In 1961, his career transitioned to horse racing when he joined Churchill Downs as Resident Manager. After several years in executive management positions at the track, he was named President and CEO of Churchill Downs Inc. from 1970-1984.

With HHR back on solid footing, Churchill Downs Inc. expects to complete a new Turfway Park grandstand by the summer of 2022 and will move forward on capital project plans at its namesake track in Louisville, although revisions are expected there.

Senate Bill 1794 passed the Appropriations and Rules committees. It would authorize historic horse racing, providing up to $140 million in new state tax revenues and aiding Arizona’s horse racing industry. 

Postponements can certainly be aggravating, but as far as Monomoy Girl is concerned, trainer Brad Cox sees a silver lining, perhaps even a golden one, in having to wait for the mare’s 6-year-old debut.

After Spendthrift paid $9.5 million for two-time Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) winner Monomoy Girl at The November Sale, Fasig-Tipton’s premier breeding sale, and decided to keep her in training, it didn’t take long for prospective partners to pop up.

Trainer Peter Walder won his seventh consecutive race when Richard Perkins’ High Heater ($15) scored a frontrunning victory in the second race Feb. 24 at Gulfstream Park for $12,500 claimers.

Drayden Van Dyke, one of California’s top riders in recent years, will ride this spring at Keeneland and Churchill Downs, according to his new agent, retired Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens.

Many of Florida’s top prospects on the Road to the Kentucky Derby square off Feb. 27 in the $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

After easily winning her first two starts, Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s Abrogate will test the stakes waters for the first time Feb. 28 when she faces an expected seven other 3-year-old fillies in the $150,000 Dixie Belle Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

Jose Delgado-trained The Critical Way assumed command from start to finish in the Feb. 24 Turf Dash Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.