Churchill Downs Inc. will make payments to the Jockeys' Guild for the next several years under an agreement the two parties reached last week to replace a pact that expired at the end of 2011, the two sides said on Monday.

The Breeders’ Cup will be broadcast this year on NBC and its newly renamed NBC Sports Network, in a four-year deal announced Monday that effectively ended the organization’s domestic partnership with ESPN.

The deal includes a commitment by NBC to broadcast the Breeders’ Cup Classic on its flagship network in prime time. The Classic will be run this year between 8 and 9 p.m. Eastern, the latest time that the Classic has ever been run. This year’s Breeders’ Cup will be held at Santa Anita on Nov. 2-3.

Joe Rosen, a veteran jockey agent most closely associated with representing C.C. Lopez, died Saturday night after complications from treatment for hepatitis and diabetes. He was 61.

Rosen, a native of Philadelphia, trained horses for a little while before becoming an agent. In addition to representing Lopez, Rosen also booked mounts for jockeys Anthony Black, Stewart Elliott, and Aaron Gryder.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita are co-hosting a $1 joint pick six on the Sunshine Millions programs on Jan. 28, featuring three stakes from each track.

The stars were out at Palm Meadows on Saturday where notable works were turned in by Belmont Stakes winner Ruler on Ice and Eclipse champion Awesome Feather among others.

Ruler On Ice went what for him was an easy half-mile in 47.03 in preparation for the Grade 1 Donn Handicap on Feb. 11. Awesome Feather breezed five furlongs in 1:01.44 in her final prep for Saturday’s Sunshine Millions Distaff.

The Louisiana state Senate Commerce committee voted Friday to strike down an emergency rule designed to comply with requirements for the grading of stakes races, a decision that may threaten the grades of stakes run later this year in the state, according to officials.

Rapid Redux, the noted starter-allowance competitor, won’t be trying to win his 23rd race in a row anytime soon. Owner Robert Cole said Friday that Rapid Redux has been taken out of training following a highly demanding 2011 campaign.

"He’s going to be out a couple months and we’re just going to rest him," Cole said. "He’s tired and he’s got some aches and pains, and if he doesn’t get a rest, he’s going to go downhill."

Editor’s Note: Countdown to the Crown returns for a seventh season online as one of the most comprehensive handicapper’s scouting reports of the 3-year-old scene. Posted each Friday at DRF.com from Jan. 6 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 and interactive features at Countdowntothecrown.com as well.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Racehorse owners will be able to void the claim of a horse in Kentucky if the horse subsequently tests positive for an illegal drug under a rule that was approved by an advisory committee to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on Wednesday.

The rule was approved by the Kentucky Equine Drug Research Council, the commission’s advisory committee for drug policies. The full racing commission, which is next scheduled to meet on Feb. 15, typically approves rules that the council recommends.

A 24-year-old Pennsylvania woman who is alleged to have defrauded two horsemen by selling horses for slaughter is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 6, according to news reports.

The woman, Kelsey Lefever, has been charged with one count of deceptive business practices and four counts of theft by deception. Three of the counts are felonies.