Horse Racing News on December 15, 2010

Scott Lake became just the sixth trainer in North American racing history to register 5,000 victories when Communicator captured the first race Wednesday at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md.

In the wake of the shutdown of NYC OTB Corp last week, state Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow said he believes a consolidation of the state's remaining five regional OTB companies is something that is feasible and necessary to preserve NY racing industry.

Horses running on artificial surfaces suffer fatal injuries at a statistically significant lower rate than horses running on dirt courses, according to epidemiologists who have analyzed data collected for a project tracking equine injuries.

For most of the owners and trainer chasing Saturday's $750,000 CashCall Futurity at Hollywood Park, the focus of the race is the lucrative prize. A win in the Grade 1 race would greatly help the chances of gaining a berth in the Kentucky Derby in May.