Horse Racing News on December 1, 2011

The 2011 Calder racing season ends one month earlier than usual but will go out with a bang as Friday's 10-race closing-day program features a pair of Grade 3 stakes on the grass, the $150,000 La Prevoyante and $100,000 Tropical Turf handicaps.

The Spectacular Bid Stakes has traditionally been the first stakes of the Gulfstream Park meet for 3-year-olds. After a change in the meet schedule, it is now the opening day stakes for 2-year-olds.

John Veitch filed an appeal of his dismissal on Wednesday with the Kentucky Personnel Board, contending that he has been discriminated against because of his age and that the state violated his rights by failing to provide a cause for his dismissal.