New tariffs announced by the administration of President Donald Trump are likely to lead to significant but refundable bond payments for horses imported to the United States from a variety of countries for racing or breeding, while horses imported for the purposes of sale will face the full brunt of the new fees.
Total handle on Thoroughbred races held at U.S. tracks in March declined 4 percent compared to total wagering in March of last year, but the number of races declined 5.7 percent, leading to a slight gain in average handle per race.
A Florida Senate committee on Tuesday night advanced a bill that would allow Gulfstream Park to decouple its live racing license from its casino license, but only after amending the legislation to ensure that live racing would continue at the track for at least the next seven years.
Average handle per race at the recently completed Turfway Park meet in Florence, Ky., was down 3.8 percent compared to the prior winter-spring meet, though the average purse was up 7.0 percent, according to an analysis of the track’s charts.
The Louisiana Supreme Court has ruled that historical horse racing machines cannot be operated in the state without approval from local voters, putting in jeopardy – for now – a significant source of revenue for Churchill Downs and horsemen at its New Orleans racetrack, Fair Grounds.
Breeders’ Cup Ltd. and NBC Sports have reached an extension of their broadcast agreement that will keep the event on the network’s channels through 2030, the two companies announced on Wednesday.
The existing contract was set to expire at the end of 2025. It was last extended for 10 years in 2014, under a deal that guaranteed at least eight hours of live coverage over the two days of the event.
Bonnie Lucas, a trainer based at Penn National Race Course in Grantville, Penn., has accepted a lifetime ban from the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority after admitting to knowingly violating regulations pertaining to injections of corticosteroids, according to a record posted on Wednesday morning on HISA’s website.
The Jockey Club of Canada graded stakes committee modified three graded stakes for 2025 while decreasing the number of them by one to 41 at its annual review of graded and listed stakes in the country.
After reviewing the North American Race Committee figures and the Race Quality Scores for all listed and black type races in Canada, the committee downgraded the Grade 2 Autumn and Grade 2 Seagram Cup, both at Woodbine, to Grade 3 status. The Grade 3 B.C. Premier’s Handicap at Hastings was downgraded to listed status.
The Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit has issued a 60-day suspension to a trainer involved in an investigation into violations of corticosteroid rules at Penn National Race Course, as well as a 30-day suspension to another Penn National trainer, according to records posted by the organization.
The 60-day suspension was issued to Fernando Ferreira, who has not started a horse since late 2023 and is wanted by Pennsylvania state police on multiple felony charges, including rape of a child. The 30-day suspension was issued to Naoise Agnew.
Three more trainers charged in an investigation involving a veterinarian at Penn National Race Course in Grantville, Penn., have been suspended 30 days by the Horseracing Integrity and Wagering Unit, according to rulings posted on the organization’s website.
