Herb Oster, the executive director of the horsemen’s group representing owners and trainers at Gulfstream Park since last year, has stepped down from the position, the group said on Wednesday, citing health issues.

The Dubai World Cup, the Sheema Classic, the Dubai Turf, and the Dubai Golden Shaheen, all Grade 1 races at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates, have been added to the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series, the Breeders’ Cup and the Dubai Racing Club announced over the weekend.

The World Cup is linked to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the Sheema Classic to the BC Turf, the Dubai Turf to the BC Mile, and the Golden Shaheen to the BC Sprint.

Barnes, the undefeated but lightly raced 3-year-old colt trained by Bob Baffert, closed as the tepid 8-1 individual favorite in last weekend’s Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool, the fourth to be held since last year.

Barnes, who was the second choice on the morning line, jumped over Citizen Bull, the 6-1 morning-line individual favorite for the pool, who closed at 9-1. The “all others” entry was the overall favorite in the 40-entry field, closing at 9-2.

The Humboldt County Fair in Ferndale, Calif., will apply for summertime racing dates with the California Horse Racing Board as early as March, a fair official said on Thursday.

The proposed seven-day meeting would be held over three weekends and conclude on Labor Day - Aug. 16-17, 23-24, and Aug. 30-Sept. 1. The track had an eight-day meeting in Ferndale in 2024.

Three men who were part of a wide-ranging theft ring that broke into both the Thoroughbred and harness racing Halls of Fame were convicted in a Pennsylvania courtroom on Friday on charges related to the thefts.

Nicholas Dombek, Joseph Atsus, and Damien Boland were all convicted by the jury on multiple counts of theft and conspiracy. The trial included testimony from the former ringleader of the group, Thomas Trotta, who had pleaded guilty prior to the trial and agreed to become a cooperating witness.

A bill that would allow Gulfstream Park to operate its casino without any statutory obligation to live racing sailed through its first hearing on Wednesday in front of a Florida House of Representatives subcommittee.

The bill, which has the support of Gulfstream but is opposed by a large number of state and national racing organizations, passed easily out of the Industries and Professional Activities Subcommittee, which has 18 sitting members, with only four votes in opposition.

Total wagering on Thoroughbred races held at United States racetracks in the month of January increased slightly compared to the same month last year, while the average wagering per race declined due to an uncharacteristically high increase in the number of races held.

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority has selected four new members for its Horsemen’s Advisory Group to replace four members whose terms had expired, HISA announced on Monday.

The Texas Racing Commission has summarily suspended trainers Juan Diaz Jr. and Toby Keeton for “allegedly” incurring “multiple positive tests” for the Class 1 medication carmoterol, according to rulings obtained by Daily Racing Form.

The rule violation category is listed as use of prohibited substances, which is a third-degree felony in Texas.