The 2026 live racing schedule at Parx Racing has been released and features 149 days of live racing throughout the year, highlighted by the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) on Sept. 19.

The New York Racing Association plans to run 196 racing days at Aqueduct Racetrack, Saratoga Race Course and the new Belmont Park in 2026. 

Thoroughbreds are hitting the track early as Will Rogers Downs kicks off spring racing season on Jan. 12. The earlier start , nearly two months ahead of last year’s March 3 opening, will conclude on Kentucky Derby Day, May 2.

Letters to the editor for the Dec. 18 issue of BloodHorse Daily

The Texas Stallion Stakes Series now has a pathway to nominate 2-year-olds.

Spendthrift Farm’s Tamara has been disqualified from her Oct. 4 win in the Chillingworth Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park after a drug test by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit indicated the presence of the muscle relaxant methocarbamol.

Defending race winner Major Dude and fellow millionaires Wolfie’s Dynaghost and Chasing the Crown lead a stacked group of 10 older horses in the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G3T) Dec. 20 at Gulfstream Park.

Two well-related mares stole the show during the Inglis Digital December (Late) Online Sale that closed Dec. 17, selling for AU$140,000 each in the final sale of 2025 for the auction company.

The New York Racing Association announced Dec. 17 the stakes schedule for the 2026 winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack, which will include 20 stakes races worth more than $3.1 million in total purses.

Racing Australia has accepted the move by the Asian Racing Federation to seize control of the Australian black-type pattern, a step that will lead to its Asian Pattern Committee deciding on upgrades and downgrades before the start of next season.