The Stronach Group announced Wednesday it has purchased Forest City Enterprise Inc.’s interest in the Village at Gulfstream Park – an outdoor mall that adjoins the racetrack – perhaps a precursor of an expanded racing schedule or even year-round racing at Gulfstream Park.

Track officials are calling the purchase part of a strategic initiative by the Stronach Group to fully incorporate the Village and Gulfstream Park and its slots casino into a year-round, 24-hour dining, shopping, gaming, and entertainment destination.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Ron the Greek was not the horse who gave trainer Bill Mott his obligatory birthday victory in 2011. One year later, however, Ron the Greek is the gift that keeps on giving for the Hall of Fame trainer.

Mott, who took over Ron the Greek’s training 13 months ago – 12 races into his career – has appeared to figure out whatever makes Ron the Greek tick. On Saturday, the horse will go for his third Grade 1 victory of the year when he faces eight rivals in the $750,000 Whitney Invitational Handicap at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Calibrachoa, one of the top sprinters in the country since the winter of 2011, has been retired, trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed on Monday. Calbrachoa became a five-time Grade  3 winner after being claimed by owner Mike Repole for $40,000 during the fall of 2010. A son of Southern Image, he also finished third here last summer in the Grade 1 Vanderbilt and third in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile in his 2011 finale. He had not started since successfully defending his title in the Grade 3 Tom Fool at Aqueduct in March.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Hunters Bay will be flying a little under the radar when he takes on seven more familiar names in the handicap division in Saturday’s Grade 1 Whitney.

AUBURN, Wash. – A group of hard-knocking $5,000 routers will get star billing Thursday when racing resumes at Emerald Downs, a modest start to a four-day racing week that culminates Sunday with the $50,000 Angie C Stakes for 2-year-old fillies. Thursday’s seven-race card begins at 6 p.m. Pacific.

DEL MAR, Calif. – John Sadler has won two of the past four training titles at Del Mar, just missed a third a year ago, and will be looking to move up the standings this year with major chances in the two graded stakes races to be run this weekend.

On Saturday, Sadler will send out the multiple stakes-winning mare Switch in the Grade 1, $300,000 Clement Hirsch Stakes for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on Polytrack. On Sunday, Sadler will run Hollywood Juvenile Championship winner Scherer Magic in the Grade 2, $150,000 Best Pal Stakes for 2-year-olds.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – It was some kind of four-day run for trainer Wayne Catalano last week at Arlington Park. Catalano got the racing week started by winning four races from eight runners on Thursday’s program, and by the time Sunday’s card concluded the Catalano stable had put together a weeklong record of 6-2-2 from 15 starts while taking over first place in the trainer standings.

Tara From the Cape will try to remain undefeated while making her second lifetime start in the $50,000 Thomas Greene Memorial at Delaware Park on Thursday.

Todd Pletcher now trains Tara From the Cape, a winner at first asking June 9 over Polytrack at Woodbine for then-trainer Ricky Griffith. Tara From the Cape won her maiden debut by four widening lengths going 4 1/2 furlongs. Tara From the Cape is a 2-year-old daughter of 2005 male turf champion Leroidesanimaux, suggesting she should enjoy the move to the grass for the 7 1/2-furlong Greene Memorial. Joe Bravo will ride.

DEL MAR, Calif. – It has taken more than 20 months to get Bruce’s Dream back to the races, and though trainer Mike Puype believes he may come up short in Thursday’s featured seventh race at Del Mar, Bruce’s Dream has a history of running well fresh, so he could prove a threat in the one-mile grass race, despite the extended layoff.

Hoosier Park begins its 18th season Wednesday, and patrons will immediately see what is new when they look at the infield. A new, state of the art video board has been installed, as well as new LED lights on the toteboard.

"It is a high quality picture that is just unbelievable," said general manager of racing Brian Elmore. "It is a16-foot by 24-foot LED board, it is really something to see."