New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday afternoon appointed David Skorton, president of Cornell University, to chair a newly constituted board of directors at the New York Racing Association.

Skorton is a cardiologist, professor of biomedical engineering, and a professor in the Weill Cornell Medical College’s Department of Medicine and Pediatrics. Cornell is the home to a leading equine hospital, and the university formerly conducted drug-testing on behalf of the New York State Racing and Wagering Board.

Penn National Gaming Inc., the owner of 28 gambling properties in North America, including several racetrack-casinos, had net income of $46.5 million in the third quarter of 2012, down 34 percent from net income of $70.8 million in the third quarter last year, according to financial statements released on Thursday.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The sudden resignation of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty on Monday evening should have no direct impact on the upcoming final report from the horse racing transition panel.

The report, compiled by former Ontario cabinet ministers Elmer Buchanan, John Snobelen, and John Wilkinson was submitted to Ted McMeekin, Ontario’s minister of agriculture, food, and rural affairs, on Monday, just more than two weeks past its original due date after the panel requested an extension.

Researchers studying data collected over the past three years on injuries sustained by horses at racetracks have concluded that horses running in claiming races are at far higher risk of breaking down than horses who run in non-claiming races.

The finding dovetails with a widespread belief in the racing industry that claiming horses suffer breakdowns more frequently than non-claiming horses. The researchers have concluded from the data that horses in claiming races are 1.8 times more likely to suffer a fatal injury than horses in non-claiming races.

SHAKOPEE, Minn. – Mary Manney, assistant executive director of the Minnesota Racing Commission, has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the results of an investigation of alleged misconduct. Chief state veterinarian Dr. Lynn Hovda also is being investigated for alleged misconduct. It is unclear if the two investigations are related.

The United States market for slaughter horses was thrown into confusion Friday after slaughterhouses in Canada appeared to have closed their doors abruptly to U.S. horses, according to slaughter buyers, lower-market horse dealers, and the auctions they frequent.

The New York State Racing and Wagering Board passed seven rule changes Thursday based on the recommendations of a task force that studied a spike in breakdowns at Aqueduct racetrack last winter.

Passed unanimously by the commission on an emergency basis, the rules seek to tighten limits on several controversial medications, including the bronchial dilator clenbuterol and the corticosteroid methylprednisolone. The rules will also require trainers to maintain additional records on treatments that are administered to their horses.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance has put together contributions agreements with a range of industry companies and organizations that could funnel several million dollars toward retirement and retraining of former racehorses, the TAA announced Thursday. The funds will “support the TAA’s mission to accredit and raise funds for Thoroughbred aftercare facilities,” the announcement said.

The Ontario racing industry is in the midst of a last-ditch drive to convince the provincial government that a three-year, $50 million assistance package recommended by the province’s finance minister is inadequate to protect the sport in the absence of revenue from slot machines.

Two Quarter Horses lined up near the top of the stretch for the 11th and last race April 8 at Gulfstream Park. A racetrack employee held a flag in his upraised hand, brought the flag down, and the horses were off. When the horses crossed the finish line 220 yards later, Gulfstream Park through a company associated with the track had officially held a Quarter Horse meet under Florida law.