• Philly Park Changes Name to Parx Racing•
The Bensalem, Pa.-based Philadelphia Park has changed its name to Parx Racing, according to the company’s website. While the change was not officially announced to the media, the transition was made on the racetrack and casino’s website Aug. 30.
Racetrack officials could not be immediately reached for comment on the change. Parx Racing is the same title of a casino located on the racetrack’s property that opened in 2006. The name was officially given to the casino during the summer of 2009.
The Pennsylvania track has been called Philadelphia Park since 1984, when it was acquired by ITB Inc. Previously abbreviated in past performance charts as “Pha,” it is currently unknown what the new abbreviation for the track will be.
Before 1984, the track was named Keystone Racetrack. A company called Greenwood bought the property in 1990.

• Horses Now Second in Kentucky; Poultry on Top•
Poultry and eggs were Kentucky’s leading farm commodity in 2009, with cash receipts of $911.6 million, ending the equine industry’s 10-year reign at the top of the list. According to a release Aug. 31 from state agriculture commissioner Richie Farmer, the equine sector was responsible for $780 million of the state’s total $4 billion.
Kentucky farm cash receipts in 2009 totaled $4.26 billion, down 9.6% from the adjusted record 2008 total of $4.71 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service. The 2009 total was the third-highest on record.
Soybeans were the leading crop with cash receipts of $527 million on the strength of a 51% increase from 2008, edging out corn at $524 million. Cattle and calves generated $484.6 million in cash receipts in 2009. Tobacco receipts were up for the fourth year in a row at $382.8 million.
Crops accounted for 43% of total Kentucky receipts at nearly $1.83 billion, 43.4% higher than crop receipts for 2005, the first year after the federal tobacco quota and price support system ended.

• Breeders' Cup Selects Thoroughbred Charities of America as Beneficiary•
The Breeders' Cup announced Aug. 10 it has selected Thoroughbred Charities of America as a beneficiary of the 2010 Breeders' Cup World Championships to be held at Churchill Downs Nov. 5-6.
Breeders' Cup Charities was formed in 2008 to partner with and raise funds and awareness for broad-based charitable organizations. The Breeders' Cup will assist TCA in its fundraising efforts through public service announcements, utilizing its online platforms, creating a trackside presence at Churchill Downs, and fan directed contributions of the organization's initiatives.
This is the second consecutive year TCA has been a beneficiary of the Breeders’ Cup.
“TCA continues to be a leader in supporting important Thoroughbred causes that affect our industry in so many positive ways," said Greg Avioli, Breeders' Cup president and CEO, in a statement. "We are honored to extend our relationship with TCA and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association for this year's World Championships."
TCA was formed in 1990 to raise funds for those charities in the Thoroughbred industry which provide a better life for Thoroughbreds both during and after their racing careers by supporting retirement, rescue, and research and by helping the people who work with them. In 2010, TCA granted $860,672 in funds to 81 Thoroughbred industry related non-profits.
“We are thrilled and honored to be recognized again as a beneficiary of the Breeders’ Cup in 2010,” said Dan Rosenberg, president of TCA, in a release. “The added visibility they are providing will raise awareness of the need to care for horses when their racing careers come to an end and will enable us to continue to assist so many individuals and organizations that work so hard to provide homes and secondary careers for retired Thoroughbreds.”