Horse Racing News

Twirling Candy broke Spectacular Bid's 30-year-old track record for seven furlongs with a nose victory in Sunday's $250,000 Malibu Stakes on the first card run on the new dirt track at Santa Anita.

Switch overpowered nine rival 3-year-old fillies when rolling to a four-length victory in the Grade 1, $250,000 La Brea Stakes, the first of two Grade 1 races on the opening-day card.

Sidney's Candy won his fourth stakes of the year at the track, and fifth of his career, in Sunday's $150,000 Sir Beaufort Stakes at Hollywood Park.

War Pass, the 2007 juvenile champion, died Dec. 24 at Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Ky., the farm announced on Monday.

An aide to Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and horse racing representatives say a tentative agreement has been reached to allow a full calendar of 146 racing days and keep the Preakness Stakes in the state.

The future of the Preakness at Pimlico is in doubt after a vote by Maryland's racing commission. The board has voted to reject a proposal by the owners of Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park to conduct live racing next year.

Santa Anita opened its rain-deluged main track for training Monday for the first time since Friday, but track president George Haines said severe rainstorms expected through Wednesday could curtail training this week. The winter-spring meet opens Sunday.

Hollywood Park's seven-week fall meeting ended on Sunday with a decline in average ontrack and all-sources mutuel handle, and ontrack attendance, according to figures released by the racetrack.

Horse of the Year contender and Breeders' Cup runner-up Zenyatta has come up second in another major race this year, finishing behind skier Lindsey Vonn in balloting for 2010 Female Athlete of the Year as voted on by members of The Associated Press.

Heavy rains earlier in the day might have put a damper on Saturday's $150,000 W.L. McKnight Handicap at Calder but not on trainer Michelle Nihei's enthusiasm or love for her star 3-year-old Prince Will I Am.