Churchill Downs Inc. had net income of $7.3 million in the first quarter of 2017, up $4.5 million from the same quarter last year despite a slight drop in total revenue, according to financial statements released Wednesday.

New York, N.Y. – Equestricon, LLC., announced today that international sports photography agency Eclipse Sportswire has been named the Official Photographer of Equestricon 2017. The first-ever international racing convention, fan festival and trade show, Equestricon is scheduled to take place at the Saratoga Springs City Center on August 14-15, and kicks off with events around the city of Saratoga Springs on August 13.

Julie Krone, the first woman to be inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame, has been appointed to a council at the Humane Society of the United States focusing on racing, the Humane Society announced Tuesday.

Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., closed its 2017 meet with a slight uptick in average daily handle on its races and a track-record purse distribution. The meet ended April 15, with Classic Empire’s victory in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby.

Oaklawn handled an average of $3,325,161 per day on its races from all sources during its 57-date meet, up 1.3 percent from the average of $3,283,312 during the track’s 55-date meet in 2016. (Admission to the track, which also operates a gaming center, has been free since 2015.)

Mike Tirico, the NBC sportscaster who hosted his first racing broadcast last year, will take over hosting of NBC’s Triple Crown broadcasts this year from longtime host Tom Hammond, the network announced on Tuesday.

This is the second move by NBC in less than a year to place Tirico in more high-profile roles. Earlier this year, the network announced that Tirico would replace longtime host Bob Costas for its primetime Olympics coverage. Tirico’s first racing broadcast was hosting the prime-time coverage of last year’s Saturday Breeders’ Cup card.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Robby Albarado fractured his left ankle when thrown from his mount several strides out of the starting gate during the eighth race Sunday at Keeneland and will be forced to miss his upcoming ride in the Kentucky Derby with J Boys Echo.

Albarado was injured when his mount, Chiltern Street, broke awkwardly from the inside post in the 5 1/2-furlong turf allowance. Albarado fell off to the right side of his mount, landing feet first. No other horses or jockeys were involved.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Santa Anita has canceled Thursday’s program because of insufficient entries.

The track attempted to draw races for Thursday on Saturday, but could not draw enough runners. The entries were postponed until Sunday, but the situation did not improve. The track announced the cancellation at lunchtime.

Racing will resume Friday with nine races, according to track vice president of racing Rick Hammerle.

“We will not race on Thursday because of a lack of entries,” Hammerle said.

Santa Anita will be open for simulcasting on Thursday.

CHARLESTON, S.C. – A committee of national regulators that sets recommended rules for racing commissions on Thursday approved regulations designed to ensure that a horse placed on a vet’s list in one jurisdiction retains the designation when shipping to another jurisdiction, while passing on a proposal to more strictly regulate jockeys’ use of the whip.

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Representatives of riders and of racing commissions clashed over regulations designed to restrict the use of the whip during a panel on Wednesday at the Association of Racing Commissioners International meeting, illustrating the stark divide in the industry over an issue that has drawn increasing attention from animal-welfare advocates.

The West Virginia Racing Commission at a specially called Monday meeting voted 2-0 in favor of Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack, and Resort shortening its meet, which began last Saturday, from 160 days to 130 days and restoring purses to 2016 levels.

The changes were made at the request of the West Virginia Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and have not been well received by Mountaineer management.