Trainers Tom Proctor and Miguel Clement, both hitting at 40 percent-plus this winter at Tampa Bay Downs, have two of the protagonists in Wednesday’s first-level allowance, which is scheduled for 1 1/8 miles on turf on a nine-race card that kicks off Tampa Bay Derby week at the Oldsmar, Fla., oval.

At 10 for 24, Proctor is hitting. 417 at the meet and, additionally, has six seconds and two thirds. In this spot, he sends out Chicago Theatre, a 4-year-old gelding by Medaglia d’Oro who has a win, a second, and a third in three starts at the meet, all in one-mile races.

The war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran is introducing serious concerns to horsemen about traveling to Dubai for the $12 million Dubai World Cup scheduled for March 28 at Meydan Racecourse.

Two-time Australian Horse of the Year and Hall of Famer Makybe Diva, the only horse to win three consecutive editions of the Melbourne Cup, has died at the age of 27. The mare, who was foaled in 1999, was living in retirement at owner Tony Santic’s property, and suffered a colic attack, according to a statement provided by her owner to the Australian media.

Popular multiple graded stakes winner The Player has been pensioned from stud duty, gelded, and has joined the Kentucky Horse Park’s Breeds Barn as its Thoroughbred representative. The Breeds Barn showcases and educates visitors about more than a dozen different breeds of horses and ponies, both domestic and international in origin, including in special presentations during the tourist season.

Already in the midst of a breeding season in which it debuted three Eclipse Award champions on its Kentucky stallion roster, the international Coolmore group continues to expand its influence. In two recent developments, the outfit has acquired 1,100 additional acres of land in Kentucky, and has secured the future stud rights to Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Nysos.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Grade 2, $1 million Rebel on Sunday at Oaklawn Park has brought together the kind of field that suggests it might prove to be a key race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

“It’s a very important race,” said trainer Bob Baffert, who will be looking for his ninth Rebel win when he sends out Litmus Test.

None of the first 32 winners of the Honeybee Stakes won a Kentucky Oaks – but times have changed.

Two of the last six Oaks winners, Shedaresthedevil in 2020 and Secret Oath in 2022, also won the Honeybee, and Sunday’s renewal at Oaklawn is abuzz with Oaks hopes.

A 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 worth $750,000, the Honeybee drew 10 entrants, and its winner will almost certainly earn sufficient qualifying points, 50, to make the Oaks field, which is capped at 14 runners. The second- through fifth-place Honeybee finishers get 25, 15, 10, and five Oaks qualifying points.