Horse Racing News

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.

There was something seen Saturday at Aqueduct that is rarely seen this time of year.

Mackenzie "Mack" Miller, the Hall of Famer who personified the old school of gentleman trainers, died Saturday morning at the Markey Cancer Center at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

Saturday, in his 10th attempt in stakes company, More Than a Reason graduated from hard-knocker to graded stakes winner, outfinishing Stormy's Majesty to take the Grade 3, $100,000 Queens County by a head before a decent-sized crowd of 5,444 at Aqueduct.

Saturday, Turbulent Descent stretched her unbeaten streak to three races in her first start around two turns in the $412,250 Hollywood Starlet Stakes at Hollywood Park.

The New York Racing Association is working on a number of initiatives it hopes can make up for an estimated $33 million shortfall in revenue for the company and purses caused by the shutdown this week of New York City Off-Track Betting Corp.

When Turbulent Descent made a successful debut in a maiden race at Hollywood Park in October, winning under a hand-ride from jockey David Flores, a start in Saturday's $300,000 Hollywood Starlet became a feasible goal.

Stormy's Majesty apparently had other ideas, and on Saturday he will face five rivals in the Grade 3, $100,000 Queens County Stakes over Aqueduct's inner track.