Jeff Runco (112 wins) and Tim Kreiser (85) clinched the trainers’ titles at Charles Town and Penn National, respectively, months ago. Dana Whitney (126) is going to win the jockeys’ title at Penn. Jockeys Jose Montano (121) and J.D. Acosta (120) are in a near dead heat at Charles Town as we head into the final weeks of the year.

There is no racetrack crowd like a Breeders’ Cup crowd. It is the only major gathering at which horsewise insiders outnumber the glitzy riffraff. Anyone with even modest connections can’t walk a dozen steps without confronting a face familiar at some point for either moving or shaking a key corner of the business.

Racing has an Eclipse Awards problem that looks likely to continue when the 2014 champions are announced in January: For the fifth time in the last six years, the statuette for best older male probably will be redundantly bestowed upon a grass horse who is already being honored as the turf champion, instead of being awarded to the nation’s leading older dirt horse.

Halloween might be a wrap for this year, but for a certain generation of California racing citizen there will be ghosts still swirling around for a few more days as Del Mar has its second shot at an autumn meet … after 47 years.

A rational person would think that three years shy of half a century would be more than enough water under the bridge. After all, Friday’s opening program of 15 racing days through Nov. 30 gives Del Mar a chance to stamp this part of the calendar as its very own. Thanksgiving at Del Mar? Sign me up.

The obvious Beyer Speed Figure question from the Saturday Breeders’ Cup card was: How could Take Charge Brandi run 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.95 in the fourth race and Texas Red get the same distance in 1:41.91 in the eighth race, with the 2-year-old filly getting an 83 Beyer and the 2-year-old colt earning a 104?

“Where to begin?” is how host Scott Hazelton commenced the post-Breeders’ Cup telecast on HRTV.

The answer, usually, is “the beginning,” and it was truly a rocky start, awkward and fraught with conflicting images.

Whenever anybody asks me about the state of horse racing, I tell them it is an event-driven sport without enough “events.” Whatever happens on the other 364 days, the Kentucky Derby remains incredibly popular. In fact, you could make a numbers-based argument that it may be more popular than it has ever been. I think that is also true of the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes when a Triple Crown is on the line.

Everyday racing no longer sells. Events sell more than ever. It is why Keeneland, Del Mar, and Saratoga remain so popular. They are unique, and their meets are not endless.

If the Super Bowl is decided by a pass play with contact between receiver and defender or the NBA finals by a drive to the basket on which there is obvious contact, a referee’s borderline decision can determine the outcome of a championship event. Whatever the official decides is sure to prompt endless debate.  

When California Chrome was trying to sweep the Triple Crown this spring, many racing fans anticipated that his 3-year-old campaign would be a historic one ending with a triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

This looks like one of the best Breeders’ Cup Saturdays in recent years, with nine thick and competitive fields and a Classic that figures to live up to the name. But enough small talk:

Juvenile Fillies : I have no argument with 3-1 morning-line favorite Angela Renee. She flew in from New York five weeks ago and won the Grade 1 Chandelier (formerly the Oak Leaf) over Saturday’s track. Wonder Gal has lots of talent and should only improve while stretching out in the division’s top performance. Puca beat nothing in winning a maiden race by 16 lengths but looked good doing it.