovative promotions.

Del Mar, TVG Expand Partnership Program

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and TVG have announced a simulcast and ontrack broadcast partnership that will begin with the start of racing at Del Mar July 18.

Japanese Buyers Boost Barretts 2YO Sale

Kicking off the juvenile sales season coupled with a strong turnout from Japanese buyers boosted the Barretts March selected 2-year-olds in training sale March 5 in Pomona, Calif.

California Handle Down Again in 2010-11

While pari-mutuel handle in California racing continued its free fall during the 2010-11 fiscal year, equine fatalities in the state due to catastrophic racing or training injuries improved during the same period.

New Sale Scheduled for Del Mar This Summer

A new Thoroughbred sale is scheduled for this summer in Southern California. Barretts Equine, in cooperation with Del Mar, plans to conduct the auction of horses in training in the racetrack's paddock July 22.

Moss Leaving California Horse Racing Board

Prominent horse owner and breeder Jerry Moss announced he is leaving the California Horse Racing Board after serving on the commission for eight years.

Nine-Year-Old Awesome Gem Prepares for Return

Nine-year-old Awesome Gem, in the money in 19 graded stakes, is back on the work tab in California and will be pointed toward a seventh year of racing.

City to City Up in Time in the Buena Vista

City to City didn't let being the beaten favorite in her two previous starts get in the way of her going all out in the Buena Vista Handicap (gr. IIT) on Santa Anita President's Day card Feb. 20.

Acclamation Named Cal-bred Horse of the Year

Eclipse Award winner Acclamation was voted California-bred Horse of the Year for 2011 by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association.