The second running of the $300,000 Evangeline Downs Turf Sprint will be May 30 as part of a program of five stakes, the Opelousas, La., track announced on Wednesday. The Turf Sprint has been positioned about three weeks earlier than last season, when its inaugural running in late June was won by Heitai.

The 16th annual National Handicapping Championship kicks off this weekend at Treasure Island in Las Vegas. The three-day event will be the biggest and richest handicapping contest in history: At least 601 entries will compete for more than $2.3 million in purse money, with $800,000 going to the winner, along with an Eclipse Award for Handicapper of the Year. That represents massive growth over last year, when 500 entries competed for $1.59 million.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced Wednesday that it will be hosting the NHC Charity Challenge as part of Saturday’s festivities of the National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas. Celebrities signed on to play include political strategist and commentator James Carville, actress and model Bo Derek, and former NBA coach and ESPN/ABC analyst Avery Johnson.

The field for the 2015 National Handicapping Championship is the strongest one ever assembled, with 519 individual participants, with at least 82 having a second qualifier, and 10 former champions in the field. Let’s take a look at 10 players to watch.

Jose Arias, Bell Gardens, Calif.

Players looking to follow the National Handicapping Championship need not only be spectators. NHCQualify.com is offering two opportunities to play along with the NHC this weekend.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Mark Casse could win his seventh Sovereign Award for outstanding trainer, and a number of horses from his stable could win divisional titles, as the Jockey Club of Canada released the finalists for the 40th Sovereign Awards on Tuesday.

Jockey Roman Chapa has been suspended by the Sam Houston Race Park board of stewards pending an investigation into his ride in Saturday night’s ninth race, the $50,000 Richard King Handicap, which he won aboard Quiet Acceleration.

Chapa will be off his mounts Monday, according to stewards at Sam Houston.

Chapa’s ride is being investigated after a photo of the finish of the race was brought to the attention of the stewards, a photo that may show something foreign in Chapa’s hand while riding Quiet Acceleration. A concern would be whether the object is an electrical device.

Laurel Park canceled its nine-race card for Monday due to poor racetrack conditions stemming from winter weather. Laurel and nearby Pimlico Race Course are still open for simulcasting, and live racing is scheduled to resume at Laurel on Friday at 12:30 p.m. Eastern.

“After an unexpected freeze on Sunday, the freeze-thaw situation has made the racetrack uneven,” Maryland Jockey Club general manager Sal Sinatra said in a statement. “It is in the best interest of safety for horses and riders that this decision has been made.”

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Art Sherman had an early morning flight Sunday to head back to California, but he probably didn’t need the plane, so high was he emotionally after his colt California Chrome was named Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male Saturday night at the 44th annual Eclipse Awards dinner at Gulfstream Park.

“When they said Horse of the Year, I said, ‘Wow,’ ” Sherman said.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – California Chrome proved as popular with Eclipse Award voters as he was with the general public, earning titles as both Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male at the 44th annual Eclipse Awards dinner Saturday night at Gulfstream Park.

California Chrome outpolled fellow Horse of the Year finalists Main Sequence and Bayern. California Chrome received 143 votes; Main Sequence, 53; Bayern, 36; Shared Belief, 12; Untapable, 11; Wise Dan, 6; Adelaide, 1; and Take Charge Brandi, 1. There were two voter abstentions.