Jockey Jose Alvarez could be sidelined for the next six to eight weeks after he sustained a fracture to his leg in Friday night’s eighth race at Sam Houston Race Park.

Alvarez was involved in a chain-reaction incident that also included jockey Stewart Elliott, who was off his mounts Saturday and Sunday due to soreness and a black eye, according to his agent, Scott Hare. 

Plans for a race meeting at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Calif., this summer collapsed over the weekend after investors for the proposed season and representatives of the Southern California stabling and vanning committee failed to agree on financial and logistical terms.

A wide range of issues, including regulatory approval for training from the California Horse Racing Board, worker’s compensation coverage, and water compliance measures, prevented the two sides from reaching an agreement, according to Bill Nader, president of the Thoroughbred Owners of California.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Led by Citizen Bull, the champion 2-year-old male of 2024, four of trainer Bob Baffert’s top 3-year-olds had workouts at Santa Anita on Sunday for upcoming stakes.

Citizen Bull, winner of the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at a mile on Feb. 1 in his lone start this year, worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds, a time that left Hall of Famer Baffert impressed.

“He’s doing well,” Baffert said. “This track has been demanding the last few days.”

Baffert said Citizen Bull is on schedule for a start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 5.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Coal Battle will attempt to win his fourth Kentucky Derby points race on Saturday when he breaks from post 8 in a field of nine for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.

Entries for the 1 1/8-mile race that rewards its first five finishers points on a scale of 100-50-25-15-10 were drawn Sunday. The Arkansas Derby will be showcased on a 14-race card that also includes the Grade 2, $750,000 Fantasy, which offers the same points scale for the Kentucky Oaks.

The standout marathon runner Next has logged a few works this winter at Turfway Park, but where and when he will launch his 7-year-old season has yet to be determined, trainer Doug Cowans said.

Next last raced in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, finishing 14th in the Nov. 2 race after winning seven consecutive marathon stakes. His streak dated to June 2023 in the Grade 2 Brooklyn at Belmont Park.

Next has worked three-eighths twice this winter, on Feb. 15 and on Feb. 22.

Journalism, rated as Daily Racing Form’s early favorite for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3, worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 at Santa Anita on Saturday in advance of a scheduled start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 5.

Saturday’s exercise was Journalism’s second workout since a sharp win by 1 3/4 lengths in his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on March 1.

Journalism worked a half-mile in 48.20 last Sunday.

Racing could be held at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Calif., this summer if a group of investors can complete financial and logistical negotiations in coming days.

Prominent owner and breeders John Harris and George Schmitt are backing a plan to hold racing at Pleasanton in late June and early July. The group needs to file paperwork with the California Horse Racing Board by Friday to conduct a brief racing season. The issue of financing for stabling in coming months is another major concern.

CYPRESS, Calif. - Monty Arrossa, one of the nation’s leading Quarter Horse trainers, has been banned from training at Los Alamitos after three of his horses tested positive for a banned medication last October and November.

The track informed Arrossa of the ban earlier this month, citing a clause in the application for stalls, that reads, in part, that the track “may revoke any privilege extended under this Agreement, at any time, in their sole discretion.”