Etc. . . .

A formal hearing for jockey Lonnie Meche, who tested positive for methamphetamines at Sam Houston Race Park on Nov. 5, was set for Dec. 1 during a hearing on Saturday. Meche is summarily suspended through the date of the formal hearing, and was taken off his mounts on Texas Champions Day at Sam Houston, as well as those he had opening weekend at the Fair Grounds meet at Louisiana Downs. . . . Early bird nominations for the 2006 Florida Derby will close on Wednesday. The $1 million Florida Derby will be decided at 1 1/8 miles on April 1. . . . Remington Park in Oklahoma City opened its $35 million casino for business Monday. There are more than 600 electronic gaming devices operating at the casino, which is located on the second floor of the grandstand. . . . Hastings canceled the last two races Saturday and the entire Sunday card because of heavy fog in the Vancouver area. Racing is scheduled to resume Saturday with an early post time of 11:30 a.m. Pacific. . . . Jockey Inosencio Diego won four races Sunday at Hoosier Park. He swept the early daily double aboard Thetroublewithdawn ($15.60) and Teeintheroad ($4.60) for a payoff of $41.60, and won the fifth race on Rush to Market ($38) and the 10th on Malibu Run ($5.80).