The National Thoroughbred Racing Association has approved an updated code of standards for racetracks that have agreed to participate in the association’s Safety and Integrity Alliance, the NTRA said on Wednesday.

The updated code includes new requirements regarding safety equipment for jockeys and other riders, according to the alliance. The alliance also said that the code has been made more “rigorous” in several areas, including requirements for tracks to provide accurate reports of injuries and additional standards for prerace and postrace veterinary inspections.

Churchill Downs is close to an agreement that would allow the track to install an electronic real-time horse-tracking system in time for the opening of the spring meet on April 30 and the Kentucky Derby on May 7, officials of Churchill and the data company Trakus confirmed this week.

John Asher, vice president of racing communications at Churchill, said that the track is “optimistic that something can be put in place” over the next several weeks, but he said “no formal agreement has been signed.”

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – HorsePlayer Interactive, Canada’s only legal online account wagering service, now is available in Manitoba.

An agreement between HPI’s parent company, the Woodbine Entertainment Group, and the Manitoba Jockey Club was announced on Wednesday.

“This is a very significant milestone for Woodbine Entertainment Group,” said Sean Pinsonneault, WEG’s chief operating officer, in a press release.

“It now means that HPI is available coast-to-coast across Canada.

The Suffolk County Legislature in New York State on Wednesday passed a measure that will allow Suffolk County Off-Track Betting Corporation to declare bankruptcy, but the company remains in discussions about whether it will elect to seek the protection of bankruptcy court, according to a spokesperson.

The legislature passed the measure unanimously, and Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy signed the bill following the vote. Officials for Suffolk OTB have said that approval of the measure would be necessary prior to declaring bankruptcy.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Jockey Eibar Coa, severely injured in a riding mishap following the conclusion of the sixth race at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 18, has regained significant movement in both his upper and lower body according to his agent Tito Fuentes.

Fuentes said Coa is moving his arms and his legs and is sitting up in bed and speaking clearly.

“Eibar is still not able to get out of bed and walk but he is wiggling his legs around like crazy and is making good progress,” said Fuentes. “His spirits are excellent and at the moment his prognosis is very good.”

Garrett Gomez has picked up the mount on To Honor and Serve for the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on April 3, his agent, Ron Anderson, said Wednesday.

John Velazquez had ridden To Honor and Serve in his first start of the year, a third-place finish in the Fountain of Youth Stakes.

The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation announced funding Wednesday for 17 equine veterinary research projects, including studies of laminitis, piroplasmosis, and roaring.

Three studies related to laminitis will receive funding. One, the University of Pennsylvania’s gene therapy study now in its second year, also received $49,000 in funds from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s Barbaro Fund for Equine Health and Safety Research.

A budget bill approved by the New York Assembly on Tuesday contains a clause that would tax purse earnings at state racetracks by 0.75 percent, a far lower rate than a tax proposed by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Sweet Ducky and Gourmet Dinner, two of the prominent members of this year’s 3-year-old class, may be off the Kentucky Derby trail, but for completely different reasons.

Sweet Ducky on Tuesday was purchased by Ramzan Kadyrov, the controversial president of Chechnya, in order to run in the United Arab Emirates Derby on March 26. Kadyrov uses Herman Brown as his trainer, and Kelly Breen, the former trainer of Sweet Ducky, said Tuesday that Brown had contacted him in regards to Sweet Ducky.

Churchill Downs Inc. had net income of $16.4 million in 2010 on record annual revenue of $585.3 million, according to financial statements released late on Monday. The net earnings figure was a slight decline from the company's net earnings of $16.8 million in 2009.