Gerry Russell, who as a trainer saddled Kaye’s Commander to a third-place finish in the 1974 Kentucky Oaks (G2) and sent out So Vague to an 11th-place finish in the 1984 Kentucky Derby (G1), died Nov. 24 in Madisonville, Ky. He was 77.

While battling down the Zia Park stretch Nov. 27, Mr Money Bags dug in and held on by a neck over California invader Dueling to take the $245,000 Zia Park Derby.

The warmer temperatures on the West Coast at this time of year can be a great inducement for traveling from New York to California. Yet for some horsemen, little can match the appeal of a $400,000 grass race in the Big Apple.

One start after defeating every rival except stablemate Belvoir Bay (GB) when second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1T), Om will stretch out to two turns for the $200,000 Seabiscuit Handicap (G2T) Nov. 30 on the Del Mar turf.

Four weeks after the Qatar Twilight Derby (G2T) at Santa Anita Park Nov. 2, seven of its competitors meet again in the Nov. 30 Hollywood Derby (G1T), joined by Digital Age and Standard Deviation, eastern invaders trained by Chad Brown.

Keeper Ofthe Stars will try for a third straight win at a third different California track Nov. 30 when she starts in the $100,000 Red Carpet Handicap (G3T) on the grass at Del Mar.

Thoroughbred speculators will have bigger targets to aim at later in the week, and it seemed as though plenty were content to keep their powder dry during a somewhat muted opening session to the Tattersalls December Foal Sale Nov. 27.

When more than 100 horses owned by Joe Besecker are offered to the public at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic December Mixed and Horses of Racing Age Sale, he will not be in attendance because he is holding the dispersal somewhat reluctantly.

The New York Racing Association has canceled the Nov. 28 Thanksgiving Day live racing program at Aqueduct Racetrack due to dangerously high winds forecast to impact the New York City metropolitan area.

Trainer Michael Stidham achieved a career milestone in dramatic fashion on the Nov. 27 opening-day card at Tampa Bay Downs, earning his 2,000th victory with 4-year-old colt Lem Me Tel Ya in the eighth race.

Churchill Downs Incorporated announced Nov. 27 that William E. Farmer, DVM has been hired as equine medical director, a position that will oversee equine safety and care at all CDI racetracks.

WinStar Farm stallions Daredevil and Super Saver have been acquired by the Turkish Jockey Club and are relocating to Turkey, pending export requirements, WinStar announced Nov. 27.

Woodbine has designated Saturday, Dec. 7 as “Eurico Rosa Da Silva Day” at Woodbine Racetrack to celebrate the career of the top jockey, who announced earlier this year that he will be retiring at the conclusion of the 2019 Thoroughbred meet.

Noble Mission extended his prowess to the jumping sphere after Goobinator became the Kentucky-based stallion’s first National Hunt winner from only his second runner Nov. 27.

Beginning at 1 p.m. ET on December 2 and running for one week, the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC), an industry nonprofit organization, will auction off halters of history-making racehorses, stallions and broodmares on its eBay page.

Sackatoga Stable’s Tiz the Law is taking his undefeated show on the road for the Kentucky Derby trail. The Champagne Stakes (G1) winner is expected to head a field on nine in the $300,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) Nov. 30.

If Finite can pass a two-turn test to win the 1 1/16-mile Golden Rod Stakes (G2) Nov. 30 at Churchill Downs, her connections might want to start calling her infinite, reflecting the unlimited things she can seemingly do.

Grade 1-winning juvenile Sporting Chance will enter stud in 2020 at Fred and Linda Alexander’s A & A Ranch near Anthony, N.M., the farm announced Nov. 27.

Fasig-Tipton has cataloged 132 supplemental entries of horses of racing age for its upcoming Midlantic December Mixed and Horses of Racing Age Sale.