
Business

Paco Lopez shares Jockey of the Week honors
Paco Lopez won a dozen races, including three stakes, last week to share Jockeys’ Guild Jockey of the Week honors with Umberto Rispoli.

Penn Mile to be delayed another week
The Grade 3 Penn Mile, originally scheduled for May 30 but pushed back for three weeks, now will be delayed to June 27 because of weather issues.
Smarty Jones leads new Hall of Fame inductees
Pennsylvania-bred Smarty Jones heads up the list of seven inductees to the national racing Hall of Fame.
Colonial: Claiming Crown preview set for Aug. 21
Colonial Downs will for the first time host a Claiming Crown Preview day on Aug. 21 featuring eight races run under starter allowance conditions.
Journalism tabbed as Preakness future wager favorite
Journalism, the likely favorite in the Kentucky Derby, is the 8-1 morning line favorite in the Preakness future wager, which opens April 25-May 3.
Travis Stone to announce Virginia Derby meet
Churchill Downs track announcer Travis Stone will call the action at Colonial Downs during next month’s Virginia Derby mini-meet.
Virginia Gaming Commission bill appears dead
A bill that would have swept racing regulation out of the Virginia Racing Commission and under a new Gaming Commission appears dead.
HISA alleges conspiracy to evade injection rules
HISA has alleged that one veterinarian and 13 trainers at Penn National conspired to evade rules limiting intra-articular injections.
Determined Kingdom named Va-bred horse of the year
Determined Kingdom, now past $700,000 in career earnings, has been named Virginia-bred Horse of the Year after winning two stakes in ’24.
Maryland Jockey Club names new director of racing surfaces
The new Maryland Jockey Club (TMJC) announced Feb. 21 that it has hired John Banno as Director of Racing Surfaces.
HISA cites record-low rate of equine fatalities
The rate of equine fatality dropped below one per 1,000 starts at HISA-governed tracks in 2024, according to HISA, the lowest rate recorded.
Colonial Downs announces Va. Derby ticket options
Colonial Downs has announced ticket options and prices for Virginia Derby day, with the Derby, now a Kentucky Derby points race, to be Mar. 15.
Charles Town cancels Wednesday, Thursday cards
With bitter cold in the forecast, Charles Town has canceled its live racing cards for Wednesday, January 8 and Thursday, January 9.
Chris Merz to head Maryland Racing Commission
Former Maryland Jockey Club racing secretary Chris Merz will be the new executive director of the Maryland Racing Commission.
Handle slumps in December as 2024 lags prior year
US wagering handle on Thoroughbred races plummeted 14% in December, as the industry suffered through another down year.
Mike Hopkins steps down after 40 years at Md. Racing Commission
Maryland Racing Commission executive director Mike Hopkins will retire after today, ending a career that spanned 40 years and many industry changes.
Jockey Club bars 12 from stud book access
The ruling announced by The Jockey Club bans 12 individuals from registering Thoroughbred foals for periods up to five years.
Maryland Racing Commission OKs new TMJC as track operator
The Maryland Racing Commission on Dec. 23 signed off on the new nonprofit Maryland Jockey Club to operate Laurel Park in the new year.
Shamrock Farm chosen as new Maryland training center
The new training center to support racing at Pimlico will be at Shamrock Farm the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority announced.
Maryland horsemen, breeders point to ’25 priorities
A board to govern the new Maryland Jockey Club, a new training center, and new breeder incentives are top priorities for Maryland’s horsemen and breeders.