LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Derby isn’t the only upcoming Churchill classic involving the frequent mention of “bubble” these days. A capacity gate of 14 for the April 30 Kentucky Oaks remains likely, with at least another handful of fillies on the outside looking in.

The Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Calif., confirmed Wednesday it will run its meet this summer as scheduled.

In a letter to horsemen, Jerome Hoban, the fair’s CEO, said the fair “fully intends” to conduct its meet beginning on June 18. The meet is scheduled to run through July 11.

Mighty Heart, the one-eyed Queen’s Plate winner who became a fan favorite, was crowned the 2020 Canadian Horse of the Year during a virtual presentation of the 46th annual Sovereign Awards ceremony on Thursday.

Owned and bred by Larry Cordes, Mighty Heart swept the first two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes, before finishing a tired seventh in the Breeders’ Stakes. He was voted champion male 3-year-old over stablemate Belichick, the four-length Breeders’ Stakes winner.

The three race cards scheduled for Laurel Park in suburban Maryland from Saturday through Monday have been canceled and live racing will move to Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore next week, two weeks earlier than planned, according to documents distributed by the parent company of the tracks on Thursday.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Saturday’s meeting of champions Monomoy Girl and Swiss Skydiver in the Apple Blossom has overtones of the kind of race the late Charles Cella was attempting to put on in 2010, when the Oaklawn president offered a $5 million purse if that year’s edition were to draw both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta.

The New York Racing Association will return the pick six wager to its traditional format, albeit with a $1 minimum wager, when the Belmont Park spring/summer meet begins April 22, the company announced Thursday.

This format replaces the Empire 6, which was a 20-cent minimum and which, in recent months, paid out its entire pool daily. When the Empire 6 debuted in August 2019, the idea was to pay out the entire pool only if there was one unique ticket with all six winners. Prior to the implementation of the Empire 6, NYRA’s traditional pick six was a $2 minimum bet.

Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn., will reduce its pick 6 takeout to 10 percent and abandon the bet’s jackpot-style format when the track opens for live racing on May 18, Canterbury announced on Thursday.

Though Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that fans will be permitted to return to horse racing tracks in New York beginning April 23, the New York Racing Association wouldn’t commit to opening its doors to fans that soon.

“We will be reviewing protocols and guidance issued by New York State to make a determination when we will be able to open Belmont Park to fans,” NYRA spokesperson Pat McKenna said.

The stakes winners Country Grammer, Independence Hall, and Royal Ship are among five expected runners in Saturday’s Grade 2 Californian Stakes for older horses going 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita.

Those three will likely be joined by Growth Engine, who was fifth in the Santana Mile on March 28, and Magic On Tap, who will have his stakes debut in the $200,000 race.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Jockey Victor Espinoza did not get far on the Santa Anita apron on Sunday morning without stopping to visit with numerous trainers, a few owners and basically anyone else who crossed his path.

The grandstand at Santa Anita may cover the length of the stretch, but Espinoza, dressed in a riding helmet, safety vest and blue jeans, was determined to work the room. He has some catching up to do.