Handle on U.S. Thoroughbred races in May dropped by 8.3 percent compared to the same month last year, according to figures released on Friday by Equibase, a decline that indicates racing is continuing to struggle even as the economy shows indications of regaining some strength.

The decline, from $1.38 billion in May of last year to $1.26 billion this year, or $120 million, was influenced somewhat by the running this year of the Kentucky Oaks on April 30, compared to a May date last year. Handle on the Oaks card this year was $36 million, well above a typical Friday handle.

Churchill Downs Inc. has completed its acquisition of Youbet.com in a transaction that will make Churchill the largest account-wagering company in the U.S.

The deal closed on Wednesday, Churchill said in a release, after drawing some scrutiny from federal anti-trust regulators. The deal valued Youbet.com at approximately $133 million at Wednesday's stock prices by giving Youbet shareholders 99 cents for each share of Youbet stock they owned and one share of Churchill stock for every 17 shares of Youbet stock.

Ken Dunn, the president of Gulfstream Park, informed officials of the track's parent company on Wednesday night that he was not renewing his employment contract, which had expired May 1, but that he would continue to serve as an advisor to the company's chief executive.

The administrators of a database containing information on fatalities at U.S. racetracks over the past 18 months will release additional details about the data at a conference organized by the Jockey Club at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky., on June 28-29, the Jockey Club said.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Monday's news that New York Governor David Paterson has proposed a $25 million loan to the beleaguered New York Racing Association gave many

industry watchers some reason to hope NYRA's Saratoga racing season will not face cancellation.

The New York Racing Association notified its employees on Thursday that it will close its three racetracks beginning June 9 if the association does not receive financial assistance from the state, the association said.

The notices are required under state and federal law if a business anticipates shutting down within 60 days. NYRA announced that it had sent the notices at the same time that it is lobbying aggressively for assistance from the state because of claims by association officials that it will run out of money by the beginning of June.

New York's five regional offtrack betting corporations should be allowed to cut payments to the racing industry in order to remain solvent, the state's comptroller, Thomas P. DiNapoli, said in an audit released on Thursday.

New York's five regional off-track betting corporations must be allowed to cut their payments to the racing industry in order to remain solvent, the state's comptroller, Thomas P. DiNapoli, said in an audit of the corporations released on Thursday.

Magna International Developments, the parent company of Santa Anita's owner Magna Entertainment, has voided its lease agreement with the Oak Tree Racing Association, which hosts an annual fall race meeting at Santa Anita, executives with both organizations said on Friday.

TrackNet, the partnership formed three years ago by Churchill Downs and Magna Entertainment Corp. to push up signal prices for their tracks, will be dissolved, the two companies said late Friday.