LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Race Dates Committee of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday to consider a special request by Keeneland Racecourse to run five live racing dates in July.

The committee will consider an agreement recently reached between Keeneland and Ellis Park that would allow Keeneland to run from July 8-12, overlapping dates that had been awarded to Ellis Park late last year, prior to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Keeneland announced the agreement late Friday night.

The Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association has filed a lawsuit challenging efforts by the state and Kentucky racetracks to implement raceday bans on the administration of the anti-bleeding medication Lasix.

The New York Gaming Commission on Tuesday approved the proposal of a rule that will ease requirements on horses going on and coming off the so-called Lasix list, in anticipation of Lasix-free racing being conducted at tracks in the state later this year.

Grants Pass Downs in southern Oregon has resurrected plans to hold live races this year and will run nine dates spectator-free beginning June 16, the track said Monday.

Grants Pass had earlier canceled its live race meet for this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but the track said that it will now hold live racing on a Tuesday and Wednesday schedule through July 8, with a post time of 4 p.m. The track had been scheduled to start its 2020 meet on May 10.

The committee that sets requirements for assigning grades to stakes races has lowered the minimum purse levels for Grade 1 and Grade 2 races for the rest of the year, in recognition of the financial hardships facing tracks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A committee of The Jockey Club has called for more tracks to publish their injury data, a ban on clenbuterol, and mandatory stand-down periods for horses that are trained by individuals who have been found to have illegal substances in their possession.

Monsters Inc was well-touted before a successful debut in a six-furlong maiden race April 16 at Wangaratta Racecourse in Australia. He was the 8-5 favorite, raced near the front throughout, and won by three-quarters of a length.

Monsters Inc, by Animal Kingdom, faces winners for the first time in a six-furlong handicap at Sale Racecourse, east of Melbourne, on Tuesday. He will be at the front of the betting market in a full field of 12.

Resistencia, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2019 in Japan, will have a new rider and a new set of rivals when she starts as the expected favored in Sunday’s Grade 1 NHK Mile for 3-year-olds at Tokyo Racecourse.

Resistencia will face males for the first time in the $1.92 million race, which drew a field of 14 colts and four fillies. Geldings are excluded.

Former Mid-Atlantic trainer and jockey agent Sal Campo died Wednesday evening at age 76. He and Rosemary, his wife of 55 years, resided in Forked River, N.J.

Campo had success as both a horseman and agent. Primarily based at Philadelphia Park, he raced throughout the Mid-Atlantic from 1979 to 1993, winning 621 races and two Philadelphia Park titles, the winter-sprint meets of 1983 and 1991. He had a career win average of 15 percent.

A bill that will provide for $375 million in funds to renovate Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park in Maryland became law Thursday when Gov. Larry Hogan declined to either sign or veto the legislation, which the Maryland racing industry has heavily supported as a way to bring long-term stability to the sport.