ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Mel Lawson, an Ontario owner and breeder who is a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, died Wednesday afternoon in Burlington’s Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital at age 88. Lawson, who had been in the Thoroughbred racing business for almost 50 years, raced and bred under the nom du course Jim Dandy Stable. He had been suffering from a variety of ailments and had been hospitalized for several months.

If the voting for top 3-year-old colt were held today, Animal Kingdom would have the edge. But with the Kentucky Derby champion done for the year after suffering a leg injury in the Belmont Stakes, the race is wide open.

Larry Sterling, the trainer of Vigors and the father of jockey Larry Sterling Jr., died Wednesday morning in Hot Springs, Ark., following a long battle with cancer. He was 70.

“We really had a good life together,” said Judy Sterling, who was married to Larry for 48 years.

“He’s been fighting cancer for probably 11 years, but real seriously for the last two years. He fought a big fight.”

Mona Romero, who served as executive director of the Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association from 2005 to 2010, pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and identity fraud, according to a press release issued by the office of U.S. Attorney Jim Letten. Romero, who faces a maximum of five years in prison and/or $250,000 in fines, is to be sentenced Oct. 27.

Breeders’ Cup will conduct the post-position draw for its 15 races on the Monday prior to the two-day event this year, one day earlier than in previous years, the organization announced on Wednesday.

Jim Gluckson, a spokesman for Breeders’ Cup, said the change will allow horsemen, handicappers, and data producers one more day to prepare for the event, which is scheduled for Nov. 4-5 at Churchill Downs in Louisville.

“These are the largest and most competitive fields in racing, and handicappers will certainly benefit from one more day,” Gluckson said.

The board of directors of the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association passed a resolution on Sunday in support of the raceday use of the diuretic Lasix to treat bleeding in the lungs, the association said.

The Oak Tree Racing Association, a not-for-profit organization which conducted autumn race meetings at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park from 1969 through 2010, will be honored for its service in Southern California Thoroughbred racing by the Edwin J. Gregson Foundation on Aug. 8.

Monmouth Park has canceled its Saturday races due to extreme temperatures. Monmouth also canceled its Friday card due to the heat wave.

Other East Coast tracks to cancel Saturday are Delaware Park, Parx Racing, Suffolk Downs, and Penn National.

Saturday’s Monmouth card will be rescheduled for sometime later in the season. The meet runs through Sunday, Nov. 5.

Treasure Island, the Las Vegas casino that will host the Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association National Handicapping Championship for the first time next year, will hold a qualifying tournament for the championship on Aug. 19-20, the NTRA said on Friday. The qualifier will offer three spots in the championship, and the entry fee is $1,000. . . .

Breeders' Cup drug move the latest affront to betting public

First, the Breeders' Cup people make up these ridiculous races for specialists in every category imaginable, lessening the organization's original product. Then they run the races two years in a row on an un-handicappable artificial surface. Now, they ban Lasix ("BC to ban drugs in juvenile races," July 16). What's next, making us guess the name and number of each horse without a program?