FORT ERIE, Ontario - Track management is puzzled about what caused a problem with the racing surface that led to the cancellation of racing here on Monday and Tuesday.

After training hours on Monday, while the floats and tractors were preparing the surface for the afternoon program, it was discovered that a small portion of the track, near the three-eighths pole and close to the rail, had washed away.

The problem wasn't detected earlier because dogs were up to protect the inner 15 feet of the track. Heavy rain on Sunday night rendered the surface sloppy.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Woodbine cancelled its nine-race live card on Thursday because of high winds and severe wind gusts.

Winds in the Toronto area were blowing from the northwest at around 35 miles per hour, with gusts up to 45 miles per hour.

Live racing was scheduled to resume Friday at 12:55 p.m.

Trainer Nick Zito and owner Robert LaPenta are hoping the opening night lights at the Meadowlands shine brightly on them once again.

Zito and LaPenta captured the Grade 3 Pegasus Stakes on opening night last year with Pies Prospect, and they will try to duplicate that on Friday with Andromeda's Hero. Second to Afleet Alex in the Belmont Stakes, Andromeda's Hero faces seven other 3-year-olds in the Pegasus Stakes, which will be run at 1 1/8 miles and has a purse of $250,000.

ANDERSON, Ind. - Flying Glitter will attempt to extend her three-race win streak when she heads a wide-open field of eight in Friday night's Grade 3, $400,000-added Indiana Breeders' Cup Oaks at Hoosier Park.

The card also features the the City of Anderson for Indiana-bred 2-year-old fillies and the Richmond Stakes for older statebred fillies and mares. All three stakes will be included in a special pick 4 wager. The weekend is anchored by the meet's marquee event, Saturday's Grade 2, $500,000-added Indiana Derby.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Carano enhanced his family's reputation when he scored an electrifying two-length win in an allowance race on turf at Del Mar on Aug. 20. As the younger half-brother to the millionaire Valentine Dancer, Carano has been looked upon as a potential stakes horse since his career began.

In the coming weeks at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita, Carano could finally jump to that level. Friday, the 4-year-old Carano starts in a $45,000 allowance race over 1 1/16 miles, trying for his third career victory.

EDMONTON, Alberta - Dignified Donovan, making his first start since winning twice in three outings early this year at Fair Grounds, will return to action at Northlands in Friday's feature, a $40,000 optional claimer at a mile.

A Kentucky-bred 6-year-old, Dignified Donovan was bought as a weanling in 1999 by Donver Stable. He raced at Gulfstream and Woodbine last year and won his first start at Fair Grounds this January in $40,000 company.

AUBURN, Wash. - Mister Doeny and West Seattle Boy will be rematched in Friday's Emerald Downs feature, a one-mile race for $15,000 claimers that has drawn a field of eight older horses.

BOSSIER CITY, La. - The Grade 2 Super Derby will have its largest field and largest purse since 1996 on Saturday after 10 horses, led by Real Dandy, Smokescreen, Nolan's Cat and Royal Saint, passed the entry box Wednesday at Louisiana Downs.

The last time the purse for the Super Derby was at this year's level of $750,000, in 1996, Editor's Note was the victor in a field of 11.

Louisiana Downs, which operates a slots casino, raised the purse from $500,000, and returned the distance of the race to 1 1/4 miles. The Super Derby had been run at 1 1/8 miles since 2002.

ANDERSON, Ind. - Scrappy T was installed Wednesday as the 5-2 morning-line favorite when a field of nine was drawn for Saturday's Grade 2, $500,000-added Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park Don't Get Mad was made the 7-2 second choice in Hoosier's showcase event.

The 1 1/16-mile Indiana Derby will anchor a special pick 4 added to the wagering menu. The pick 4 will encompass the Hillsdale for 2-year-old Indiana-bred colts and geldings, a second-level allowance, the Gus Grissom for older Indiana-breds, and the Derby.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Six rivals signed up to meet Lost in the Fog in Saturday's $100,000 Bay Meadows Speed Handicap at Bay Meadows. A six-furlong race, the Speed Handicap will be Lost in the Fog's final prep before he runs in the Oct. 29 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Belmont.

Six runners signed up for the Grade 3, $125,000 Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Handicap, a 1 1/8-mile race on the turf earlier on Saturday's card. The Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Handicap is the third race on the card, and the Speed Handicap is the eighth.