John Rotz, a Hall of Fame jockey who notably rode champions Gallant Bloom and Ta Wee, died on Monday at his home in Warrensburg, Ill., according to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Rotz was 86.

When Rotz retired in 1973, at the age of 39, he had ridden 2,907 winners, good for 15th best at the time. Rotz was the regular rider of both Gallant Bloom and Ta Wee, fellow Hall of Fame members, and he was the leading rider in New York in both 1961 and 1962. He won two Triple Crown races, the 1962 Preakness aboard Greek Money and the 1970 Belmont Stakes on High Echelon.

Bert Firestone, who with his wife, Diana, campaigned the superstar filly Genuine Risk, winner of the 1980 Kentucky Derby, died on Monday at a hospital in West Palm Beach, Fla. Firestone was 89.

A New York District Court judge heard arguments on Monday over whether the trainer Bob Baffert should be granted a temporary restraining order keeping the New York Racing Association from enforcing a ban on the trainer.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Whitmore, the reigning male sprint champion, turned in his one and only serious local prep for his upcoming start in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap on July 31, going four furlongs in 47.32 seconds immediately after the renovation break here Sunday.

HENDERSON, Ky. – Eddie Kenneally notched the 1,000th victory of his training career when He’s Pretty Lucky prevailed by a head in the fifth race Saturday at Ellis Park.

Kenneally, a 55-year-old native of Ireland, saddled his first winner in December 1993 and has gone on to win 35 graded stakes, including six Grade 1s.

“This is a huge honor,” Kenneally said. “It took a lot of good people behind me through the years, both the owners and employees. You can’t do anything without good help and good horses.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Belmont Stakes winner Essential Quality breezed for the first time at Saratoga on Saturday morning, cruising an easy half-mile in 50.46 per Daily Racing Form, after which trainer Brad Cox confirmed the reigning 2-year-old champion would make his next start in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy here July 31.

International titan Galileo, considered one of the greatest sires the world has seen, was euthanized on Saturday at age 23 at his longtime home, the international Coolmore outfit's headquarters in Fethard, County Tipperary, Ireland.

The stallion, who holds a world record with 91 career Grade/Group 1 winners, had been suffering from "a chronic, non-responsive, debilitating injury to the left fore foot," according to a statement from the farm.

The New York State Gaming Commission has submitted legal filings arguing that a three-year suspension recently meted out to trainer Linda Rice should not be stayed by a court because the penalty would be affirmed by a court and is not “arbitrary and capricious,” according to the filings.

The gaming commission filed the legal brief late last week in the appeals court in Schenectady County to argue that the court should lift its preliminary injunction staying the penalty. The court granted the injunction on June 9, two days after the commission officially revoked Rice’s license.

Harvey Pack, a pioneer in the field of on-air racing personalities whose curmudgeonly personality and dry sense of humor made him a favorite among New York horseplayers, died Tuesday at his New York City apartment after complications from cancer. He was 94.

Arazi, famed for his electrifying victory in the 1991 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, has died at Stockwell Thorougbreds in Victoria, Australia, at age 32.