Horse Racing News

The New York Racing Association announced Wednesday that it has scrapped a 5-year-old policy that required horses to be isolated in a security barn six hours prior to running in any race at a NYRA track.

Rail Trip, the leading older male in California in recent months and the runner-up in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup last Saturday, has been transferred from trainer Ron Ellis in California to Rick Dutrow in New York, owner Mace Siegel said on Tuesday.

George Steinbrenner, best-known for his long, successful reign as owner of the New York Yankees but also a longtime owner and breeder of racehorses, died at age 80 on Tuesday in Tampa, Fla.

A rule change uncoupling same-trainer, different-owner entries at all state tracks was approved by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board recently, and takes effect starting Wednesday.

On a picture-postcard morning at the Spa, Rachel Alexandra worked a strong six furlongs over the Oklahoma Training Track Monday, as she nears a scheduled start in the $400,000 Lady's Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park a week from Saturday.

Paddy O'Prado has been assigned post 7 in a field of eight 3-year-olds entered in the Grade 2, $600,000 Virginia Derby, the Colonial Downs showcase set for Saturday.

An audit shows the New York Racing Association facing financial insolvency next year unless the thoroughbred track operator cuts more spending and begins getting revenue from a casino at Aqueduct that doesn't yet exist.

Belmont Stakes winner Drosselmeyer could be sidelined the remainder of the year due to ankle issues that have prompted his connections to take him out of training, trainer Bill Mott said Sunday.

Lookin At Lucky worked six furlongs in 1:12.60 at Santa Anita on Saturday, moving the Preakness Stakes winner closer to a potential start in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 1.

For the next 10 days, the focus of the final weekend of Hollywood Park and the opening day at Del Mar is on 3-year-olds - the established main-track stars and the up-and-coming hopefuls on turf.