Bolstered by two additional weekend dates, total betting on Thoroughbred races at U.S. tracks in June shot up 10.3 percent compared to the same month in 2023, tempered by a 4.8 percent jump in the number of races held in the month, according to figures released by Equibase on Friday.

Total betting during the month was $1.03 billion, compared to $934.4 million in June of last year. June this year had 10 weekend dates, compared to eight weekend dates last year. Betting on weekends is typically far higher than weekdays.

Nevada Litfin, a trainer who has most recently shuttled between Oaklawn Park in Arkansas and Canterbury Park in Minnesota, has accepted a five-year suspension of his license from the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority after admitting to running his stable while he was suspended last year for medication violations.

Alva Starr, who brought her connections to the highest of highs as a homebred Grade 1 winner, became an example of the sport’s lowest of lows, as the filly had to be euthanized after suffering a catastrophic injury while breezing Wednesday at Delaware Park. The daughter of late champion Lord Nelson – whose own racing and breeding careers were cut short by injury and subsequent laminitis – was 4.

Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky., will run its July 4 card without any on-track patrons due to a water issue that arose overnight due to storm damage in the area, officials for the track’s parent company, Churchill Downs Inc., said on Thursday morning.

Ruidoso Downs has cancelled Thursday’s $150,000 Mountain Top Futurity, and all other races for Thoroughbreds through Sunday, because of damage to the racetrack caused by flash floods last weekend, but have made sufficient progress on renovation work on the track to allow a weekend of Quarter Horse racing beginning Thursday.

Limited training is scheduled to resume on the Thoroughbred track on Thursday, Ruidoso Downs general manager Rick Baugh said in an interview on Wednesday. Training was canceled from Sunday through Wednesday because of flood damage.

Total wagering and purses for the recently completed spring meet at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., set records this year by surpassing the old marks by double digits, according to figures released by the track and a separate analysis by Daily Racing Form.

The National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association has sent a petition to the Federal Trade Commission requesting that the federal agency create so-called “no-effect thresholds” for drugs that are regulated under the rules created by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority.

New York-bred dual classic winner Funny Cide closed out his career with a victory before an enthusiastic crowd at Finger Lakes in Farmington, N.Y., on July 4, 2007. The track and his connections will mark that anniversary, and pay tribute to the “gutsy gelding” as the one-year anniversary of his death approaches, with a tribute day this Thursday.

Keeneland will award a season-record $9.6 million for 22 stakes races during the 17 days of its fall meet from Oct. 4-26, the track announced Thursday. 

The purses include a contribution of $1.35 million from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, pending approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. 

Hawthorne Race Course is bringing together an elite cast of horseplayers for its fifth invitational contest on Sunday and a live stream of the event will include strategy discussions with some of the participants.

There are more than 60 horseplayers set to compete in a group that includes eight national horseplayer champions; seven National Thoroughbred Racing Association Hall of Fame players; three Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge winners; and two Pegasus Challenge winners, according to Hawthorne.