Multiple graded stakes winner and sire Officer died Aug. 1 at age 26 in Korea, according to the Korean Studbook. Officer was one of the top juveniles in 2001, winning the Champagne Stakes (G1) and the Del Mar Futurity (G2).

Sweetwater Downs will offer the highest purses for horsemen in the track’s history for its 2025 race meet starting on Saturday, Aug. 16. The $1.9 million in purses is a 40% increase over 2024.

A stakes schedule packed with $3.575 million in purses will headline this year’s 14-day September meet at Churchill Downs, featuring 11 black-type events over three weekends.

George Weaver-trained stablemates Governor Sam and Ortley Avenue, the 1-2 finishers of last month’s Quick Call Stakes (G3T), return for the $175,000 Mahony Stakes (G3T) Aug. 10 at Saratoga Race Course.

J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the Arlington Million (G1) at Colonial Downs.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert bids for his fourth straight victory and 12th overall win in the Aug. 9 Best Pal Stakes (G3) at Del Mar with impressive maiden winner Desert Gate and St. Petersburg, a $700,000 son of Constitution. 

Speaking Aug. 7 during a KTDF committee meeting, Keeneland vice president of racing Gatewood Bell said the track’s winner’s circle area for stakes competitors will move to what had previously been the paddock walking ring area.

Arqana’s chief executive Freddy Powell is hoping the market forces in effect at Fasig-Tipton will continue in Deauville for the company’s flagship August Yearling Sale Aug. 16-18.

Keeneland announced Aug. 7 that four horses—fillies by Flightline, Gun Runner and Into Mischief, plus a colt by Golden Pal—have been supplemented to Book 1 of the September Yearling Sale Sept. 8-9.

Trainer Phil D’Amato has half the field in Del Mar’s Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2T), which gets a shipper from the Graham Motion barn in Heredia.