Bookmakers had a challenging Royal Ascot meeting, with punter-friendly results affecting the bottom line and the World Cup hitting turnover.

Pegasus World Cup (G1) winner Skippylongstocking will target a 13th graded stakes victory in the $350,000 Monmouth Cup (G3) during the July 18 Haskell card at Monmouth Park, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said on the June 22 episode of BloodHorse Monday.

AmWager is offering bettors in 30 states the opportunity to bet all races on the June 27 Woodbine card with a 0% takeout for all pools, except show betting.

Top-class Thoroughbred racing returns to Ellis Park July 2, when the Henderson, Ky., oval opens its 25-day summer season featuring many of the sport’s leading trainers and jockeys, along with a full lineup of fan events.

Winning a major race at Ascot remains a coveted dream for Japanese racing, and they will pursue this goal at the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) July 25 with Masquerade Ball and Wurttemberg.

Acacia Clement looks back at the G3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown & G2 Chicago Stakes at Churchill Downs.

An online fundraiser is part of Churchill Downs’ Gallop for Good Day June 27 to raise money for retired Thoroughbred aftercare.

Trainers Linda Rice, Todd Pletcher, Bruce Levine, and jockeys Manny Franco and Nick Santagata share memories of Aqueduct Racetrack before it runs its last race June 28.

Joliestar is set to contest Newmarket’s July Cup (G1) July 11 and to try Royal Ascot again next year after running a brave but agonizing third in the June 20 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1).

Trainer Yoshito Yahagi confirmed June 21 that Japanese superstar Forever Young will make his next two starts in the United States: the Sept. 18 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Belmont Park and Oct. 31 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland.