The Belmont Park spring-summer meeting will not begin on April 24 as scheduled, but multiple sources have indicated that the New York Racing Association is hopeful of being able to open the meet – without spectators – at the end of May or early June.

On Thursday, the NYRA officially announced the start of the meet would be delayed “due to the continuing impact of the coronavirus pandemic,” according to a press release.

The release did not address a timeframe for the start of the meet, which was scheduled for 51 days from April 24 through July 12.

Milton Wolfson, a trainer for the past 30 years on the Florida circuit, died Wednesday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., according to Gulfstream Park. Wolfson was 87 years old.

A press release from Gulfstream noted that Wolfson was “a respected horseman known for his kindness, spirit, and good humor.” Wolfson was named the recipient of the Kent Stirling Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017, presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Woodbine Entertainment CEO Jim Lawson said in an online question and answer session on Wednesday that he’s hopeful Thoroughbred racing will return to Woodbine during the early portion of the summer.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a state of emergency was declared in the province of Ontario on March 17, and recently extended by 28 days to May 12. The Woodbine meet was scheduled to begin this Saturday.

Trainer Bret Calhoun has been suspended 10 days after a horse he trained tested positive for cannabidiol after a winning race at Ellis Park in Kentucky last summer, according to a ruling posted on the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission website.

As written in 2016 for the book “Old and New Friends,” published by DRF Press. Wes Lanter is no longer with the Kentucky Horse Park.

Hall of Champions manager Wes Lanter wasn’t sure what to expect when Go for Gin first arrived at the Kentucky Horse Park in 2011. The 1994 Kentucky Derby winner was 20 and, no doubt, very much a stallion. He was known for being difficult at times, and his sire – Cormorant – was legendary for the same.

John Lies arrives in the morning at Will Rogers Downs and oversees entries as the track’s racing secretary, climbs into the announcer’s booth in the afternoon and calls the races, and before heading home stays a few days ahead on the track’s morning line, which he makes.

He’s usually busy, even more so now. A lot more racing fans are watching.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mike Keogh, jockey Gary Boulanger, builder Sue Leslie, and champions Tepin and Play the King are the 2020 Thoroughbred inductees into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

A native of Epsom, England, Keogh won the 1999 Queen’s Plate with Woodcarver and the 2003 Canadian Triple Crown with the popular Wando. Perhaps his most important victory came when Langfuhr captured the 1997 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont, which was one of three Grade 1 victories for the Gustav Schickedanz homebred. Schickedanz, Keogh’s longtime client, died last June. 

As written in 2016 for the book “Old and New Friends,” written and photographed by Barbara D. Livingston, published by DRF Press.

I asked fans to describe, in a sentence or two, why they love Serena’s Song.  Although not everyone stayed within those constraints, their answers were surprisingly similar:

“She ran so hard, head down and laying it all down . . .  I love the young fillies. When you get a tough one they don't know the meaning of quit. Some of them never learn it - she was one of them.” – Emily Wilmot

The Preakness Stakes, traditionally the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, has yet to be re-scheduled for this season as the coronavirus pandemic continued to upend the Thoroughbred industry and the world at large. However, the race, traditionally a colorful party in Baltimore, will have a different feel this year as The Stronach Group and Maryland Jockey Club announced that the race's accompanying InfieldFest concerts and events will be canceled.

While Santa Anita will not race this weekend, top track executive Aidan Butler said he remains hopeful that racing can resume in the near future.

The track was ordered shut by the Los Angeles county health department last Friday after being deemed a non-essential business in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak. Track officials, including Butler, were in contact with health department officials earlier this week before the track announced on Tuesday that there will no racing from Friday through Sunday for a second consecutive weekend.