Gander, a four-time New-York bred champion gelding who was a fan favorite for his desire and durability, died Wednesday at Mill Creek Farm in Stillwater, N.Y., due to complications from old age. He was 26.

Gander, owned by brothers Mike and Ted Gatsas, raced 60 times in a career that began in 1998 and lasted through July 2004 before he suffered a career-ending injury in a workout at Saratoga. Gander won 15 races, including six stakes topped by the Grade 2 Meadowlands Cup in 2001, and earned $1,824,011. He still ranks as the 12th all-time leading New York-bred money earner.

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez was fined $4,017 and suspended one day for striking Mind Control seven times with his whip, one over the limit set forth by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, in winning the Grade 1, $750,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Dec. 3.

Mind Control won the Cigar Mile by a head over Get Her Number in a spirited stretch duel that also included White Abarrio, who was beaten a half-length in third.

Topped by its usual trio of races for 3-year-olds hoping to jump on the Triple Crown trail, the New York Racing Association will offer 25 stakes worth $3.2 million at the 2023 Aqueduct winter meet that runs from Jan. 1 through March 26.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Kentucky Derby points value for the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest on Jan. 28 has been raised from 10 to the winner to 20 to the winner, said Oaklawn racing secretary Pope. (Points are administered by Churchill Downs.)

Oaklawn’s points series for 3-year-olds starts with the $250,000 Smarty Jones on Jan. 1 and continues with the Southwest, the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel on Feb. 25, and the Arkansas Derby.

New claiming policy

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Cold, hard cash will be flowing throughout the Oaklawn Park meet, which opens Friday and runs through May 6. And it’s bringing a diverse cast of talent to town for the 68-date meet.

Purses are projected to average nearly $750,000 a day. The outlay has maiden special weight races worth $90,000, allowances starting at $104,000, and bottom-level, $6,250 claimers running for $26,000.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Siding with tradition, Woodbine Entertainment has renamed the $1 million Queen’s Plate the King’s Plate following the accession of King Charles III, the successor to his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who died at 96 in September.

The 2023 King’s Plate has been scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 20, around the same time on the calendar as this year’s edition. Known as North America’s oldest annually run stakes, it will be the 164th running of the 1 1/4-mile event for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.

Three-time stakes winner Cairo Memories was recently euthanized in Kentucky because of illness, trainer Bob Hess Jr. said Tuesday.

Cairo Memories was transferred from California in early November to be sold at the Fasig-Tipton November auction, but was withdrawn because of illness. The 3-year-old filly’s condition deteriorated through the month.

“She got sick on the flight,” Hess said. “She left in good shape. She seemed fine and then I got a call from my consignor.

“It unraveled in front of us.”

Jockey Luis Contreras has moved from Woodbine to Southern California and will begin riding locally at Los Alamitos on Dec. 16.

Contreras will be represented by Mike Ciani and is the latest in a group of riders who have announced they will be based in Southern California this winter. Kazushi Kimura, the leading rider at Woodbine, is moving to California later this month as is top international rider Frankie Dettori.

Cyberknife, beaten a head in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile last month at Keeneland, will race in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup before going off to stud at Spendthrift Farm for the 2023 breeding season.  

Cyberknife’s trainer, Brad Cox, said on Sunday that the 3-year-old colt had recently arrived at Fair Grounds, where he’ll prepare for his career finale on Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park.  

Del Mar announced that all-sources handle reached $164.85 million during its 13-day autumn meeting that ended Sunday, a figure above the $147.2 million bet during a 13-day season in 2019, but below the $196.2 million wagered over 15 days in 2020.

The 2021 fall meeting handled $354.9 million but included Breeders’ Cup races.

The handle figures include dark-day simulcasting.