Trackside

Neil Pessin, who abruptly left the training business in mid-May, has landed a new position as an assistant to trainer Michelle Nihei on the Kentucky circuit, the conditioner confirmed Thursday. The conditioner of Grade I winner Bell's the One (Majesticperfection), Pessin saddled his final runner at Keeneland at the end of April and took some time to sell off some of his tack and other gear. But Pessin admits that sitting idly by isn't something he does especially well, and he ultimately accepted an offer from Nihei to oversee a...

Thirteen children of full-time horse farm workers are pursuing higher education this year with assistance from the Horse Farm Workers' Educational Assistance Fund, according to a release from the organization Monday. To date, 735 annual scholarships totaling $1,631,623 have been awarded since the Fund's inception in 1996. Scholarships are awarded for education or skill training after high school and are based upon financial need, merit, biographical essays and personal interviews. Grants are also available for full-time horse farm workers in central Kentucky for equine-related courses or training to help them...

Churchill Downs will further delay the reopening of its stable areas at both the racetrack and the auxiliary training center Trackside until Apr. 28. The opening of the 2020 Spring Meet, originally scheduled for Apr. 25, has been postponed with the determination of the exact starting date to be made closer to the opening of the stable areas. Churchill Downs' stabling areas, closed since Dec. 31 for annual winter renovations, had been expected to open Mar.17, but the opening was delayed in response to executive orders issued by Kentucky Governor...