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Last year’s Triple Crown success of American Pharoah could cause increased interest in Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist’s chance of doing the same. 

Keeneland opens its 2016 spring meet on Friday with new technologies for visitors new to the historic track. Keeneland spokeswoman Amy Gregory says the Race Day app now features a ‘bet simulator.’

State agriculture officials are hopeful the new Stray or Abandoned Equine Database will help with the proper care and upkeep of wandering horses. 

The online database is one piece of a law approved earlier this year. 

While many horse racing fans eagerly await early October for Keeneland's fall meet, horse sellers and buyers will stay busy for the next two weeks.  The annual September yearling sales event gets underway Monday.

With 13 sessions, Keeneland's September sales are billed worldwide as the top thoroughbred auction of the year.  Keeneland Spokeswoman Amy Gregory says major buyers from almost every state and 50 countries will be in town.  She says gross sales a year ago were up 27%.  "We're very optimistic going into this sale that we'll have a very robust sale.  There's lot of optimism in the thoroughbred industry right now and the market is very strong in sales that have been leading up to this September sale," said Gregory.

Kentucky 1st district Representative Ed Whitfield has introduced the “Prevent All Soring Tactics Act,” which would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to bar the practice of “soring” during horse shows.

Soring is the use of blistering agents or mechanical devices that alter a horse’s gait, often on show horses like Tennessee walking horses.

A vehicle accident in Paducah involving the Murray State University Rodeo Team resulted in a horse being euthanized. No students were injured.