Around the Backstretch

A look at the items making news around the world of horse racing:

North America

Leparoux's MRI is negative following spill - ESPN
A magnetic resonance imaging test taken Tuesday on the right arm of Julien Leparoux revealed no soft-tissue damage, which clears the 28-year-old jockey to continue riding this week at Keeneland Race Course.

Belmont Park: Tizway ships in from Saratoga for mile workout | Daily Racing Form
Horse of the Year candidate Tizway, who missed the Jockey Club Gold Cup earlier this month after briefly spiking a temperature, continued to progress toward a start in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic by working a strong mile in 1:38.47 on the main track at Belmont Park on Wednesday morning.

QE II Challenge Cup: Catch Me If You Can | BloodHorse.com
It will be speed vs. closing power as Summer Soiree and Winter Memories clash.

Hayward: NYRA should run New York City OTB's - PaulickReport.com
In written testimony Tuesday before a state Senate committee, New York Racing Association CEO Charles Hayward said NYRA is best-suited to run operate off-track betting parlors in New York City, not regional OTB groups that are similar to the failed New York City OTB.

Richard Hannon lines up pair for trip to Breeders' Cup - Horse Racing News | Racing Post
LILBOURNE LAD beaten into second by Crusade in the Emaar Middle Park Stakes on Saturday could be in line to join stablemate Strong Suit on the plane to America for this year's Breeders' Cup.

Blind Luck to sell at Keeneland November - ESPN
Blind Luck, the reigning champion 3-year-old filly, will be among eight Grade 1-winning fillies on offer at Keeneland's November mixed sale, which starts Nov. 7.

British Champions Day

QEII not a 'formality' for Frankel Cecil - Horse Racing News | Racing Post
SIR HENRY CECIL on Monday reported that unbeaten colt Frankel remains in excellent form before the Qipco Queen Elizabeth II Stakes but insisted the result is not a formality.

Await The Dawn unlikely to run in Champion Stakes - Horse Racing News | Racing Post
AWAIT THE DAWN trained by Aidan O'Brien is likely to miss the Qipco sponsored Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

BBC Sport - Ascot's Champions Day threatens Breeders' Cup's pulling power
What started as a means of providing a comprehensive and valuable, happy ending to the 'narrative' of the Flat racing season has taken even more magnificent shape than anyone imagined.

BBC Sport - Ascot British Champions Day meeting close to a sell-out
Ascot's director of communications Nick Smith says he expects 25,000 people to attend the inaugural British Champions Day at the course on Saturday.

Overdue Champions Day in England generating buzz - Thoroughbred Times
The inaugural QIPCO British Champions Day on Saturday at Ascot has generated plenty of excitement from trainers as an event long overdue.