Veterinarian Dr. James Donovan Smith, a senior partner at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute for more than 40 years, died Dec. 28. He was 86.

Elmhurst, winner of the 1997 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), died Jan. 4 due to heart failure, Our Mims Retirement Haven in Paris, Ky., announced. He was 31.

The U.S. Horse of the Year has a new job as a “lead horse,” teaching social skills to weaned foals.

Racing will continue in Britain despite strict new lockdowns announced in England and Scotland on Jan. 4 in response to a surge in COVID-19 cases and fears over a highly transmissible new variant of the virus.

The Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation is pleased to award $20,000 to the Foundation for the Horse, the charitable arm of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, to fund graduate student research.

Jockey Charles Jantzen “C.J.” McMahon, who was arrested Jan. 2 by the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana, was released on an $80,000 bond Jan. 3 and is scheduled to appear in District Court Jan. 5.

Italian breeders have a new son of Dubawi to choose from when compiling their mating plans with Robiano set to stand at San Paolo Agri Stud near Rome.

Magic Millions chief executive Barry Bowditch is pleased with how preparations are going for next week’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and hopes are high that the majority of Australia’s major bloodstock players will be in attendance.

David Thompson, who along with his wife Patricia built up one of Britain’s most important breeding and ownership operations in Cheveley Park Stud, has died of renal failure at the age of 84. 

At Santa Anita, Rock Your World won his debut Jan. 1 and Roman Centurian found the winner’s circle Jan. 3; while on the opposite coast several of note earned their first win.

Jonathan Sheppard, a Hall of Fame trainer whose horses excelled on dirt, turf, and over steeplechase fences, announced Jan. 4 that he is retiring from American racing. For now, he will continue to train a small stable in Ireland.

Marshall Gramm collected $492,750 by winning the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge contest in November, and the racing partnership he heads with co-founder Clay Sanders, Ten Strike Racing, surpassed $3 million in earnings in 2020.

Kalypso dueled early but had plenty left in the tank to secure her first graded score in the $200,500 Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) Jan. 3 at Santa Anita Park.

Bob Baffert-trained Mucho Gusto and Charlatan are among a dozen grade 1 and grade 2 winners on a list of 16 horses invited Jan. 3 to the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park.

Jockey Charles Jantzen “C.J.” McMahon was arrested Jan. 2 by the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana. He was charged with attempted murder of the second degree, illegal use of weapons, and possession of marijuana.

Sham Stakes (G3) winner Life Is Good and runner-up Medina Spirit came out of the race well according to trainer Bob Baffert.

Like the word Blackpool running through the center of a stick of seaside rock, Galileo’s influence was a constant feature during 2020.

Trainer Zoe Davison died Jan. 3 following a long battle with cancer. She was 60 years old.

Dual group 2 winner Headman has retired from racing and will stand at Figerro Breeding Farm in Saône-et-Loire, France, this year.

The New York Racing Association’s 2020 race meets conducted at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course generated all-sources handle of more than $1.8 billion, NYRA announced Jan. 3.