Etc. . . .

Vernon Niven, the president of Twinspires.com and an executive vice president of Churchill Downs Inc., will leave the company after the Triple Crown is completed in June. Niven cited personal reasons for his departure in a Thursday press release. . . . Fonner Park canceled its planned opening-day card Friday when a winter storm passed through central Nebraska, bringing an estimated eight inches of snow. . . . Axel Foley, second in the California Derby and a contender in Saturday's Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields, was purchased Thursday by Jeff Singer from Kent Bloodstock, with no purchase price disclosed. An Officer colt, he will remain in training with Doug O'Neill.