Newtown Anner Stud Farm’s Perpetrate emerged from a three-way photo finish a head in front Jan. 2 at Laurel Park to give jockey Carol Cedeno her 1,000th career victory.

Old Friends founder Michael Blowen said he is consistently impressed with how much racehorses remember, from a groom they have not seen in years to a former stablemate, like Sun King, from the old barn.

Michael Dubb’s Pete’s Play Call started his 8-year-old campaign the same way he concluded 2020, saving his best for the stretch to win the 62nd running of the $97,000 Gravesend Stakes for 4-year-olds and up at Aqueduct Racetrack Jan. 2. 

Grupo 7C Racing Stable’s Jesus’ Team tuned up for a planned start in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) with a bullet five-furlong workout Jan. 2 at Palm Meadows Training Center.

Catemaco, who nearly died as a  foal, rewarded his breeder, trainer, and co-owner, Kristin Mulhall, by winning his debut Jan. 1 at Santa Anita Park in the day’s sixth race, a $62,500 maiden special weight.

Bing Cherry Racing and Leonard Liberto’s Capo Kane will look to make his next start in the 1 1/8-mile, $250,000 Withers Stakes (G3) Feb. 6 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Racing Jan. 1 in the $200,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park, late-running Hembree went from last to first to defeat True Valour by three-quarters of a length.

Jockeys Trevor McCarthy and Katie Davis received a surprising wedding “present” earlier this week.

New York has its own road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), but it seems to be running through Bensalem, Pa.

Breeze Easy’s Imprimis made a triumphant return to action at Gulfstream Park Jan. 1, following up a troubled trip in the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) with a gutsy victory over Extravagant Kid in the $75,000 Janus Stakes.

Joe Keappock, successful breeder from his Dunsany Stud in Meath and from a prominent Navan family, has died after a short illness.

Luis Leon, a popular former rider and jockeys’ room valet in California, died Dec. 29, according to his son, David. He was 90.

Andrew Lerner didn’t go on a honeymoon after he got married Dec. 27. The 31-year-old trainer will celebrate later, but he could get an early start if longshot Uncle Boogie wins the Sham Stakes (G3) Jan. 2 at Santa Anita Park.

There will be a new slant for the sixth annual Jockeys and Jeans Great American Stallion Season Sale to benefit The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, bringing together Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse Stallions in a single sale. 

Rogers replaces veteran Mark Loewe, who retired from a 42-year career in December.

In a race that underscores the depth of the Bob Baffert stable, the Hall of Fame trainer has four of the seven entrants in the Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) Jan. 3 at Santa Anita Park.

The ownership group that campaigned Kentucky Derby (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Authentic over the final portion of 2020 finished the year as leading owner by North American earnings.

Chad Brown won his sixth consecutive New York Racing Association year-end training title with 91 wins while Jose Ortiz compiled his second riding crown with 142 victories as racing in 2020 concluded there Dec. 31.

Eleven of the most memorable, significant, and reflective events from the last 12 months of Thoroughbred racing are up for the 2020 FanDuel Racing NTRA Moment of the Year, a distinction determined by fan voting and recognized at the Eclipse Awards.

Top Notch Racing’s Flat Rate emerged from a three-way photo finish a neck ahead of Proud Enough to spring a 33-1 upset of Laurel Park’s sixth race Dec. 31 and give 10-pound apprentice jockey John Hiraldo his first career victory.