The Idaho Racing Commission has ordered an audit of Lariat Productions, the leaseholder of Les Bois Park, according to a report in the Idaho Statesman. The commission's interest was said to center on money owed to the track's horsemen's fund and other racetracks whose signals Les Bois carries.

Another owner joins the cry over sale ethics

Thoroughbred owners, both current and prospective, should be applauding the recent efforts of Satish Sanan as he calls attention to the issue of ethics (or lack thereof) in the Thoroughbred sales industry. Owners need to be assured about the physical soundness of the horses they may be purchasing. Moreover, they need to be confident that the process of acquiring a Thoroughbred racing prospect is devoid of price-fixing, back-room payments, and outright larceny.

AUBURN, Wash. - Ross McLeod is new to owning horses, but he certainly seems to be going about it in the right way.

McLeod is the chief executive officer of Great Canadian Gaming Corp., the parent company of Hastings racetrack in Vancouver, and he understands good business principles. When he decided to begin buying quality horses to race in the Northwest, McLeod hired top trainer Steve Bryant, gave him an adequate budget, and turned him loose.

DEL MAR, Calif. - A proposed rule change that would significantly increase the weight that horses carry in California Thoroughbred races was debated before the California Horse Racing Board on Thursday. The changes are intended to address longstanding health concerns among jockeys, who ride at far below their natural weight.

Officials from the Jockeys' Guild are asking for passage of the change next month. But racing officials who spoke at the meeting asked for a delay in order to discuss with officials from other states implementing the rule nationwide.

Patricia Cooksey, the second-leading female rider of all time, was voted the winner of the Mike Venezia Memorial Award, the New York Racing Association announced Thursday.

The Venezia Award, named in honor of the jockey who was killed in a spill at Belmont Park in 1988, honors riders "who exemplify extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship." The award is voted on by fans, turf writers, and jockeys.

Churchill Downs Inc. reported net income of $27.4 million in the second quarter of 2004, down 2.1 percent from last year's second quarter, despite a 1.1 percent increase in net revenue - $191.1 million - for the quarter over last year. The decline was attributable to expenses for lobbying in states considering slot machines at racetracks, the company said. . . . Spanish Steps, an unraced full brother to leading sire Unbridled's Song, will stand at stud at Martin South Stable in Reddick, Fla., for the 2005 breeding season. His fee will be $5,000 live foal. . . . U.S.

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. - There are times when being good simply isn't good enough. At Fairmount Park, no one is more familiar with this harsh reality than jockey David Garcia, who has been supplanted in second-leading trainer Steve Manley's operation by veteran jockey Tommy Pompell. The replacement comes despite Garcia's having the second-best winning percentage (32 victories in 177 starts as of July 20) among Fairmount jockeys with more than 100 starts.

Manley says the switch was prompted by Garcia's work habits.

Gary Piontkowski, the chief executive officer of Plainridge Racecourse, a harness track in Plainville, Mass., allegedly took phone wagers and offered betting on credit to high rollers in violation of Massachusetts state law and could face criminal charges, according to a report compiled by the Massachusetts State Police.

Piontkowski, the state's racing commissioner before leaving government to head up first Foxboro Park and later Plainridge, reportedly allowed big bettors to wager via phone before account wagering was legalized.

Suffolk Downs, Rockingham Park, and the New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association are discussing the possibility of Rockingham running three turf races on Sept. 5. The Salem, N.H., track's grass course has gone unused since the track switched to harness racing last year. . . . Robert Fitzgerald Jr., a onetime jockey who trained horses in the mid-Atlantic region for more than 40 years, died on July 12 in Lancaster, Pa., at age 78. Fitzgerald retired from training in 1997.

NEW YORK - Tim Smith will likely resign as commissioner and chief executive officer of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association on July 27 to take a top position at the New York Racing Association, officials said on Sunday and Monday.

Smith, 56, is expected to begin work at NYRA in September, the officials said, and would become NYRA's president and chief executive officer. The position is designed to maximize his political influence in an attempt to save NYRA's embattled franchise, which expires on Dec. 31, 2007.