Horse Racing News Blog

Track concerns cause more cancellations
Santa Anita canceled racing Friday for the fifth day this month because of wet conditions on a synthetic track that has had drainage problems since its installation. The track received 3 1/2 inches of rain over the previous two days, besides 2 inches of hail that fell Thursday on the Cushion Track and compounded its drainage problems. Racing also was canceled Thursday and Jan. 5-7.

Four horses die from collision with car
Four horses from Lane’s End Farm died after bolting onto a road and being hit by a car. Lexington police said the four yearlings were struck Thursday morning by a car driven by Andrew Jackson, 21, of Georgetown. Lane’s End president Bill Farish said the horses got loose about 7 a.m. and were being led to a barn when they were spooked. “As happens, one spooks and that spooks the rest of them,” Farish said. “It’s very hard to hold them at that point.

Judge refuses to force auction of stake in Curlin
A judge refused to force an auction of an ownership stake in Horse of the Year Curlin, saying the request has been made too soon. Special Judge Roger Crittenden left the door open for 418 people to pursue a 20 percent ownership stake in Curlin later. The judge made his decision during a 90-minute hearing on Tuesday after concluding that the plaintiffs did not have enough information about the assets of attorneys William Gallion and Shirley Cunningham Jr. to force the auction.