Richard “Dick” Lossen, well-known bloodstock agent, died Feb. 3, in Lexington. He was 76. Lossen spent more than 40 years as an owner, breeder, adviser, and agent.

A two-alarm fire caused extensive damage to a large building that housed a tack and leather shop at the Thoroughbred Center in Lexington Feb. 4, but did not threaten any of the barns or horses at the training facility.

In a jump that could be related to larger average field sizes, pari-mutuel handle improved 1.52% in January compared with the same month last year, according to Thoroughbred racing economic indicators released by Equibase.

ThistleDown Racino has increased the 2015 purse for the Ohio Derby to a record high of $500,000. In addition, daily purses at the 90-year-old track will average $130,000.

According to a release from the Ontario Racing Commission, planning for Ontario’s 2015 Thoroughbred Improvement Program is complete following approval of the budget by the Board of the Ontario Racing Commission.

Grade II-winning sprinter Flashpoint sired his first reported foal Jan. 31 when a dark bay filly was born in Carencro, La.

Son of First Samurai faces a tall task Feb. 7 for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, coming back to defend his title against Commissioner and Constitution along with European invader Sloane Avenue.

Defending champion Sunbean is back to defend his title in the $200,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship, the headline event during a full evening of stakes racing Feb. 7 at Delta Downs in Vinton, La.

Salutos Amigos will try to extend his stakes race win streak to three when the two-time graded winner faces an expected five rivals in the $150,000 Toboggan Stakes (gr. III) Saturday, Feb. 7 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

War Pass gelding began his career winning a $50,000 maiden claiming event at Saratoga Race Course, and on Feb. 7 he will try to become a stakes winner in the $100,000 Fred W. Hooper Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream.

For the fifth race in a row, a formidable Bob Baffert-trained contender is looming to take on Shared Belief. Only Bayern, in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, has got the best of the dark bay gelding.

Fresh off a victory in the Jan. 24 Tampa Bay Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Tampa Bay Downs and just fourteen days later, Lochte looks to continue his winning ways Feb. 7 in the $300,000 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (gr. IT).

El Kabeir, the current leader on the road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), will look to take the next step toward the starting gate on the first Saturday in May when he tackles the $250,000 Withers.