Yes, Big Brown’s departure has robbed the Breeders’ Cup Classic of a great deal of luster but the field that is taking shape is not lacking in quality as there are three runners with multiple Group I victories to their credit. The Japan-based Casino Drive, three for three in his career, prepped for the Classic with an easy win in a Santa Anita allowance race last Sunday. If this is not mouth-watering, I do not know what else can be?

Curlin is a confirmed starter. Jess Jackson, Curlin’s primary owner, said, “Curlin will defend his Classic title. Everything is a go. We don’t have a run over the track. With Big Brown’s withdrawal, the pace may not be quick enough for Curlin. He has worked twice on the Santa Anita surface. My main worry is that Curlin will be racing over the ProRide surface for the first time. If he wins, it will be a cherry on top of this year’s achievements.”

Aidan O’Brien made a statement. “Duke of Marmalade and Henrythenavigator will head to America to race in the BC Classic. They have had long seasons but we feel they are still in good form. Obviously, we think they’ll be OK on the Santa Anita surface though you never know until you try it in race conditions.”

John Murtagh will have his pick. The other will be ridden by John Velasquez.

Casino Drive will have the services of Victor Espinoza. Raven’s Pass beat Henrythenavigator in the Q E II Cup at Ascot late last month and is a likely starter. Jockey Jimmy Fortune will make the trip.

There is other BC news. Jeremy Noseda sends Sixties Icon and Fleeting Spirit. Sixties Icon has won three in a row at lower levels and will tread Grade I territory in the BC Marathon. Fleeting Spirit, winner of the Temple Stakes, was fifth in the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp on Arc day. The Abbaye was rerun at the end of the regular card because of a false start the first time. John Murtagh may ride Fleeting Spirit. Sixties Icon may have Frankie Dettori.

Trainer Freddie Head will have his highly-rated Goldikova take her chances in the Distaff Mile. In the hands of Olivier Peslier, Goldikova had the beating of the boys in the Prix Moulin.

Darley’s Coronet of A Baron was touched off in Del Mar’s Grade I Futurity and will be supplemented to the BC Juvenile.

Trainer Bobby Frankel has decided to race Mast Track, winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup, in the BC Dirt mile. An entry in the Classic would have meant a hefty final payment.

Pre-race entries for the BC races will be released on Thursday. It is a two-stage process. The first payment was due on Oct 14. On Oct 21, final entries will be taken when the second payment is due.

Two milestones have been reached in England. Trainer Richard Fahey, with Paul Hanagan as the main jockey, has saddled 100 winners this year. Trumpstoo at Newcastle on Tuesday was Fahey’s 100th winner.

Jockey Neil Callan became the third rider in the UK in 2008 to ride 100 winners. The other two are Ryan Moore and Richard Hughes.  Callan had two wins at Lingfield on Wednesday. “It has been a good year. I thought I might push Ryan (Moore) and I started well. My momentum slowed with a lot of bans, “Callan said.

In Australia, the much anticipated Group I Caulfield Cup will be contested on Saturday. It is the final traditional prep for the Melbourne Cup on November 4.  Littorio, at 9-2, is favoured. Littorio has drawn post 10 in the 18-horse field and beat several Group I winners in the 2000-metre Turnbull Stakes at Flemington in his last outing. Weekend Hussler was a disappointment in the Turnbull but is only 5-1 in the Caulfield Cup. The seven-time Group I champion, Weekend Hussler is fancied by many to reverse his form. Master O’Reilly, winner of the Caulfield Cup in 2007, is 6-1 and will only be the third horse to get back to back wins.

The British pair of Mad Rush and All The Good are at 25-1 and 18-1 respectively. Damien Oliver rides Luca Cumani’s Mad Rush who has drawn 17. All The Good, to be ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, has post 10. Trainer Cumani used the Caulfield last year to get Purple Moon ready for the Melbourne Cup. In the race that stops a nation, Purple Moon was edged out in a photo finish.

I am waiting for a decision from Melbourne. I have sent the application for media credentials. Time is running out. I have not been told what the holdup is.

On Saturday, Newmarket hosts Group action. New Approach heads the market in the Champion Stakes. The Dewhurst Stakes will pit Soul City against O’Brien’s Rip Van Winkle. Richard Hughes will be aboard Soul City who made it all in Curragh’s Geoffs Million in late September.

Soul City is trained by Richard Hannon. Jockey Hughes has expressed optimism. “It is all going the right way. He is working very well. He will go in the Dewhurst all being well. He will take all the beating.”

There was rain in the Cambridge area on Wednesday. The going was changed to ‘good.’ More rain is forecast early Thursday. Then on, there will be a dry spell.

Jockey Sam Hitchcott, according to the Racing Post, will be going to India to ride for trainer Amit Caddy. I tried Kempton where Hitchcott was riding Wednesday evening. I was told that I need permission from the British Horseracing Authority to speak to a jockey.

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association has announced what is called ‘equine health and safety reform.’  Tommy Thompson, former Republican Governor of Wisconsin, will be the independent counsel for  the newly-formed ‘Safety and Integrity Alliance.’

The key features are:
1. Uniform medication rules in all the jurisdictions
2. Ban on steroids
3. Out of competition testing for blood-doping agents
4. Uniform penalties for drug infractions
5. Mandatory on-track and non-racing injury reporting
6. Installation of an inner safety rail
7. Mandatory pre and post race testing
8. Placement programs for horses that cannot race.

Alex Waldrop, President of NTRA, issued an upbeat statement. “we are taking strong, positive steps to ensure safety and integrity in our sport. Despite challenges and short and long term costs, there’s an unprecedented level of commitment on all sides.”

Four tracks in America, all part of the Churchill Downs group, have banned toe grabs greater than two millimetres. The ban is effective immediately. The other three tracks are Arlington, Calder and Fair Grounds. There are other provisions but I have pointed out the essence.

Sources :NTRA and Racing Post and other report.