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Around The Backstretch

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

Breeders' Cup Contenders and News

Breeders’ Cup adds communication plan - Thoroughbred Times
Breeders’ Cup Ltd., Churchill Downs, and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, which all faced criticism in the wake of the Life At Ten situation at last year’s World Championships, will implement a new communications plan that involves commission personnel, stewards, members of the veterinary teams, race participants, and racing officials for the 2012 edition.

Regally Ready for BC Turf Sprint after wiring Nearctic - Handicappers' Edge
Vinery Stables' Regally Ready was arguably the hottest American turf sprinter in the first half of this season, and judging by his wire-to-wire victory in Sunday's Grade 1, $506,537 Nearctic Stakes at Woodbine, the Steve Asmussen trainee is back firing on all cylinders ahead of the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

Breeders' Cup prospects Jackson Bend, Ice Box drill at Saratoga | Daily Racing Form
A total of 90 horses breezedTuesday morning at Saratoga, including about two dozen from trainer Nick Zito’s barn. Heading the Zito contingent was Jackson Bend, the Grade 1 Forego winner who breezed four furlongs in 47.92 seconds in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5. Zito also worked Ice Box, who went a half-mile in 47.96 seconds and is being pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Classic on the same day.

Santa Anita: Game On Dude works solid five furlongs for Breeders' Cup Classic | Daily Racing Form
Game On Dude, the expected Breeders’ Cup Classic pacesetter, posted a solid five-furlong workout Tuesday at 9 a.m. at Santa Anita while in company with an unidentified workmate also trained by Bob Baffert.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile prospect Creative Cause turns in six-furlong bullet | Daily Racing Form
Creative Cause, the winner of the Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 1, continued his progress toward a start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs on Nov. 5, with a six-furlong workout at Hollywood Park on Tuesday.

Sassy Image Injured; Out of BC | BloodHorse.com
Multiple grade I winner Sassy Image has been taken out of consideration for the $1 million Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I) after a chip in a hind ankle was discovered.

No Breeders' Cup for Awesome Gem | BloodHorse.com
Eight-year-old Awesome Gem, who has competed in the past four Breeders' Cups, will bypass the World Championships this year, according to West Point Thoroughbreds' website.

Off the track

Ohio Governor Fast-Tracks VLT Regulations | BloodHorse.com
Republican Gov. John Kasich, citing an "emergency" in Ohio, issued an executive order Oct. 14 allowing the Ohio Lottery Commission to adopt regulations governing racetrack video lottery terminals.

What's Going On Here | Banning Racing's 'Bad Boy' - by Evan Hammonds | BloodHorse.com Blog Stable
In order for the game to get cleaner, regulators need to get meaner.

NYRA's third-quarter betting revenue higher than in 2010 | Daily Racing Form
The New York Racing Association had higher gross and net wagering revenue during the third quarter of this year than it did last year, when New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation was still operating, according to figures provided on Monday by NYRA officials to members of a state oversight board.

Golden Gate shows increase in fall meet daily handle | Daily Racing Form
The Golden Gate Fields 22-day fall meet, which ran from Aug. 19-Oct. 2, showed a daily average handle increase over the 2010 meet, which lasted 27 days.

Illinois Gov. Quinn kills expanded gambling bill - Thoroughbred Times
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn on Monday killed an expanded gambling bill that would have permitted slot machines at Illinois racetracks, according to published reports.

Sid Fernando: Sadler’s Wells revisited - Thoroughbred Times

International

Jockeys turn up heat on BHA over whip rules - Horse Racing News | Racing Post
The Professional Jockeys' Association have upped the pressure on the BHA by calling on them to make urgent progress in amending the new whip rules and suggesting some riders could boycott meetings in protest.

Frankel hits the heights on brilliant Champions Day - The BHA handicappers - UK Horse Racing Blogs | Racing Post
The richest day in British racing history brought together the finest horses in Europe and a large and enthusiastic crowd, and it proved very much a day for the stars to shine, writes blog editor Graeme Smith.