Fair Grounds Racecourse will cut overnight purses by 10 percent beginning with its Feb. 13 program, according to a text message sent to horsemen Wednesday.

The announcement cited “unprecedented weather in the Louisiana region” as the reason for the cut and said stakes purses wouldn’t be affected.

Fair Grounds, owned by Churchill Downs Inc., bakes flexibility into the purse structure for an entire race meet, but changes to the initial available money typically have come in the form of an increase during February or March.

Gun Song, who extended Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna until deep stretch before dropping a neck decision while finishing second in the Grade 1 Cotillion last fall at Parx, moved closer to her 2025 debut after breezing four furlongs in 48.91 seconds here Wednesday. 

Working in company, Gun Song posted a 23.45 opening quarter-mile split and held a slight edge over her mate while going easily to the wire before galloping out in willing fashion, covering five panels in 1:01.70 under the watchful eye of trainer Mark Hennig.

Dry January had a different meeting for Phil D’Amato, the prominent Southern California trainer.

For the first time since last March, D’Amato’s powerful stable did not have a monthly stakes win, although the drought does merit an asterisk. D’Amato had runners in seven stakes at three tracks last month, including Shea Brennan, who was disqualified from first and placed second for causing interference in the California Cup Derby at Santa Anita on Jan. 18.

Eagles Flight, a half-brother to 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline, was withdrawn from an allowance race at Santa Anita on Sunday because of a minor foot ailment, trainer John Sadler said.

“He popped a little quarter crack, so we scratched,” Sadler said on Wednesday. “He’s already back on the track.”

Woodbine has announced the proposed date for this year’s 166th running of the King’s Plate is Saturday, Aug. 16 and the track also gave an update on the status of turf racing for this year.

The 2024 Plate was scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 17, but that card was canceled after the fifth race due to torrential rainfall. The $1 million Plate was run the following Friday.

Trainer Peter Miller was fined $5,000 earlier this month after reaching a settlement agreement with the California Horse Racing Board for violating a rule stating that trainers must have horses in their custody at the time of an entry.