LEXINGTON, Ky. - The racing industry will begin compiling statistics on injuries suffered by jockeys and exercise riders at racetracks in order to more precisely identify risk factors for the riders, participants in a health and safety summit at Keeneland said Tuesday.

A referendum on the November ballot in Ohio that would have asked voters whether to approve slot machines at racetracks was pulled Monday after the group that led the petition drive to get the measure on the ballot asked that it be removed, according to officials in the Secretary of State's office.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The expansion of parimutuel wagering to sports bars and card clubs in California could begin at a bar in San Clemente in late summer, pending regulatory and civic approval, but a recent application for another betting outlet at a Northern California card club did not meet the approval of the California Horse Racing Board earlier this week.

In a change that should give handle a significant boost, the New York State Racing and Wagering Board on Wednesday approved a rule that would uncouple same-trainer, different-owner entries in all races at state tracks.

William S. Farish informed the board of The Jockey Club on Monday that he would step down as the organization's vice chairman, effective immediately, according to Jockey Club officials.

Farish has been The Jockey Club's vice chairman since 1983. He will continue to serve on The Jockey Club's board of stewards through the expiration of his term in 2013, The Jockey Club said.

Farish could not be immediately reached on Tuesday morning.

Norm Barron, a prominent member of the Ohio racing community who served on the state's racing commission for 20 years, died on Saturday of complications of cancer. Barron was 74.

An owner and breeder in Ohio for 30 years, Barron served on the Ohio State Racing Commission from 1983 to 1995, six of those years as chairman. He also served on the commission from 1999 to 2007, two of those years as chairman.

Sandy Frucher, the chairman of the bankrupt New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation, has resigned, according to New York Gov. David Paterson.

Frucher submitted a resignation letter on Friday, according to several government officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity. According to one of those officials, Paterson has already selected one of his secretaries, Larry Schwartz, to take over the chairmanship of the state-owned organization.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Jockey Club's board of stewards voted Friday to deny stud book privileges permanently to California breeders Joan Bor, her son Ernie Bor, and his wife, Cecelia, after their conviction for felony animal cruelty.

The conviction, handed down last December, stemmed from an investigation that found 55 malnourished horses on the Bors' 21-acre Cochema Ranch in Ventura County, Calif. Each of the three were sentenced to six months in jail and five years' probation.

The Bors' denial of stud book privileges is effective Jan. 1, 2011.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association is attempting to formulate a policy that would address concerns that non-members are benefiting from its efforts in the wake of several recent defections from the organization, according to NTRA officials.

Handle on U.S. Thoroughbred races in May dropped by 8.3 percent compared to the same month last year, according to figures released on Friday by Equibase, a decline that indicates racing is continuing to struggle even as the economy shows indications of regaining some strength.

The decline, from $1.38 billion in May of last year to $1.26 billion this year, or $120 million, was influenced somewhat by the running this year of the Kentucky Oaks on April 30, compared to a May date last year. Handle on the Oaks card this year was $36 million, well above a typical Friday handle.