An Association of Racing Commissioners International change to its model rules calls for stewards in Thoroughbred racing to have the ability to disqualify a horse and deny a purse for medication violations that rank lower on the risk of concern.
The 65th annual Round Table Conference on Matters Pertaining to Racing Aug. 13 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., closed out with an update and a rally cry for legislation that would overhaul oversight of horse racing’s drug testing and medication rules.
While negative fan reaction on social media might motivate some tracks to address overlapping post times, a big data expert provided a number that may be big enough to push holdouts toward one of the rarest commodities in U.S. racing: cooperation.
The old "Law & Order" television program used to promote its shows as being "ripped from the headlines," which also serves as a description of this year's Round Table Conference on Matters Pertaining to Racing.
In a move it hopes will help strengthen purse levels, Keeneland plans to increase takeout beginning with the upcoming 2017 fall meeting.
Patrons at Kentucky simulcast outlets will be able to wager on Monarch Content Management racing signals for the first time in about a month beginning July 29.
A move to the United States had not paid many dividends for Swansea Mile, but all of that changed July 27, when the 7-year-old Dylan Thomas gelding delivered a stunning upset in the A. P. Smithwick Memorial Steeplechase Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga.
In his graded stakes debut, Ascend reached racing's heights. Now the 5-year-old son of Candy Ride will try for consistency at the graded level when he faces six other older horses in the Bowling Green Stakes (G2T) July 29 at Saratoga.
Jockey David Flores, who secured three Breeders’ Cup wins in the early 2000s and delivered top-notch rides throughout his career, plans to retire from racing after this weekend at Del Mar.
Cool Catomine proved to have another gear and jockey Luis Contreras delivered another winning ride in a Canadian Triple Crown race as the duo drew off late in the Prince of Wales Stakes July 25 at Fort Erie Racetrack.
Kentucky purses continue to benefit from the success of historical racing, which registered another strong year.
After earning a pair of graded stakes placings earlier this season, Proctor's Ledge didn't let another opportunity pass her by July 21 at Saratoga Race Course.
Trainer Patrick Biancone, who has not had a license in Kentucky since 2007 following the discovery of cobra venom in his Keeneland barn, moved a step closer to being allowed to saddle a horse for racing in Kentucky July 19.
In his first start since a well-beaten sixth in the Belmont Stakes (G1), New York-bred Twisted Tom will pick up some class relief when he faces an expected six other state-breds in the $150,000 New York Derby July 22 at Finger Lakes.
Bill Corbellini, who piled up wins in New York and Florida as a successful claiming trainer from the late 1960s through the early 1980s, died July 12 at the age of 84 in Dallas.
The opening weekend of the all-important race meet begins with five graded stakes, including opening day co-features of the Schuylerville Stakes (G3) for 2-year-old fillies and the Lake George Stakes (G3T) for 3-year-old fillies on turf.
This year Hialeah offered a much different race meet, racing not recognized by the AQHA or reported by Equibase. For many, this meet created chills of concern as Hialeah rolled out a series of races to meet its minimum state racing requirements.
Patrick Biancone is seeking to have his training license reinstated in Kentucky, where the conditioner has not saddled a horse since losing his license following a 2007 discovery of cobra venom and other substances in his Keeneland barn.
In the time between races of Del Mar's 10-race opening day card July 19, fans and horsemen figure to give some thought to the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be contested at the seaside Southern California track this fall.
Industry groups in Pennsylvania will stay vigilant after Governor Tom Wolf on July 10 allowed an underfunded budget to become law without his signature.
Frostmourne will stretch out to 1 1/8 miles for the first time when he again faces other 3-year-olds on the turf in the $200,000 Kent Stakes (G3T) July 15 at Delaware Park.
For owner Rick Porter, a victory in the $750,000 Delaware Handicap (G1) would mean a lot as the big race at his local track. On July 15 he will send out two-time champion Songbird in an effort to land the $750,000 race for fillies and mares.
The New York Racing Association July 10 announced the hiring of veteran horse racing analyst and Major League Baseball All-Star Paul Lo Duca.
It didn't take long for value-conscious horseplayers to see the benefits of the NYRA Bets Pick 5 rolled out July 4 for players at the advance-deposit wagering site, as well as on-track and in-state players
Patricia Generazio homebred Pure Sensation will try to secure a third graded stakes win in as many Parx starts and defend his title in the $200,000 Parx Dash Stakes (G3T) June 8. The five-furlong turf sprint has attracted a dozen entries.
In terms of handle, United States horse racing enjoyed a steady second quarter, an important metric as it includes the three Triple Crown races.
High winds damaged three barns at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races the evening of July 5, but no horses or humans were injured and the track expects to not miss any race dates.
Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course has banned Murray Rojas, her husband Eduardo Rojas, and trainer Stephanie Beattie from entering horses at the Grantville, Pa., track.
While Arrogate is fueling the massive earnings of Baffert and Smith, they have teamed to win grade 1 races this year with Abel Tasman and Mor Spirit. Smith also rides champion Songbird; Baffert has multiple graded stakes winner Vale Dori.
A jury found trainer Murray Rojas guilty of 14 counts related to misbranding of animal drugs but determined that Rojas was not guilty of seven charges of wire fraud.
Woodbine Entertainment reports a third straight year of record Queen's Plate handle as the 13-race card July 2 at Woodbine saw handle of $13,560,678.
Horse racing contest site DerbyWars.com announced June 30 it had reached partnership agreements with several tracks and racing associations that will allow the site to use those racing signals as part of its handicapping contests.
Chris Welker spent the morning sitting under a tree in a paddock watching Ben's Cat settle into his new home on a breezy June 29 at Spring Ridge Farm near Versailles, Ky. She considered pinching herself, but didn't want to spoil the tranquility.
Jack Arterburn, a retired Northern California-based trainer who initially competed as a jockey for nearly 30 years, died May 31 at his home in Woodside, Calif.
On June 27 New Jersey found out its sports gambling case will be heard by the Supreme Court, which should provide the final word on a significant legal challenge to the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992.
For King Leatherbury, the final stakes win of Ben's Cat will always be the memory that's front and center; the day Ben's Cat seemingly did the impossible.
Raising concerns about the sport's integrity and potential long-term impact on future assessments by breeders and buyers, major industry groups are requesting the Pennsylvania regulator change its decision to recognize two winners of the Parx Oaks.
New York-bred 3-year-olds will be in the spotlight June 25 at Belmont Park in a pair of $100,000 New York Stallion Stakes contested at seven furlongs on turf.
Kentucky Downs will offer wagers this year based on how jockeys perform in the final seven races on the card and that betting will benefit injured riders.
Churchill Downs racetrack plans to add a $50-$60 million historical racing venue at its nearby Trackside training track property, and Churchill Downs Inc. plans to produce those historical racing machines.
Taking on older males for the first time proved to be no problem for Lady Aurelia as the 3-year-old daughter of Scat Daddy scored by three lengths in the King's Stand Stakes (G1) June 20 at Royal Ascot.
In his first start since finishing second in the March 25 Dubai World Cup (G1), Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm's Gun Runner drew off in the stretch for an easy victory in the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) June 17 at Churchill Downs.
Unleashing a sustained rally entering the far turn, Kasaqui (ARG) carried that momentum to the finish to post a 2 3/4-length victory in the $200,000 Wise Dan Stakes (G2T) June 17 on the turf at Churchill Downs.
Swagger Jack, a grade 1-winning son of two-time leading sire Smart Strike, saw his first winner June 11 when Swagger Strike drew off to a 2 3/4-length victory in the fifth race at Camarero Race Track.
In a court-approved settlement, the operator of the handicapping contest site DerbyWars will pay at least $500,000 to tracks owned by The Stronach Group, which filed suit in December of 2015.
Florida-based freshman sire Corfu picked up his first winner June 13 when I'm Corfu delivered a front-running victory in a five-furlong race June 13 on the all-weather track at Presque Isle Downs.
Horseman Bruce D. Anderson secured the 1,000th training win of his career June 12 when his homebred Sisters for Ever rallied from last in a field of eight to win the sixth race at Finger Lakes racetrack.
While the scratch of Epicharis (JPN) impacted the amount of money wagered, the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1) June 10 at Belmont Park still became the first United States classic simulcast into Japan.
Total handle for the Belmont Stakes day card June 10 at Belmont Park was down 5.8% to $93,666,832 although handle for the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival increased 1.6% to $124,740,193.
In his graded stakes debut off back-to-back wins, Ascend proved up to the class upgrade when he scored a clear victory in the $1 million Woodford Reserve Manhattan Stakes (G1T) June 10 at Belmont Park.
