The driver whose tractor damaged the inner rail on the Ellis main track Friday during a routine resurfacing later died from the medical emergency that caused the accident.

Ellis released a statement Tuesday that said Dorris “Heavy” Watson, a member of the track maintenance staff for nearly a quarter-century, subsequently died at a local hospital. The press release said Watson began his tenure at Ellis in 1997 and “was a constant and beloved presence, particularly on the backside track area. ‘Heavy’ will be missed by all of us that were blessed to know him.”

Chris Landeros has ridden at Churchill Downs, Canterbury Park, Thistledown, Delaware Park, Indiana Grand, Saratoga, Colonial Downs, and Ellis Park.

And that’s just in a recent 30-day span.

Indeed, from June 23 to July 23, Landeros was legged up at all eight of those tracks – all while contending for the top spot at what currently qualifies as his “home” track, Ellis in western Kentucky.

The Texas Racing Commission on Tuesday approved a state racing calendar for 2022.

The Thoroughbred racing season will open Jan. 6 at Sam Houston in Houston. The meet will run for 50 dates through April 9. The season includes eight dates from Retama Park near San Antonio, which will only conduct a Quarter Horse meet in 2022.

The other Thoroughbred meet in Texas will be a 48-date season at Lone Star Park near Dallas. It will run from April 28 through July 24.

Mojo Man knocked out the first stakes win of his career last week at Indiana Grand and is now back home at Arlington Park with his next move to be determined, trainer Jimmy DiVito said.

Mojo Man won the $66,000 Send It In Army Stakes on July 21. He darted home 2 1/4 lengths in front, and for covering six furlongs in 1:09.35 earned one of his best Beyer Speed Figures, a 92.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Knicks Go and By My Standards each put in sharp, long workouts over the weekend out of town as they prepare for a start in the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney Stakes here on Aug. 7.

On Sunday at Ellis Park, Knicks Go worked six furlongs in 1:12.20. Trainer Brad Cox said the work was delayed a day due to the closure of the track for training Saturday following Friday’s incident when a stricken tractor driver damaged the inside rail on the dirt course.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Saffie Joseph Jr. went 3 for 4 at Aqueduct with two stakes wins, including the Grade 1 Carter Handicap. Joseph went 8 for 28 at the Belmont Park spring/summer, highlighted by Drain the Clock’s victory in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens.

What type of meet will Joseph have at Saratoga? Ask him Sunday.

“This week’s our meet,” said Joseph, who has gotten off to a 1-for-7 start through the first nine days at Saratoga.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jockeys Junior Alvarado, Julien Leparoux, Deshawn Parker, Gerard Melancon, and Scott Stevens are the finalists for the Mike Venezia Memorial Award, the New York Racing Association announced Sunday.

Named after the rider who died as a result of injuries suffered in a spill in 1988, the Venezia Award is given to a jockey who displays extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship.

Racing resumes Wednesday at Canterbury Park after a nine-day break during which the Minnesota track hosted the Twin Cities Summer Jam, the track announced.

There are 29 days remaining of the 65-date season. Officials said handle has been up nearly 13 percent through the first portion of the meet. Field size through the first 36 dates of the meet has averaged 7.2 horses a race and daily purses have averaged $235,237.

The Indiana breeding program received a boost July 15 when the Indiana Racing Commission approved a proposal by the Indiana Thoroughbred Breed Development to return purses for statebred and state-sired stakes to a minimum of $100,000.

Lone Star Park has asked the Texas Racing Commission for approval to start its Thoroughbred meet a week later in 2022. The track is seeking to race 48 dates, the same as in 2021.

Lone Star would like to open April 28 and race through July 24, said Matt Vance, executive vice president of both Lone Star and its sister track Remington Park.

Vance said Lone Star also is looking to race Thursday through Sunday most weeks, with night racing on Thursday and Friday and afternoon cards on Saturday and Sunday.