The Downs at Albuquerque saw increases in handle and purse distribution during its 39-date spring mixed meet for Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses that ended June 18, according to a release from the New Mexico track. Albuquerque handled an average of $207,375 per day on its races from all sources, up from $165,683 at the corresponding meet in 2014. Purses averaged $173,592 per program, up from $162,853 per card in 2014.

The Breeders’ Cup announced that registration is now open for the seventh annual Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge, presented by West Point Thoroughbreds.

The BCBC will be held Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30-31, at the 2015 Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland and at five satellite locations across the country, up from two in 2014. New locations Del Mar, Gulfstream Park, and a Las Vegas satellite to be named at a later date join Santa Anita Park and Aqueduct.

ARCADIA, Calif. – American Pharoah was as much of an ambassador for racing as an athlete on Friday morning at Santa Anita.

Hours after he went through a routine gallop, the 2015 Triple Crown was the subject of an hour of devoted attention from two players and a group of coaches and front office employees from the Los Angeles Angels. The colt handled the publicity event like a veteran, standing quietly as the subject of countless photos and plenty of carrots.

The management of Parx Racing and the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association have agreed on an updated racing schedule for August and for next winter and to the creation of an eight-week fall festival at the Bensalem, Pa., racino.

The PTHA board of directors has signed off on the new initiatives and on Friday explained the details to Parx horsemen.

“We received a great reception from the horsemen,” said Mike Ballezzi, executive director of the PTHA. “They understand what we are trying to do – protect live racing and protect purses.”

Trainer Jorge Navarro decided on Thursday to run Private Zone in the $400,000 Belmont Park Sprint Championship on July 4 rather than the $250,000 Smile Sprint at Gulfstream Park the next day.

Navarro, who was in Florida on Thursday, said the weather played a role in his decision, as did Private Zone’s record in New York. Private Zone is stabled at Monmouth Park.

Trainer Brendan Walsh has been suspended 10 days by Kentucky stewards after a horse he trained tested positive for excessive levels of multiple painkillers, a violation that falls under the commission’s relatively new rules prohibiting “stacking” of drugs.

Walsh’s suspension will run July 5-14, according to a ruling posted on the racing commission’s website. Walsh, who also was fined $500, waived his right to an appeal, according to the ruling.

New York’s horsemen would be willing to put up an additional $750,000 for the purse of the Travers Stakes this year to lure Triple Crown winner American Pharoah to Saratoga as long as the purse account is made whole through revenue on the day, the head of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association said at a board meeting of the New York Racing Association on Wednesday.

CYPRESS, Calif. – Santa Anita will open its autumn meeting on the final weekend of September after reaching an agreement this week with officials from the Los Angeles County Fair and Los Alamitos over two disputed days of racing.

Under the agreement, the Los Angeles County Fair meeting at Los Alamitos will conclude Friday, Sept. 25, and be followed by the first two days of the Santa Anita autumn meeting Sept. 26-27. Both tracks had sought to race on those dates and held discussions in recent months seeking a resolution.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Catch a Flight has come a long way in a short time. On Saturday at Santa Anita, five months after he lost his U.S. debut in a first-level allowance, the Argentine-bred, Brazilian-raced import is favored to win the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita.

Eleven older horses entered the $500,000 Gold Cup, a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race in which Catch a Flight, trained by Richard Mandella, is the 5-2 favorite on the morning line set by track oddsmaker Jon White.

Pete Medhurst has been named as the track announcer at Laurel Park for July while Dave Rodman is in Northern California calling the races at Pleasanton and Sacramento.

Medhurst, who lives in Maryland, has been calling Standardbred races at Rosecroft and Ocean Downs since 1996. He is also the play-by-play voice for the Naval Academy football team. Medhurst is a sports personality on 106.7 The Fan and News Radio 99.1.

Rodman is scheduled to resume calling the races at Laurel on July 31.