Less than two weeks out from the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland on Nov. 6-7, there was little change in both the latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top 3-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll and NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll. 

Wichita, the QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1) runner-up and Bet365 Park Stakes (G2) winner for Aidan O’Brien this season, has died in Australia due to complications recovering from surgery.

WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, and SF Racing’s Awesome Again Stakes (G1) winner Improbable heads Santa Anita Park’s 2020 Autumn Meet Media Poll, which recognizes equine and human accomplishments in a variety of categories.

Maker’s Mark, the official bourbon of the Breeders’ Cup, has partnered with Keeneland for the second time in 2020 to create a uniquely designed, limited-edition bottle with proceeds supporting the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.

Gladys, a full sister to Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, and Clairiere, the first foal out of three-time grade 1 winner Cavorting, are among five notable maiden winners this week.

Maxim Rate has not finished worse than second in five starts this season, and Oct. 25 at Santa Anita Park she returned from a runner-up effort in the Sept. 26 Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1T) to land the $201,000 Goldikova Stakes (G2T) with ease.

Al and Bill Ulwelling’s Merveilleux posted a mild upset when defeating Woodbine Oaks victress Curlin’s Voyage and Oaks runner-up Afleet Katherine in the Wonder Where Stakes at Woodbine.

William Pribble’s Miss Adeline prevailed by a neck in a maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies on turf Oct. 25 at Churchill Downs and marked the first winner for freshman sire Big Blue Kitten. 

Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm’s King Fury picked up the first stakes win of his career Oct. 25 in the $98,000 Street Sense Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs. 

William Hill and Bradley Thoroughbreds’ Tapit Today ran down pacesetter Mitchell Road to collect her first stakes victory in the $100,000 Athenia Stakes (G3T) Oct. 25 at Belmont Park. 

Coleman “Coley” Blind is stepping down as stakes coordinator for the Maryland Jockey Club. Former trainer Jason Egan, who currently works in the MJC racing office as an entry clerk, will step into the role.

A barrage of Breeders’ Cup contenders worked across the country the morning of Oct. 25 at Keeneland, Belmont Park and Santa Anita Park.

This week’s Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale  will bring down the curtain on a yearling sale season impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with sales cancelled and decreased buyer participation.

Subjectivist defied a midstraight drift to land the Prix Royal-Oak (G1) under Joe Fanning, earning trainer Mark Johnston his second career group 1 in France barely 24 hours after Gear Up landed the first across the River Seine at Saint-Cloud. 

Tattersalls is set to offer a typically eclectic mix of performers at this year’s Autumn Horses in Training Sale, which, even after a significant number of withdrawals, will see over 1,100 lots come under the hammer across four sessions.

Contrail made history on several fronts and raised expectations to new heights with a hard-fought victory Oct. 25 in the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1) at Kyoto Racecourse.

Country Life Farm’s freshman sire Mosler was represented by his first stakes winner when his Maryland-bred daughter Miss Nondescript remained unbeaten winning the $100,000 Maryland Million Lassie Stakes at Laurel Park Oct. 24.

Racing Oct. 24 in the $100,500 Senator Ken Maddy Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park, Biddy Duke won the first stakes of her career, defeating Jo Jo Air by a head. The victory came just five months after O’Neill and owner Joe Besecker claimed her.

Monmouth Park showed increases in both the daily transmission of its signal and in total average handle compared to 2019 while also avoiding any cases of COVID-19 during the combined 44-day meet that concluded Oct. 24.

Chester and Mary Broman’s Mr. Buff got back on track Oct. 24, taking the $175,000 Empire Classic Handicap for the second straight year and putting the finishing touches on a thrilling day of New York-bred stakes action at Belmont Park.