Ellen McClain, the chief operating officer and president of the New York Racing Association, announced at the association’s full board meeting Friday in Manhattan that she has submitted her resignation but will stay on during a “transitional period” as the association searches for a chief executive.

The Oklahoma Racing Commission has set penalties on the first dermorphin cases in the state, suspending trainer Roberto Sanchez-Munoz 100 years and fining him $100,000 for 10 different positives for the Class 1 drug found in horses he raced during the 2012 Quarter Horse meet at Remington Park. In addition, Munoz’s brother and assistant trainer, Alejandro Sanchez-Munoz, was suspended 20 years and fined $10,000.

Cody Kelley, an attorney representing the brothers, said through a staff member Friday that he did not have a comment on the case.

The eighth season of Countdown to the Crown returns as one of the most comprehensive handicapper’s scouting reports of the 3-year-old scene. Posted each Friday at DRF.com from Jan. 4 through the Belmont Stakes, Countdown keeps you apprised of the rising stars of the 3-year-old class from the maiden ranks through the Grade 1 stakes. You can access daily updates, opinions, and interactive features at Countdowntothecrown.com as well.

Straight from the Gate

LAS VEGAS – The Treasure Island Hotel & Casino held the Last Chance qualifier Thursday for this weekend’s $1.5 million Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship, and they came from all over for the five berths that were up for grabs.

Charles Hayward, the former chief executive officer of the New York Racing Association, reiterated in a statement Thursday that the NYRA board acted improperly when it fired him last May over allegations that he knew the association was applying a takeout rate to some superexotic wagers that was in violation of state law.

ETOBOCOKE, Ontariio – The Sovereign Awards ceremony, honoring the best of Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Racing and breeding in 2012, will be held at Woodbine Racetrack on Friday, April 19.

The Jockey Club of Canada, which announced the finalists in 16 Sovereign Award categories last week, had been awaiting news of when the Woodbine meeting would open before making public the date for its gala.

As the president of Cornell University, Dr. David Skorton’s admitted limited interest in Thoroughbred racing was primarily in equine health and safety, his university being home to a strong veterinary medicine program and a state-of-the-art equine hospital.

As chairman of the New York Racing Association’s Reorganization Board, Skorton’s emphasis remains on equine health and safety at a time when NYRA, for the second consecutive winter, is dealing with a rash of fatalities at Aqueduct and Belmont Park.

National regulatory officials are confident that the 38 states conducting Thoroughbred racing will soon adopt a set of uniform rules governing the use of a limited suite of therapeutic medications.

Sound familiar?

Similar expressions of confidence have been voiced over the last 50 years, but the rules of most racing jurisdictions, especially in regard to therapeutic medications, remain stubbornly diverse despite continual efforts to align standards.

A bill that would allow table games at racetrack casinos in Indiana and grant tax breaks to the state’s other casinos was approved unanimously by a state senate committee on Wednesday.

A New York State Senator has pre-filed a bill to the Racing, Wagering, and Gaming Committee seeking a ban on the raceday use of the anti-bleeding medication furosemide, commonly known by the brand name Lasix, and any other “performance-enhancing” drugs.