Gordon Lavalette has been hired as the new chief financial officer for the New York Racing Association, replacing Susan Stover, who left the company in January for a similar job at the Johnny Rockets restaurant chain.
All-sources handle at California racetracks declined 8.8 percent in June and was down 4.6 percent for the year, according to figures released at Thursday’s California Horse Racing Board meeting by executive director Rick Baedeker.
Mike Rogers, the president of The Stronach Group, has been elected to the Breeders’ Cup’s 14-seat board of directors.
Travis Stone, the Churchill Downs announcer who formerly called races at Louisiana Downs, is scheduled to conduct a handicapping seminar at the Bossier City, La., track Saturday as part of activities surrounding an all-turf card
Clifton De Tiege, who reached the top of his riding profession in 1962 when he won the All American Futurity aboard Hustling Man, and James “Bo” White, a perennial leading jockey at the now-shuttered Trinity Meadows near Fort Worth, both died recently in Texas.
Evangeline Downs will lower the takeout on its pick-four wagers from 25 percent to 12 percent starting next Wednesday, the track announced. Evangeline received Louisiana Racing Commission approval for the move Monday.
Lower-than-expected handle this meet has forced Arlington to cut purses starting on July 21, the beginning of the next condition book.
Jockey Michael Davila Jr. is nearing his 1,000th career victory. Through Tuesday, he had won 995 races.
Two federal legislators who are members of the Congressional Horse Congress have signed a letter urging the Treasury Department to approve changes to tax rules that would benefit horseplayers, according to a racing organization that is lobbying for the changes.
A new $150 million equestrian center and racetrack proposed by Massachusetts horsemen would generate $99 million in annual economic impact and create 950 jobs in the state, a study paid for by the horsemen contends.
