All-sources handle on races in the United States declined in the first quarter of 2008 by 3.1 percent from first quarter of 2007, according to figures released by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Equibase on Monday. Purses declined as well, by 1.5 percent compared with the first quarter of 2007.

Wagering on U.S. races in the first quarter of this year was $3.43 billion, according to the organizations, compared with $3.54 billion in the first quarter of last year. Purses declined from $227 million to $223.6 million.

The New York Racing Association announced Friday that its racing secretary, P.J. Campo, has been named vice president and director of racing, effective immediately. In addition, Liz Bracken, the director of simulcasting, has been named vice president and director of simulcast sales and content acquisition.

NYRA also announced hiring Tom Thill as vice president and chief information officer. Thill had worked at Daily Racing Form as senior vice president of operations.

A company set up by horsemen to negotiate contracts on signal rights for account-wagering operations is beginning to influence the shape of the in-home betting market.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Tattersalls Craven 2-year-old sale in England that ended Thursday was a good one for American sire Mr. Greeley and for British- and Irish-based pinhookers that took a gamble on his progeny last year.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Four juveniles worked a furlong in 10 seconds Thursday to top the work tab at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s third under-tack session in Ocala, Fla.

The under-tack shows, which end Friday, showcase horses selling at the OBS spring 2-year-old sale on April 21-24.

The fastest horses over an eighth of a mile were Hip No. 782, an Officer-Not to Be Outdone filly; Hip No. 847, a City Zip-Play Po colt; Hip No. 896, a Langfuhr-Race to Glory filly; and Hip No. 997, a Pleasantly Perfect-Separata filly.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Four more 2-year-olds worked an eighth of a mile in 10 seconds Wednesday at the second day of Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s under-tack show.

The shows, which run through Friday, showcase horses in the company’s April 21-24 spring 2-year-old sale in Ocala, Fla.

The fastest four over an eighth were Hip No. 382, a Deputy Wild Cat-Gold Choice filly; Hip No. 412, a Pure Precision-Half Gold colt; Hip No. 531, a Buddha-Judith’s Gamble filly; and Hip No. 638, a Black Mambo-Listentothebells colt.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Juveniles by Double Honor, Valid Expectations, Yes It’s True, and Stormin Fever were the highlights at Tuesday’s under-tack show for the April 21-24 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company spring 2-year-olds sale.

The under-tack show opened Tuesday at the OBS facility in Ocala, Fla., and was to continue through Friday.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - ClassicStar's bankruptcy case has been converted from Chapter 11 to Chapter 7, which will lead to the former commercial breeding operation's liquidation.

Judge William Howard of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Kentucky, on Monday ordered ClassicStar's filing to be changed, allowing creditors to pursue all available ClassicStar assets through a trustee that they will elect at a meeting on May 15 in Lexington.

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear on Monday vetoed a provision of the state's two-year budget that would have exempted many tracks in Kentucky from providing funding to the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority.

The veto will restore approximately $1 million in funding to the authority for the 2008 fiscal year, which begins July 1. Authority officials had said that the budget provision would have put 20 positions at the agency in jeopardy if the language was approved.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Under-tack shows will begin Tuesday morning in Ocala, Fla., to showcase horses in the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s spring 2-year-old sale.

The auction runs from April 21-24 at the OBS facility in Ocala and will feature a catalog of 1,381 juveniles in training.