Donald “D.D.” Smith, 69, whose riding career in the Mid-Atlantic region spanned three decades, died Oct. 17 in Frederick, Md.

Smith, who rode 1,504 winners during a career that began in the early 1960s and ended in 1989, competed primarily at Penn National, Charles Town, Laurel Park, and Pimlico.

“D.D. was a close friend of mine and a great person to be around,” said Arnie Iliescu, Penn National’s all-time leading jockey. “I have the fondest memories of our time together at Penn National, and he will be sorely missed.”

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The Woodbine Entertainment Group changed its status from a not-for-profit to for-profit corporation this spring following the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s termination of the slots-at-racetracks program.

The change was not announced by WEG and was first reported by the Toronto Star on Thursday.

Rahystrada, the only horse to win the Arlington Handicap three times, has been retired after finishing fifth in an allowance race Thursday at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.

Owner Robert Courtney Jr. said he and trainer Scooter Hughes had “decided it’s time to give the horse a good life” in light of the two subpar performances that ended the 9-year-old gelding’s 46-race career. Rahystrada had finished 11th in the Aug. 17 Arlington Million in his previous start.

As the 30th running of the Breeders’ Cup approaches at Santa Anita next weekend, it is safe to say that the event has succeeded far beyond even the imagination of its founder, John Gaines, who envisioned a single day of racing that would decide year-end championships, most notably Horse of the Year.

The Breeders’ Cup has morphed into a two-day extravaganza, now numbering 14 races after expanding to as many as 15. In terms of both days and races, it literally is twice its original size.

Breeders’ Cup Mile pre-entrant Flotilla is “very doubtful” to ship as planned from France to California on Saturday, trainer Mikel Delzangles said. Flotilla has a bruised foot that is unlikely to improve sufficiently for the 3-year-old filly to be properly prepared for the Mile.

“It’s a problem that could be solved in a week’s time, but the timing is bad,” Delzangles said.

Flotilla won the Juvenile Fillies Turf last fall on the Breeders’ Cup program but has run poorly in her two most recent starts, both in France.

Mshawish stays in Europe

Suffolk Downs in East Boston, Mass., will spend $40 million on renovations to its grandstand, racing surfaces, and backstretch if its bid to get approval for a casino at the track is successful, track officials announced on Thursday at a press conference at a local farm.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Thursday proved to be the calm before the storm for Breeders’ Cup hopefuls training at Santa Anita, with the majority of activity confined to routine jogs and gallops. Only one Breeders’ Cup contender, the multiple Grade  1 winner Jeranimo (Mile), turned in a recorded workout, breezing five furlongs in 1:00.40 over the main track following the final renovation break shortly after 9:30 a.m.

ARCADIA, Calif. – When there is a loose horse on the track at Santa Anita, a siren goes off, and lights flash, to warn other riders. No such warning exists when trainer Eric Guillot arrives for work each morning, but, like a loose horse, he usually makes his presence known in short order.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Of the many people saddened by the death of multiple Grade 1 winner Dullahan, perhaps no one took it harder than Bailey Romans. The 20-year-old daughter of Dale Romans and Tammy Fox absolutely reveled in the exploits of an exceptional chestnut colt who died Oct. 20 from a ruptured colon.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Jockey Calvin Borel, who fractured his left leg in a spill during Keeneland’s sixth race Wednesday that was declared a no contest, is expected to miss at least three to four weeks of riding, agent Jerry Hissam said.

If Borel’s fracture, which occurred in his left fibula, a bone below the knee, is healed following that period, he could return for the last week of Churchill Downs’s fall meet, which begins Sunday and continues through Nov. 30.

“That is the target date if possible,” Hissam said. “We’ll just see how fast he heals.”