Women lead the way in 2009

Two female thoroughbreds will be remembered as the two best racehorses of 2009. Three-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra and five-year-old mare Zenyatta were head and withers above all the horses which competed during the year.

Rachel Alexandra (Rachel) dominated three groups of horses in 2009. She devastated three-year-old fillies in both the Kentucky Oaks and Mother Goose Stakes. The daughter of Medaglia d'Oro defeated three-year-old males in the Preakness and Haskell Invitational, and then beat older males in the Woodward at Saratoga.

Zenyatta already came into 2009 with a championship in her file after winning the 2008 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic. The mare was undefeated in nine career starts, but had never faced males in a race. All but one of her starts had been in California on synthetic tracks.

Prominent thoroughbred owner Edmund Gann dies

Edmund Gann, a prominent thoroughbred owner who campaigned Medaglia d'Oro and several other major stakes winners, has died. He was 86.

Gann died at his home Sunday, a spokeswoman for the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum in San Diego said Tuesday. The cause of death was cancer, according to Gann's family.

Gann began his career in racing in the mid-1960s. Among other top horses he owned were Denon, Midas Eyes, Peace Rules, Timbora, You, and You and I. Gann also won the 1988 Japan Cup with Pay the Butler. Many of Gann's horses were trained by Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel, who died in November.

Labonte secures ride with TRG Motorsports in 2010

Bobby Labonte will drive for TRG Motorsports full-time in next year's Sprint Cup Series campaign, with TaxSlayer.com sponsoring his team's efforts in a limited number of races.

Labonte, the 2000 Cup Series champion, and team owner Kevin Buckler made the announcement Saturday at Phoenix International Raceway.

"Each time I've run with the team this year, I've enjoyed the experience and I'm looking forward to filling the seat full time next year and really building on what we've started," Labonte said.

Florida Stallion Stakes winner Jackson Bend sold

Jackson Bend, who swept this year's Florida Stallion Stakes series for 2-year-olds, has a new majority owner and will be trained by National Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame member Nick Zito.

Fred Brei said Monday that he has sold a majority interest in Jackson Bend to Robert LaPenta for an undisclosed fee. LaPenta transferred the colt from Stanley Gold to Zito, Brei said.

75th anniversary celebration for Santa Anita

While most people will be decompressing from the Christmas holiday on Saturday, Santa Anita Park will be opening for its 75th anniversary meet.

The palatial facility in Arcadia, CA has come up with an exciting opening day which will feature four stakes races, including the $300,000 Malibu for three- year-olds. This will be the last chance for foals of 2006 to run in a graded stakes before they turn a year older on New Year's Day.

Santa Anita, which opened on December 25, 1934, will celebrate its 75th anniversary season with two historic events. A statue of legendary thoroughbred John Henry will be unveiled and record breaking mare Zenyatta will be paraded on the track.