An influx of horses from Northern California pushed up field sizes at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Wash., helping the track post sizeable gains in handle during its recently concluded meet, according to an analysis by Daily Racing Form.

Counting only Thoroughbred races, total handle during the 50-day meet was $65.9 million, up 36 percent over total handle of $48.4 million during a 55-day meet last year, according to the analysis. The average handle per race soared 41.2 percent, to $160,000 per race, up from $113,000 per race last year.

Overnight purses at the Santa Anita autumn meeting will be higher than the corresponding meeting in 2024, equal to the recent spring meeting, but lower than the 2023 autumn meeting.

The track recently published its condition book, detailing the proposed races for the 16-day meeting that runs from Sept. 26 to Oct. 26.

A maiden race will have a purse of $60,000, an increase of $6,000 from last fall, but down $1,000 from the 2023 autumn meeting.

DEL MAR, Calif. - The Grade 1 winner Tamara and possibly Kopion, a two-time Grade 1 winner since Christmas, are candidates for the Grade 3 Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 4.

The $100,000 Chillingworth could serve as a prep race for Kopion and Tamara for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 1, trainer Richard Mandella said.

Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky., posted record handle and purse numbers for the seven-day meet that concluded on Wednesday, according to an analysis by Daily Racing Form, further solidifying its unique position on the U.S. racing landscape.

Southern California-based trainer George Papaprodromou has been suspended seven days after a filly he trained tested positive for the regulated substance capsaicin after winning a stakes race at Santa Anita in May, according to records of the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit.

This year’s series awarding qualifying points for entry into next year's Kentucky Derby will include 36 races, starting with Saturday’s Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs, according to a schedule released Monday by track personnel.

Twenty-one of the races have been categorized in the “prep season” running from Sept. 13 to Feb. 21, with most awarding 10 or 20 points to the winner. The exception is the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, which awards 30 points to the winner.

DEL MAR, Calif. – Del Mar showed a slight decline in all-sources handle at its 31-day summer meeting that ended on Sunday, according to figures compiled by Daily Racing Form.

Handle on races run at Del Mar decreased 1.4 percent to $355,719,467 from $360,944,231 at the corresponding meeting in 2024. The 2022 summer meeting had handle of more than $439.6 million on races run at Del Mar, compared to $391.8 million in 2023. The figures do not include simulcasting conducted in conjunction with race days or on days without live racing.