Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course, and its off-track betting facilities lost approximately $6.9 million during the last eight months of 2010, according to financial statements released by the track’s parent company on Friday.

The net loss was an improvement over a combined loss of $14 million from the operations for the full year of 2009, according to unaudited statements that the parent company, the Maryland Jockey Club, released two weeks ago. The Maryland Jockey Club is a partnership of MI Developments Inc. and Penn National Gaming Inc.

Oatman, the winner of the $215,600 Los Alamitos Winter Derby for Quarter Horses in February, was euthanized at an equine hospital in Las Vegas on Thursday, according to Holly Skeen, the wife of trainer Mark Skeen.

Holly Skeen did not divulge the cause of Oatman's death, but said that veterinarians attempted to save the 3-year-old.

"They did everything they could," she said.

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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The decision by the connections of Flashpoint to run their undefeated 3-year-old in the Florida Derby didn’t actually bring about a mad rush to the entry box for Saturday’s Grade 2, $150,000 Swale Stakes.

Only six were entered in the seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds, led by Travelin Man, who finished second, albeit by 7 1/2 lengths to Flashpoint, in the Hutcheson last time out.

Ms. Riptide will try to turn the tables on stablemate Zoomin On By when she makes her second start of the year Saturday night in the $30,000 Merial Distaff Texas Challenge for Quarter Horses at Sam Houston Race Park.

The 400-yard race is restricted to fillies and mares, with the winner to earn a berth into the Grade 1, $125,000 Merial Distaff Challenge Championships at Los Alamitos on Oct. 29.

With the closing of New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. in December, the New York Racing Association enjoyed a tremendous spike in ontrack business during Aqueduct’s recently concluded inner track meet, but the loss of approximately $9.6 million in payments from OTB caused declines in revenue for the four-month period.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Raptors missed the playoffs for the umpteenth time this spring, which has left Toronto sports fans starved for some action. The return of Thoroughbred racing to Woodbine on Saturday can help fill that void. The 10-race card is the opener of a 167-day meeting that concludes Dec. 4.

Wagering on live racing was up by 8.9 percent in 2010, an impressive figure that bucked recent industry trends. Glenn Crouter, Woodbine’s vice president of media and sponsorship, said a higher profile in the United States helped to fuel the increase.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Comedero is coming home, and what a homecoming it will be for the Arkansas-bred sprinter, who won five stakes last year between Oaklawn, Pimlico, and Charles Town.

He will start as a short-priced favorite Saturday in the $50,000 Nodouble at Oaklawn, and later the same evening will be recognized as the 2010 Arkansas-bred of the year during a downtown gala put on by the Arkansas Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Horsemen’s Association.

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ARCADIA, Calif. – One was exhausted, one needed knee surgery, and another was plagued by bad feet.

A marathon run of 24 trials for the $780,000 Remington Park Quarter Horse Futurity will begin Saturday night at the Oklahoma City track and continue through Sunday afternoon. There will be 12 trials on each program, with a 13-race card Sunday to include the Grade 3, $35,000 Pauls Valley at 870 yards for Quarter Horses.

Mike Maker has dominated the 2011 winter-spring meeting at Turfway Park, even with the proverbial one hand tied behind his back. Despite his better horses wintering at Gulfstream Park and Fair Grounds, Maker daylighted his colleagues with shrewd placements, racking up 34 wins from 96 starts as the meet winds to a close this weekend.

Fittingly, the final Saturday of the meet could be a showcase for Maker, as the 42-year-old trainer will send out La Gran Bailadora as a major contender in the $50,000 Fairway Fun Stakes at the Florence, Ky., track.