Wagering on Thoroughbred races at U.S. tracks was up 10.3 percent in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same quarter of last year, according to figures released by Equibase on Monday, while average handle per race in the quarter increased 8.8 percent.

The overall fatality rate in U.S. Thoroughbred flat races in 2020 declined by 7.8 percent compared to 2019, with the rate falling to its lowest level since the centralized collection of data on fatalities began in 2009, according to statistics released on Monday by The Jockey Club.

Todd Kabel, one of the most talented and successful jockeys in Canadian racing history, has died at 55.

Born in McCreary, Manitoba, Kabel launched his career at Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg in the 1980s before relocating to Ontario, where he won numerous riding titles at Woodbine and Greenwood in the 1990s and early 2000s. He was voted the Sovereign Award as Canada’s outstanding rider six times, in 1992, 1995, and from 2003-06.

Jim Gagliano, the president of The Jockey Club, will serve as the “interim president” of Equibase as the company conducts a search to find a permanent replacement for Jason Wilson, who will leave the company on April 2 to take a job with a top racing company, The Jockey Club said on Tuesday.

The California Horse Racing Board tabled proposed changes to the state’s strict whip rules on Tuesday, saying the measures deserve additional discussion.

By a vote of 4-3, the racing board declined to take action on several changes to penalties for violations of rules that took effect last October that limit jockeys to six underhanded strikes in a race, and allows two strikes before a rider must pause to allow their mounts to respond.

The proposed changes are expected to be discussed at a later date.

Jason Wilson, the president and chief operating officer of Equibase for the past five years, has taken a job with 1/ST, the company formally known as The Stronach Group, as the chief operating officer of a new division at the company, 1/ST announced on Friday.

Joseph “Brant” Latta, who held management positions at a number of racetracks over an 18-year career in the racing industry, died Monday at his home in Fort Smith, Ark., according to family members. Latta was 60.

An alumnus of the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program, Latta worked at times as the general manager of Santa Anita Park, Turf Paradise, and Yakima Meadows. He was later elevated to senior vice president of racing operations for Magna Entertainment, the company that owned Santa Anita.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A national horsemen’s organization and a number of its state affiliates have filed a lawsuit challenging the regulatory power of a horse-racing oversight board created by federal legislation late in 2020.

Churchill Downs Inc. has voluntarily dismissed a lawsuit it filed last month in federal court in California against Thoroughbred Owners of California that was related to the fees its account-wagering company pays to racing interests in the state, according to court filings.

In a March 8 filing with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Churchill said the suit was being dismissed “without prejudice” after the two sides reached an agreement on March 5 over the issues cited in the suit.

Top California trainer Doug O’Neill has been suspended 10 days and fined $7,500 after one of his runners at Santa Anita in October tested positive for the anesthetic lidocaine.

The penalties were part of a stipulated agreement between O’Neill and the California Horse Racing Board and were published in a ruling issued Saturday by Santa Anita stewards Ron Church, Luis Jauregui, and Kim Sawyer.

O’Neill was suspended 30 days, but 20 days of the penalty were stayed provided he does not have any violations for medications in classes 1, 2 or 3 through March 6, 2022.