The start of the new year also marks a new medication era in some racing jurisdictions, in which many stakes races, not just those for 2-year-olds, will be contested without Lasix, a diuretic used in U.S. racing to prevent respiratory bleeding.

The Minnesota Thoroughbred Association will conduct its 2021 Stallion Season Auction Jan. 3-11, featuring more than 50 stallions from Kentucky, Florida, Oklahoma, and Minnesota.

Northern California based writer Jeanie Esajian recently completed the following feature on Nichols and submitted it to BloodHorse.

Owners will no longer be permitted to attend English racecourses in Tier 4 from Jan. 1 after the British Horseracing Authority adjusted its coronavirus protocols on Dec. 29.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has suspended owner/trainer Carol Cobb for 180 days for a positive drug test from one of her horses dating back to January 2011.

Omega Perfume closed stoutly through the final 100 meters Dec. 29 at Oi Racecourse to land the Tokyo Daishoten for the third straight year.

Wootton Bassett has been on a steep upward curve ever since his small debut crop of runners hit the racecourse.

Champion Monomoy Girl returned to the work tab Dec. 27 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots where she breezed three furlongs in :37 flat.

Wootton Bassett has been on a steep upward curve ever since his small debut crop of runners hit the racecourse.

President Donald Trump on Dec. 27 signed into law COVID-19 relief and government funding legislation that includes the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020.

After nearly 13 years on the job as NYTB’s executive director, Jeffrey Cannizzo will move on to a new spot with the New York Racing Association Jan. 4. He shares some thoughts on his tenure and the future of the New York breeding program.

In 2020, Maiden Watch identified approximately 175 horses from which 30% performed in graded company. Of those, 15 became graded stakes winners, 13 were graded stakes-placed, and 24 others ran at the graded level without placing.

New NYTB executive director Najja Thompson joins boards of NYRA, NYTBDF.

In a year that saw a break during the summer harness meet for racing, limited to no fans in the facility, and uncertainty throughout the industry, the fall thoroughbred meet at Hawthorne wrapped up with strong handle and field size increases. 

On the evening of Dec. 27, President Donald Trump signed into law an omnibus bill to provide government funding and pandemic aid.

Back on her home turf in Southern California, Mucho Unusual stalked the pace from the outside then edged away from a field of seven rivals to win the $101,500 Robert J. Frankel Stakes (G3T) Dec. 27 at Santa Anita Park. 

Making only his second start in the U.S. after a winning debut effort at Del Mar Nov. 29, Cathkin Peak rallied three-wide down the lane to capture the Dec. 27 Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

Danon the Kid becomes the first grade 1 winner for his sire after capturing the Dec. 26 Hopeful (G1) at Nakayama Racecourse.

It was business as usual the morning of Dec. 27 for Bob Baffert, less than 24 hours after Charlatan demolished his rivals with a 4 1/2-length victory in the Runhappy Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park, the final grade 1 race of 2020.

It was the year of COVID-19, few fans in the stands and logistical challenges but, in Japanese racing, 2020 also was the year of the fillies and mares.