Never afraid of hard work, first-time National Horseplayers Championship qualifier Albion Benton enjoyed a fast start Feb. 7 on opening day of the contest at Bally’s Las Vegas, and even earned a nice prize for his first day of NHC competition.

Eight horses trained by Joe Sharp at Fair Grounds have been disqualified and placed last after testing positive for a prohibited substance, Equibase charts indicate. According to Sharp, the disqualifications were for the presence of the levamisole.

The ladies made it quite tough on the boys in some major turf races last year, and more of the same could be in store for 2020.

With a hot pace to exploit, classy Billy Batts rallied strongly to capture the $75,000 Baffle Stakes Feb. 7 at Santa Anita Park by 1 1/2 lengths while providing jockey Umberto Rispoli with his first Santa Anita stakes victory

When the Fasig-Tipton Winter Mixed Sale takes place Feb. 11-12, a half dozen late additions owned by Zayat Stables, including the only mare cataloged in foal to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, will be included in the entries.

If one Oaklawn Park-based horse had a routine the last two years, it was grade 1-winning sprinter and millionaire Whitmore for co-owner/trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs, Ark.

Sackatoga Stable’s Tiz the Law, impressive winner of the Feb. 1 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) in his sophomore debut, will return to Gulfstream Park for his next start for the March 28 Florida Derby (G1).

As a top jockey agent and former racing secretary, Doug Bredar is adept at handicapping horse races. After all, it’s his job to put Florent Geroux on as many winners possible this winter at the Fair Grounds and elsewhere for stakes races.

Industry accolades will be on the line as a cross section of notable journalists, analysts, and personalities compete in the Runhappy/NTRA NHC Charity Challenge presented by Tito’s Handmade Vodka on Saturday, Feb. 8. 

Dave Litfin analyzes stakes on Feb. 8.

While Trish Dunell will be the first to tell you she’s a fish out of water in this year’s NTRA National Horseplayers Championship, the New Zealand resident will take her shot in the contest that will award $800,000 to the first-place finisher.

Hronis Racing’s latest purchases is set to run Feb. 8 in the $100,000 Thunder Road Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita where Frontier Market makes his first start for them against nine rivals in a one-mile turf test.

Keeping track of retired racehorses will become much easier, according to the British Horseracing Authority, with British racing’s governing body revealing plans to simplify and modernize the process.

High winds with gusts up to 60 mph in the forecast for New York metropolitan area.

The 19-year-old son of Not For Love is the sire of Maryland champion older horse Laki.

Bruce Johnstone, who transitioned from a successful career as a trainer to management at the New York Racing Association where he spent the last 13 years as Manager of Racing Operations, died Feb. 6 following a lengthy battle against cancer.

The 11-year-old son of Malibu Moon was a grade 2 winner and the fourth-crop sire has four black-type winners to date.

Dave Litfin analyzes stakes on Feb. 8.