The chief executives of Churchill Downs Inc. and Magna Entertainment Corp. made assurances on Tuesday that they intend to make their signals widely available on existing account-wagering platforms despite plans by the companies to consolidate their signals on one racing network.

Magna Entertainment Corp., the largest racetrack operator in the U.S., lost $87.5 million in 2006, the fourth straight year in which the company has posted a large loss on its operations, according to financial statements released on Monday morning.

Churchill Downs Inc. and Magna Entertainment Corp., the two largest publicly traded racetrack companies in North America, have reached an agreement to become partners in distributing their racing signals to home viewers, a deal that could have far-reaching effects on domestic account-wagering practices.

Fasig-Tipton will conduct its Florida select 2-year-old sale on Tuesday at Calder Race Course in Miami, and both sales officials and consignors have reason to believe that the auction will continue the steady, upward trend in the overall select juvenile market.

A record 16,272 foals were nominated to the Breeders' Cup program in 2006, Breeders' Cup Ltd. announced Friday. The number of foals by Breeders' Cup, European Breeders' Fund, and Common Fund nominated stallions tops the old mark of 16,263 from 2005 and is expected to increase when numbers of Southern Hemisphere foals are released.

Central Kentucky horsemen Greg and Beth Burchell have joined forces with former Magna Entertainment Corp. executive Don Amos to form Crossroads Sales, an agency that will consign horses to public auctions.

Crossroads will offer its first horses at the Fasig-Tipton July and Keeneland September yearling sales.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - When Fasig-Tipton's select 2-year-old sale takes place on Tuesday at Miami's Calder Race Course, bidders will have some well-bred selections to choose from.

New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer on Wednesday announced the creation of a panel that will hold public hearings this spring in order to evaluate bidders for the franchise held by the New York Racing Association.

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - Senior officials from Excelsior Racing Associates met with horsemen for the first time Thursday night to discuss their ambitious and aggressive plans for New York racing if they are awarded the franchise to run the state's three major Thoroughbred tracks.

LAUREL, Md. - Just a few feet inside the main entrance of Laurel Park on a recent weekday, a five-gallon bucket sat in the middle of the floor, catching a steady stream of droplets from a cracked roof several stories above.