santa anita horse racing: santa anita horse racing - espn horse racing

"It was ministers that took the decision that we should protect, essentially for economic reasons I have to say, those industries that are continuing and actually maintain the economic activity within the horse and harness racing industries," Chief Minister Jon Stanhope told ABC Radio today.

The injections would be available within the next 24 hours, but the ACT's chief vet Will Andrew is on holiday.

"It is a difficulty. More>>

Payne was taken to Queen's Medical Centre after being unshipped from Puskas in the Betfair Apprentice Handicap at the track.

Riding the Milton Bradley-trained horse, Payne suffered the spill after his saddle slipped over two furlongs from home.

He was immediately taken to hospital and given precautionary checks but was passed fit and discharged earlier today.

Bradley said: "He's not too bad but he's bruised and has a few grazes.

"They X-rayed him at the hospital and kept him in overnight but he was out on Thursday morning.

"He hasn't picked up any serious injuries or breaks so it's good news."

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While most betting firms around Australia have the Ross McDonald-trained gelding the dominant $1.75 favourite, Colin Tidy's betchoice.com is happy to let punters on at $1.80 - for the time being.

Showers are forecast in Melbourne for the next three days and Weekend Hussler's only defeat came on a slow track at Sale on his debut in August.

"We'll sit out at $1.80 by ourselves with Weekend Hussler in case the rain does come," said betchoice.com spokesman Mark Morrissey.

"They're tipping showers and while he's probably unbeatable on a dry track he might be a risk if it gets to slow."

Weekend Hussler has won his only other three starts by an aggregate of 15-1/2 lengths, all on tracks dead or better. More>>

Associated Press

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Al and Paul Van Heuvel, brothers and fellow retirees, convene one day a week at the landmark Derby Lane greyhound track to have some laughs, drink beer out of paper cups and bet the dogs.

"It's a good day out," says Paul Van Heuvel, 65, studying a program before the third race on a weekday afternoon. "It's a beautiful track. The people are nice."

The brothers Van Heuvel sat at a prime table in the trackside pavilion near the betting windows but could have settled down about anywhere. Just a few dozen other patrons were scattered throughout the venue for the 14-race matinee.

Upstairs in the poker room, meanwhile, the action was hot and heavy. Nearly all the 50 tables were crowded with players hunkered over games of Texas Hold'em and Seven Card Stud, mostly ignoring the lithe animals chasing a mechanical rabbit around the quarter-mile dirt track outside. More>>

The gaming operation Delaware North Companies also bowed out of the Empire Racing structure.

The defections came by mutual agreement, according to Empire Racing Chief Executive Officer Jeff Perlee, and followed testimony from officials representing New York Governor Eliot Spitzer to a state Senate committee that explained why Empire Racing did not receive Spitzer's recommendation to operate the franchise.

Spitzer recommended that NYRA receive a 30-year contract to continue running the franchise, a proposal that must receive approval from the state Legislature. More>>