Betfair, the British exchange-wagering company that owns TVG in the United States, has rejected a preliminary takeover bid made by a venture-capital firm, the company announced Monday.

The company’s board reviewed the offer from CVC Capital Partners with several advisers, including Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, but it said the offer “undervalues the company and its attractive prospects, and is highly conditional.” The CVC offer was backed by several prominent Betfair shareholders.

Eric Wing on Friday was named as the New York Racing Association’s director of communications and media relations, replacing Dan Silver, who left the company last fall.

Wing, who will oversee corporate communications and serve as company spokesperson for NYRA beginning May 15, has served as senior director of media relations for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association since 1999.

Joe Morris, the current general manager of Golden Gate Fields, has been hired as president of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, according to a joint statement released on Wednesday by the TOC and The Stronach Group, the parent company of Golden Gate Fields.

Morris will join the owners’ group in June, following the conclusion of the current Golden Gate Fields meeting on June 16. He replaces Lou Raffetto, who announced his resignation in February less than two years after taking the position.

A private equity group said Monday it has had discussions with Betfair regarding the possibility of taking the pioneering British exchange-wagering company private.

CVC Capital Partners, which owns Formula One Racing, said in a release that the discussions were “preliminary” and that trading rules for the London Stock Exchange, where Betfair is listed, required the company to make an announcement about its ultimate intentions by the close of business on May 13.

NEW YORK - While the search for a new president and CEO for the New York Racing Association continues judiciously, the breadth of the job was illustrated by myriad topics discussed at Thursday’s meeting of the company’s Reorganization Board.

From the prospects of installing synthetic surfaces at its two downstate racetracks, to the desire to quickly re-enter the off-track betting market in New York City, the new CEO will have significant issues to tackle when he or she comes on board, presumably by June.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Tom Ludt, president of Vinery Farms and chairman of Breeders’ Cup Ltd., has been hired by the Stronach Group as a senior vice president and will focus on the company’s relationships with horsemen and bettors, Ludt said Thursday.

The filly Overreach confirmed her status as Australia’s top 2-year-old with her victory in Saturday’s $3.640 million Golden Slipper Stakes, the world’s richest race for 2-year-olds, at Rosehill Gardens racecourse.

Ridden by Tommy Berry, 21, Overreach, the 9-5 favorite in a field of 16, was well-placed throughout the race over about six furlongs, took the lead with a furlong remaining and won by 1 3/4 lengths over 10-1 Sidestep.

Recent efforts by Thoroughbred racetracks to charge horsemen for stalls have been met with fierce resistance by trainers, many of whom contend the efforts are a violation of an age-old policy granting horsemen free stabling and training in exchange for entering races.

Such a policy used to be the norm in harness racing as well. But in a harbinger of what Thoroughbred horsemen may be facing as racetracks increasingly tighten their belts, the harness industry has largely abandoned the policy.

Wagering on U.S. races in March was nearly identical to the handle figure for March of last year, while race days fell marginally, down 1.78 percent, according to figures released by Equibase on Thursday.

Handle during March was $983,428,969, according to the figures, just slightly down from handle of $984,552,968 in March of last year (down 0.1 percent). Because there were seven fewer race days in March this year compared with last year, average handle per race day was up 1.7 percent, from $2,498,865 in March of 2012 to $2,541,160 in March this year.

A company controlled by Gulfstream Park that recently received a Thoroughbred racing permit for the track has asked the state’s Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering to clarify whether the company needs an agreement with horsemen and breeders in order to obtain a license to operate slot machines.