Fasig-Tipton, which was purchased by the Dubai-based company Synergy in April, has restructured its management team and hired Darley USA's Dan Pride as chief operating officer.

Under the restructuring, chairman D.G. Van Clief, Jr., becomes chairman emeritus and will continue his role as a non-executive senior advisor. Walt Robertson takes over as chairman while continuing as auctioneer, and the former chief operating officer, Boyd Browning, assumes the title of president and chief executive officer.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum’s Darley organization added to its considerable holdings Monday by purchasing nearly all the assets of Robert and Janice McNair’s Stonerside Stable in Paris, Ky.

Prices fell sharply in all major categories at Tuesday's Northern California yearling sale in Santa Rosa.

The one-day sale saw 104 horses sell for a gross of $471,700, an average of $4,536 - a decline of 22 percent from last year's average - and a median of $2,500. There were 83 horses listed as not sold. The 2007 sale saw 154 horses sell for $899,200, an average price of $5,839, and a median of $4,000.

An unnamed colt by Even the Score brought a bid of $120,000 to top the Fasig-Tipton Texas summer yearling sale that saw an increase in gross receipts but a drop in average price from the corresponding auction in 2007. The two-day sale was held on Monday and Tuesday at Lone Star Park.

A New York State oversight board has granted the New York Racing Association a seventh temporary extension to its franchise to operate Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga.

The extension, given Tuesday, is now scheduled to expire on Sept. 28. A previous extension, granted in July, was set to expire on Thursday.

NYRA officials declined to comment on the extension on Tuesday afternoon.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The administration of anabolic steroids may be regulated in Kentucky as early as next week under strict new rules that were unanimously approved Monday by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

The rules prohibit the administration of all but three anabolic steroids, which can be given only 60 or more days before a race. The rules are expected to be forwarded next week to Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, according to Robert Beck, the chairman of the commission. Beck said that Beshear has indicated that he would sign an emergency order to implement the rules.

After posting three straight days of decreases, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's August yearling auction in Ocala, Fla., got its final session under way Thursday with a $90,000 Trippi filly the early leader at 4:30 p.m.

Charles H. Deters bought session-leader Hip No. 1101, a bay daughter of Lady Argo, by Gold Meridian. Lady Argo already is the dam of stakes-winner and stakes-producer Argos Appeal. Janie Roper, agent, sold Hip No. 1101.

On Wednesday, a $95,000 colt by Spanish Steps topped the third session, which saw declines in gross, average, and median.

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's August yearling sale's third session Wednesday took place amid concerns that the non-select yearling market would continue to tumble.

The Wednesday session followed two days of double-digit declines. By 5 p.m., with selling still under way, Wednesday's session-leader was a $70,000 Northern Afleet filly that Riley James purchased from Cutting Edge Equine, agent. The filly sold as Hip No. 624 and is the first foal out of the Aptitude mare Apt to Star. She currently is named Aegean.

One day after suffering across-the-board declines at its select session, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s August yearling sale continued Tuesday in Ocala, Fla., with a $100,000 Western Pride filly the session leader by late afternoon.

Eddie Woods, agent, purchased the chestnut daughter of graded-placed stakes winner So Much More. Signature Sales consigned the filly as Hip No. 375. She is the first foal for her dam, an earner of $381,516.

The Tuesday session was the first of four open sessions.

The Arqana sale company's Deauville yearling sale in France concluded its four-day run Monday with gains across the board.

The auction sold 360 yearlings for a total of about $58,750,020, resulting in an average price of approximately $163,195 and a median of about $102,900. Considered in the local currency of euros, the gross was up 7 percent, average gained 13 percent, and median increased by 17 percent.

The buyback rate increasesd slightly, from 21 percent in 2007 to 23 percent this year.