Etc. . . .

Churchill Downs received permission from the Kentucky Racing Commission to run two maiden races with 16-horse fields. Track officials said the races will be run May 31 in conjunction with other large-field races from Arlington and Calder, both owned by Churchill Downs Inc. Except for races such as the Kentucky Oaks and Derby, Churchill normally limits its fields to 12 . . . . Oaklawn Park's leading jockey, Terry Thompson, took off all of his mounts Thursday after being kicked in the leg by a horse during training hours. His thigh was bruised, but he planned to resume riding Friday. . . . Northlands Park in Edmonton, Alberta, has been granted a 68-day Thoroughbred race schedule, from June 20 through Oct. 13, after postponing a $40 million expansion plan that would have necessitated an abbreviated meet. Northlands officials had hoped to begin construction of a new Standardbred track inside the existing Thoroughbred oval on Sept. 2.