Fort Erie Racetrack completed a record 39-day meet on Tuesday while remaining COVID-19 free, according to a press release put out by the track.

Despite being closed to fans, Fort Erie posted a record handle of $40.2 million for the meet, up from $29.9 million last year with 40 days. The meet included 15 days where more than $1 million was wagered.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Richard Baltas is hoping Venetian Harbor shows she’s worthy of running in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, but first things first.

“We’re just trying to win a race,” Baltas said. “That’s the first thing.”

Off three straight runner-up finishes, Venetian Harbor has shipped from her Southern California base to Keeneland for the Grade 3, $200,000 Raven Run, a seven-furlong race in which 10 3-year-old fillies will clash Saturday.

The Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic will again highlight the annual Houston Racing Festival at Sam Houston Race Park, the track announced Tuesday.

The Houston Ladies Classic is the richest offering on a $2.4 million stakes schedule for the Sam Houston meet that opens Jan. 8. Last year, the stakes program was worth $1.8 million.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Kevin Attard said he’s unsure regarding whether or not to run Clayton in the $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes on Oct. 24, when Mighty Heart will try to sweep the Canadian Triple Crown.

Clayton was a fading third in the Sept. 12 Queen’s Plate going 1 1/4 miles on Tapeta. When switching to dirt in the 1 3/16-mile Prince of Wales on Sept. 29, he was a much-improved second after going four wide on both turns, finishing 2 1/2 lengths behind Mighty Heart.

MIAMI - South Florida-based fan favorite Gunnevera, runner-up in the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Classic and earner of over $5.5 million in his career, has been retired trainer Antonio Sano confirmed earlier this week.

Sano said Gunnevera is currently on the farm in Ocala for “a rest” and that he hopes he’ll be able to begin his new career as a stallion early in 2021.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to put together a good deal to breed him, although there is nothing in place at the moment,” said Sano.

Laurel Park in Maryland has received approval from local officials to allow as many as 250 spectators on-site as of Thursday, according to track officials.

The spectator count will not include owners who have already had access to the grounds, according to Sal Sinatra, president of Laurel Park’s parent company. Laurel will open a single concession stand for the ontrack patrons as of the Thursday card and will have betting locations open on-site for the first time since reopening on June 1.

Fair Grounds Race Course on Monday announced a 51-race, $7 million stakes schedule for a 76-day racing season that commences on Thanksgiving, Nov. 26.

The meet highlight, Louisiana Derby Day, comes March 20 next year. Fair Grounds increased the distance of all its important 3-year-old dirt-route stakes this past season – moving the Lecomte out to 1 1/16 miles, the Risen Star to 1 1/8 miles, and the Louisiana Derby to 1 3/16 miles – and will keep intact that format this season.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The popular Ontario owner-breeder James Sabiston passed away on Oct. 10 at 97.

A longtime member of the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society and supporter of the Ontario breeding program, Sabiston operated Longview Farm near Stouffville, Ontario, for more than six decades, beginning in 1956 with his first stallion Bimini Bay. He went on to build a successful breeding operation and stood numerous sires, including Dawn Flight and Bold Revenue.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – It’d be easy to blame the latest defeat for Four Graces on her taking part in a sustained duel that seemed to set the table for a come-from-behinder.

But Ian Wilkes declines to do so. Wilkes, who on Saturday will send out Four Graces in the Grade 2, $200,000 Raven Run at Keeneland, gives “total respect” to Sconsin, the Greg Foley-trained filly who rallied to defeat Four Graces when last they met in the Grade 2 Eight Belles on Sept. 4 at Churchill Downs.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. won six races in his first three days back riding, topped by the Grade 1, $250,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup aboard Happy Saver.

Ortiz, who also won Saturday’s Grade 2 Sands Point on Tamahere and Sunday’s Grade 3 Matron on Royal Approval, missed 23 days of action due to suspensions for careless riding and testing positive for COVID-19.