Skimatic improved dramatically in his first start for trainer James McCullough, and if he can repeat his performance when he steps up to face winners for the first time, he will be tough to handle in Sunday’s feature at Northlands Park. A $15,000 claiming race at 6 1/2 furlongs, the feature will have seven 3-year-olds and up who have never won two races and goes as race 7.

FORT ERIE, Ontario – In recent years, after wrapping up the meet at Fort Erie, trainer John Simms has headed south to stable at Tampa Bay Downs without knowing whether the Fort would be open for business the following spring.

But there will be no uncertainty this year after the Fort Erie Live Racing Consortium this week announced a 78-day schedule for 2011. The schedule includes 4 p.m. post times on Mondays and Tuesdays in June, July, and August.

AUBURN, Wash. – Adversaries for six long months, the leading trainers at Emerald Downs will go their separate ways when the meeting ends Sunday, some to Portland, some to Turf Paradise in Phoenix, some to Golden Gate Fields in the Bay Area, and some to a winter spent breaking horses, reconnecting with family, recharging batteries, and reloading for 2011.

AUBURN, Wash. – The $75,000 Gottstein Futurity is the centerpiece of an 11-race card Sunday as Emerald Downs pulls down the curtain on its 15th season. Getaway Day begins at 2 p.m. Pacific, and the Gottstein is the 10th race on a program that also includes the Ashbaugh Beal Claiming Challenge, a six-race showcase for horses who have started for various claiming prices in 2010.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – The Grade 3, $150,000 British Columbia Derby headlines a strong nine-race card that includes three supporting stakes Sunday at Hastings. The 1 1/8-mile derby drew 11 horses who will carry 126 pounds, and with Russell Baze riding, Cherokee Notion figures to be favored over his stablemate Prince Intent and Charterhill.

ALBANY, Calif. – Seven stakes races, highlighted by the Grade 3 All American, will be offered at Golden Gate Fields’ fall meet beginning Oct. 20.

The $100,000 All American is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 26. The race for 3-year-olds and up is carded at 1 1/8 miles.

The seven stakes, worth $475,000, include four stakes for 2-year-olds.

Two-year-old fillies will run for $50,000 in the six-furlong Golden Gate Debutante on Nov. 6. On Dec. 4, the $75,000 Corte Madera will be run at one mile.

The city of Arcadia granted Santa Anita construction permits on Thursday to start the conversion of its existing synthetic main track to a dirt surface this fall, track president George Haines told the California Horse Racing Board on Thursday.

After the racing board meeting, Haines said Santa Anita is close to a decision on what material will be used for the new track, having tested dirt samples from California, Mississippi, Tennessee and Argentina.

“My inclination is it will be locally sourced material,” he said.

BOSSIER CITY, La. – Rene Douglas did a little research on Anthony Stephen before that Trinidad native guided a horse Douglas co-owns, Golden Moka, to victory in the $500,000 Prince of Wales at Fort Erie back in July, and became a fast fan of the rider.

“I saw some of his races on YouTube and he impressed me,” said Douglas, who was forced to retire from the saddle because of injuries. “He had a good hand on horses. He has patience and he finishes with horses.

“He can ride, believe me.”

Fair Grounds will close out its 10-date Quarter Horse meet on Saturday with a stakes double, led by the $40,000 Fair Grounds Challenge. The winner of the 440-yard race will qualify for the Grade 1, $350,000 Challenge Championship. It is one of six major stakes to be held at Fair Grounds on Nov. 19 as part of the $1.1 million Challenge Championships program. The traveling series of stakes will be making its first appearance in New Orleans.

Miranda Diane will make her first start on grass in the $50,000 Remington Park Turf Sprint and her exceptional speed could serve her well at the race’s five-furlong distance. She will be taking on a competitive group of male rivals, including Flatland Fever, a winner of five of his last six starts, and Laidbacklynny, the race’s defending champ.