Horse Racing News

She had never won a stakes race, but you could never have guessed it watching Teddy's Promise pull away from the field to easily capture the $300,000 La Brea by 2 1/4 lengths at Santa Anita Dec. 31.

Apriority left it all out on the track and a little in the winner's circle, too, after surviving an eventful start to get up in the final stride and nail pacesetter Zero Rate Policy by a nose in Saturday's $100,000 Mr. Prospector at Gulfstream Park.

Great Hot had a milestone trip to Kentucky in October, winning the Grade 2 Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland. She was in the state for one start too many from the perspective of trainer A.C. Avila.

New York Racing Association president and CEO Charles Hayward on Tuesday took responsibility for the mistake that led to NYRA charging too high a takeout rate on certain wagers for a 15-month period, an error that cost bettors $7.9 million.

A New York task force has recommended a percentage of revenue from video lottery terminals and purse accounts go toward retraining and retirement programs for racehorses in the state.

Fog City Stable and George Bolton's The Factor cruised to a decisive victory in the Malibu Stakes before a crowd of more than 40,000 on the Dec. 26 opening day card at Santa Anita.

Likely due in part to the anticipation of higher purses -- which kick in Wednesday at Aqueduct -- activity at the claim box was quite brisk through the first three weeks of the inner track meet.

Animal Kingdom, winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby, had his first workout Dec. 24 since being sidelined in late spring.

Liaison, whose sire Indian Charlie was euthanized two days earlier, outlasted his rivals in a calvary charge to win the $750,000 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park Dec. 17.

Indian Charlie, sire of four North American champions including Uncle Mo, died Thursday morning at age 16.