The National Thoroughbred Racing Association and key members of Congress recently delivered a letter to the Department of Treasury in support of an important tax reporting and withholding clarification for horseplayers. The change would minimize the effect of unfair, outdated and burdensome tax regulations that tie up millions of dollars in parimutuel handle on an annual basis. This is a significant issue to racing and to all horseplayers.

The Virginia Racing Commission and state government officials are engaged in a last-ditch effort to save the race meet at Colonial Downs this summer as the window to reach an agreement between the track and horsemen rapidly closes.

The Texas Racing Commission plans to seek public comment on whether to authorize the use of historical racing terminals at the state’s tracks in response to a recent request from Texas industry leaders. The pari-mutuel machines that play like slots are similar to the Instant Racing terminals in use at tracks in Arkansas and Kentucky.

Handle on the Belmont Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park was $92.15 million, according to a revised chart released by Equibase, slightly higher than an initial estimate reported by Daily Racing Form just after the first chart was released Saturday night.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Ontario’s Thoroughbred breeding industry, which took a significant hit with the cancellation of the slots-at-racetracks program in March 2013, will get a financial boost over the next five years.

The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society’s Ontario division announced a five-year agreement with the Ontario Racing Commission on Tuesday that will enhance the province’s breeders’ awards program by $12 million.

Revenue for Betfair U.S., which includes Television Games Network and an on-line casino in New Jersey, was up 20 percent in fiscal year 2014, according to its parent company, with handle at TVG up 33 percent during the year.

LEXINGTON – David Switzer, the executive director for the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders for the past 21 years, will retire on Aug. 1, the organization said, after 56 years in the Thoroughbred industry.

Switzer, who conducted lobbying and represented the organizations at regulatory meetings, will be replaced by Chauncey Morris, the former director of business development for the KTA and KTOB, the organizations said.

Twenty-three individuals have been elected to the slate of representatives that ultimately selects the board members of the Breeders’ Cup, the organization said Monday.

Twenty of the individuals were elected to one-year terms as Breeders’ Cup members, and three were elected to two-year terms. There are 39 members in the organization, which will vote in elections this July for six seats on the Breeders’ Cup board.

California Chrome may not have brought home a Triple Crown, but he meant record business for Belmont Park on Saturday, with the track easily setting handle records for the race and for its revamped 13-race Belmont Stakes card.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Sports Network (TSN) has announced a multiyear deal with Woodbine to broadcast each leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, along with several other major Canadian races.

TSN’s Triple Crown coverage will begin with the 155th running of the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine on July 6. The Prince of Wales Stakes is scheduled for July 29 at Fort Erie, and the final leg, the Breeders’ Stakes, will be run Aug. 17 at Woodbine.