It’s that time of year again.

Time for horsemen and fans alike to revisit the unique aspects of a racetrack plunked down in the middle of nowhere, one providing a welcome respite from the day-to-day grind of American racing.

Time, especially, for jaw-drops and double-takes when a horseplayer sees the purses at Kentucky Downs, where the 2022 meet begins Thursday with a 10-race program comprised mostly of full fields.

Besides the $400,000 Tapit on the opening-day card Thursday at Kentucky Downs, a $180,000 allowance sprint that drew an overflow field of fillies and mares (race 5) is among the many excellent supporting events.

The top two trainers in track history, Mike Maker (67 wins) and Wesley Ward (42), have top contenders in Amalfi Princess and Red Ghost, respectively. Those 4-year-old fillies are among a well-matched group that also includes Social Chatter, Saranya, and a second Maker filly, Phantom Vision, as major players.

Commuting two hours each way on Interstate 65 isn’t much fun, but it should be far simpler than all the traveling Florent Geroux has done in recent months.

Geroux, who intends to ride the entire seven-day meet at Kentucky Downs, operated out of Southern California for five hectic weeks, ending Aug. 26, while interrupting his stay at Del Mar with long plane rides to and from racetracks back East.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer Ruben Alvarado was fined $1,000 by Del Mar stewards on Sunday for failing to correctly designate that Anmer Hall had been gelded before a scheduled start June 19 at Santa Anita.

Anmer Hall was in the receiving barn in advance of that day’s eighth race when racing officials notified track stewards that the 3-year-old was a gelding. Anmer Hall was not permitted to run.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Procrastination, second in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar, has been sidelined.

Trainer Michael McCarthy said Sunday that Procrastination “will get a fall break.”

McCarthy did not describe why Procrastination is out of training, but said the situation was “nothing too serious” and that the filly will return to training for the Santa Anita winter meeting.

DEL MAR, Calif. – An emotional Vince DeGregory was honored by more than 60 members of the Del Mar backstretch community on Sunday morning, a day before the legendary jockey agent’s 90th birthday.

DeGregory was visibly touched by the brief ceremony, held under palm trees adjacent to the backstretch racing office.

“I’ve been one of the lucky ones in the game,” he told the group of well-wishers. “There’s nothing like being with great people who give their lives to the horses.

“I’m happy to be part of the game. I don’t deserve all the accolades.”

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Emily Ellingwood lost her apprentice status Saturday with a two-win day at Del Mar.

Sunday, Ellingwood turned 28.

Ellingwood’s apprentice term ended when she won the 40th race of her career aboard Damazio ($10.20) in the sixth race, the second of her two wins Saturday. Through Sunday, Ellingwood had six wins at the current Del Mar meeting.

“I’m excited to be a journeywoman,” Ellingwood said on Saturday afternoon. “My career is just beginning.”

Ellingwood had one mount on Sunday, finishing 10th on 11-1 Kuora in the ninth race.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Fashionably Fast won the 10th race of his 32-race career at Del Mar on Saturday, ending a five-race losing streak that at times left trainer Dean Pederson questioning whether the 7-year-old could compete at a higher level.

As Fashionably Fast fought past several rivals to win a six-furlong allowance race by a head, Pederson knew fully well that the gelding is still competitive.

“It’s like the Fountain of Youth,” Pederson said. “The amazing thing about the horse he’s never lost his enthusiasm for training.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Nearly two years after Laurel River had his debut at Santa Anita, the now 4-year-old colt won his first stakes in Saturday’s Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar for his third consecutive victory.

While the winning streak is spread over 51 weeks, the victories indicate Laurel River is improving rapidly for trainer Bob Baffert and could play an important role in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland on Nov. 5.

DEL MAR, Calif. - Extra Hope will start in a Grade 1 race for the first time since late 2018 in the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Saturday.

While Extra Hope lacks experience at the highest level, trainer Richard Mandella said he was left encouraged by the 6-year-old gelding’s third-place finish in the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap at 1 1/2 miles on dirt on July 24.

“He ran a good race in the Cougar II," Mandella said Sunday. “He’s trained like he’s come on from that. We’ll see if we can’t sneak up on them.”