Horse racing fans were back in the stands at Woodbine for the first time this season and cheered home Canada’s reigning Horse of the Year Mighty Heart in the July 1 CA$150,000 Dominion Day Stakes (G3).

Shooting Star Thoroughbreds’ Chance It appears ready to establish himself as one of the country’s premier 4-year-olds in the July 3 $200,000 Smile Sprint Invitational Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

With Mondialiste and Lord Glitters, David O’Meara has already struck gold twice at this Summer sale and the trainer was back hunting for group-class stars of the future July 1.

Pushed back from its original date of July 3 when it initially failed to attract sufficient entries, the $150,000 Los Alamitos Derby (G3) July 4 is led by Defunded and Classier, 2-3 in the Affirmed Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park June 13.

Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt’s Yaupon, record-setting winner of the Chick Lang Stakes (G3) last fall, returns to Maryland looking to recapture his winning form in the July 4 $100,000 Lite the Fuse Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.

The $200,000 Dr. James Penny Memorial Stakes (G3T) at Parx Racing July 6 attracted 11 entries, led by M and M Stable’s grade 2 winner Princess Grace, and Bjorn Nielsen’s Amniarix and Augustin Stable’s Honey Cake, two European imports.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a transportation legislation amendment that would ban shipping horses across state lines or to Canada and Mexico to slaughterhouses processing them for human consumption.

Denis Egan has made a surprise decision to step down from his role as chief executive of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, taking early retirement in September.

Trainer Wesley Ward declared “we’re going to have to have champagne again” after Stonestreet Stables’ Campanelle was confirmed as the winner of the Commonwealth Cup (G1) at Royal Ascot following the dismissal of an appeal.

All-sources handle for the Churchill Downs spring meet that concluded June 26 climbed to more than $509.3 million, a 4% increase over 2019, according to figures released from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.