In a notice to horsemen posted June 25 on an overnight, Churchill Downs announced that only four stakes races July 2-3 will be run on turf as scheduled before its spring meet concludes July 4.

A strong British contingent returns for the Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) June 26 at the Curragh, spearheaded by a pair of impressive last-time-out winners for William Haggas in Purplepayy and My Astra.

Monmouth Park and BetMakers Technology Group will again partner as sponsors for the $1 million “BetMakers Bonanza” Bonus for the connections of any horse that sweeps a series of three designated races, it was announced June 25.

Westover banished memories of a luckless third in the Cazoo Derby (G1) with a dominant performance to score under Colin Keane for trainer Ralph Beckett in the June 25 Irish Derby (G1).

Top-class stayer though he may be, the Alan King-trained Trueshan was racing off a BHA rating of 120, carrying a weight of 10 stone, eight pounds, and running as a prep for the Goodwood Cup (G1), having missed a firm-ground Royal Ascot.

In the fifth race at Canterbury Park June 23, jockey Ruben Fuentes was pitched to the ground when his mount Malintent broke down at the top of the lane. Fuentes suffered multiple fractures in his skull, vertebrae, and collarbone.

The eighth annual fundraiser for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund is set for July 2 at Churchill Downs. The late Hall of Fame jockey Randy Romero to be honored at the Jockeys and Jeans event.

John Gosden and Frankie Dettori have agreed to “take a sabbatical” after the pair met June 24 in Newmarket.

Royal Patronage is set to have his final race for Charlie and Mark Johnston in next month’s Belmont Derby Invitational (G1T) before switching to trainer Graham Motion to continue his racing career in America.

In addition to the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) in Japan, two other international races that act as Breeders’ Cup Challenge races will take place this weekend: the Grande Premio Brasil (G1) in Brazil and the Gran Premio Pamplona (G1) in Peru, both June 26.