Laurel Park has canceled live racing through next weekend as it continues to struggle with containing an equine herpesvirus outbreak among the state’s Thoroughbred population, track officials said Friday during a conference call with horsemen and state veterinary officials.

Entering the last week of the 2020-2021 Fair Grounds meet, a real race was on for leading trainer. Ron Faucheux continues to bombard the entry box and came into Wednesday’s card with 37 winners, one more than Brad Cox. Tom Amoss has sent out 33 winners, probably too few to catch the top two. Cox has led the standings for much of the season, but Faucheux, with a bevy of Louisiana-bred and conditioned claiming horses at his disposal, has hung tough.

For decades, Hugh Robertson has scoured the quiet corners of Kentucky yearling sales, hunting bargains, employing a “zig when they zag” approach. The crowd seeks out hot sires; Robertson focuses on stallions whose progeny get little attention. The major players will bypass pedigree for an individual who stands out physically; Robertson concentrates on runts.

The method seems simple but requires deep insight and experience. The obvious auction horses are obvious for a reason. A bargain hunter might get lucky once or twice. Robertson has been finding hidden gems for decades.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – While racetracks in other jurisdictions have announced plans to host fans on a limited basis, the New York Racing Association is still awaiting guidance from state officials on rules to allow it to host patrons at the upcoming Belmont and Saratoga meets.

Del Mar has increased incentives paid to owners of horses sent to California from other states or countries for the track’s summer meeting from July 16 to Sept. 6 in an effort to boost field size.

Parnelli, well beaten in two graded stakes for 3-year-olds in January, will start in the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 3, joining a field that has increased in size in recent days following the defection of race favorite Life Is Good.

Parnelli worked five furlongs in 1:01 on Wednesday at Santa Anita.

“He was very strong and into the bridle,” trainer John Shirreffs said. “He galloped out nicely.”

Shirreffs said the absence of Life Is Good due to injury has influenced the decision to start Parnelli, who will be a longshot.

Los Alamitos has changed the qualifying format for the $600,000 Champion of Champions for older horses on Dec. 11, giving track officials the discretion to invite horses instead of awarding some berths to the winners of major stakes outside California.

In recent years, the winners of such races as the Remington Park Championship, All American Derby at Ruidoso Downs, and Bank of America Challenge Championship, which frequently moves to different venues, have received provisional berths, provided the horse can comply with the track’s strict medication policies.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Oaklawn Park has a new training center about 20 miles from the track, and it will be open for year-round access following the close of the current meet on May 1, track president Lou Cella said Tuesday.

“We just made that decision last week,” Cella said. “We’re going to open to trainers for use after the season. It will be year round, starting after the meet.”

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Man in the Can will have a new title Saturday when he runs in the $150,000 Nodouble at Oaklawn Park – Arkansas-bred horse of the year.

Man in the Can has earned the honor for 2020, according to Deana Echols, executive secretary of the Arkansas Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Horsemen’s Association. She said Tuesday that the horse led all registered Arkansas-breds in earnings last year in North America.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Before Todd Pletcher sends out Known Agenda in trying to win the Florida Derby for a record sixth time, the future Hall of Fame trainer will have a busy day with a number of top contenders in the earlier stakes.