The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal of a U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling upholding the constitutionality of the federal legislation that established the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority.

Ruidoso Downs, which canceled three days of racing this weekend because of ongoing forest fires in the mountains near the southern New Mexico track, has tentatively scheduled a resumption of racing for June 28.

On Saturday, the track finalized entries for 17-race programs on June 28 and 29 consisting entirely of time trials for the $1 million Rainbow Futurity for Quarter Horses at 400 yards on July 14.

It is no longer possible to take a nostalgic visit to Goldengatefields.com, and peruse the history of the Northern California track that closed on June 9.

Shortly after closing day, the website was reconfigured with only a link to a dispersal auction on track property on Aug. 1. The sale will offer a wide variety of track maintenance equipment, notably tractors, graders, and even an ambulance.

Despite numerous meetings in recent weeks, California racing officials have yet to finalize a funding method for the California Horse Racing Board for the upcoming fiscal year, leaving the strong possibility the issue will be decided at the regulatory agency’s meeting in Sacramento on Thursday.

A budget must be finalized Thursday, the racing board’s last scheduled meeting before the new fiscal year begins July 1. The budget was discussed at racing board meetings in April and May without a resolution.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Lone Star Park leading rider Harry Hernandez is expected to miss the remainder of the meet due to injuries sustained in a three-horse incident Friday night, according to his agent Cody Autrey.

He said Hernandez sustained a collapsed lung and four broken ribs and was expected to be released from the hospital on Saturday.  

“He’s out for the immediate future,” Autrey said. “We don’t know what the timeframe is yet. We’ll target Remington to return.” 

Rich Strike, the upset winner of the 2022 Kentucky Derby who has not raced in more than a year, will move to the care of trainer Bill Mott “in a few days” to begin more serious training, owner Rick Dawson says.

Jockey Frankie Dettori, who called off his retirement late last year, will be based in Saratoga this summer when the meet opens on July 11.

Agent Ron Anderson will book mounts for Dettori as well as Joel Rosario at Saratoga. John Velazquez, who Anderson had worked for since 2020, has retained Kiaran McLaughlin as his agent. McLaughlin also represents Luis Saez, the Belmont Stakes-winning rider who will be based in Saratoga as well. By rule, agents are limited to representing two journeyman riders at one time.

Evangeline Downs leading rider Timothy Thornton will be sidelined at least three more weeks as he continues to heal from an injury sustained at the Opelousas, La., track on June 1.

Thornton, who was thrown in the fourth race, was diagnosed with a non-displaced crack in his tibia, according to his agent, Anthony Martin. Surgery was not required, and Thornton is wearing a brace.

“He has an appointment in three weeks,” Martin said Thursday. “We’re hoping he gets clearance to ride.”

Stephen Panus, the president of The Jockey Club’s Media Ventures since 2011, has resigned his position, The Jockey Club announced on Thursday, along with a number of other management changes.

Panus, whose motivational memoir “Walk On” was published earlier this year, guided The Jockey Club’s media properties, which includes America’s Best Racing, for the past 13 years. He has formed a public-relations agency, Twisted Hairs, Inc., in the past month, according to his LinkedIn profile, and will remain as a “strategic consultant” to The Jockey Club, the company said in a release.

For the second straight year, racing from Saratoga will appear on Fox’s national network on six of the eight Saturdays of the meet.

Fox’s national coverage, dubbed Fox Saratoga Saturday, will begin July 20 with a show from 5-7 p.m. Eastern highlighted by the Coaching Club American Oaks, a race that is expected to be the next start for the top-ranked 3-year-old filly Thorpedo Anna.