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By JOHN ASHER, Sports Columnist


The racing world will focus on Belmont Park and the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships on Saturday, Oct. 29, but as soon as the cheers fade from that magnificent party, the horses will be racing again under the venerable Twin Spires.

Churchill Downs opens what figures to be a strong and exciting 21-day Fall Meet on Sunday, Oct. 30, and it will be a milestone meet for the historic track. It will be the first autumn racing session since 2002 in which fans will not have to clear construction-related hurdles created by the $121-million renovation that was completed in April.

Not only is the completed facility ready for its first fall meet, there have been other improvements made to the track through the summer and early autumn. Most notable among those is the completion of a $600,000 upgrade of the area known as the "Lower Club" located on the first floor beneath the Spires in the historic Clubhouse. That area adjacent to the Paddock, a popular spot with horsemen and fans who like to get an up-close look at the horses as they are being saddled, now includes a new bar, a 12-screen video wall, new ceilings, floors and restrooms, and updated mutuel lines.

Another area sure to be popular with owners and trainers is a new Horsemen's Service Center, which provides business services and racing information and is located in the former Horsemen's Lounge to the rear of the Paddock.

Open Oct. 30-Nov. 26

The racing in the Oct. 30 to Nov. 26 fall meet is always spectacular, especially among the deep and talented ranks of 2-year-olds that race at the meet.

Young stars that have raced at Churchill Downs' Fall Meet during the past five years include 2003 Kentucky Oaks winner Bird Town, 2005 Oaks winner Summerly and future stakes stars Perfect Drift, The Cliff's Edge, Offlee Wild, You, Take Charge Lady, Suave, Runway Model, My Boston Gal, Repent, Dollar Bill, Request for Parole, Greater Good, Harlan's Holiday, Champali, Be Gentle, and Belterra.

Day for 2-year-olds

Saturday, Nov. 5, will be a distinctive day in the track's long history, as all 11 races will feature 2-year-olds. "Stars of the Future" day will feature a pair of $100,000 Grade III stakes races - the Iroquois and the Pocahontas for fillies - that serve as the major preps for its big meet-ending Grade II races for juveniles, the $200,000-added Kentucky Jockey Club and the $200,000 Golden Rod for fillies.

The Iroquois looks particularly interesting as its nominees include such highly regarded horses as Flanders Fields, Laity, Great Point, Little Cliff and High Cotton that have displayed great promise, but may not have been ready for prime time in the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Nominees for the Pocahontas include the well regarded India, Swept Gold and Maggie Slew. The latter is the last offspring of the great 1977 Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew.

Pletcher's impact

Trainer Todd Pletcher, the reigning Eclipse Award winner as America's top conditioner, could have an immediate impact on the Churchill Downs stakes program in the opening day feature, the $100,000-added Ack Ack Handicap. Pletcher has a stable of 26 horses based at Churchill Downs for the first time, and he is expected to s/files/storyimages/Dogwood Stable's 3-year-old Vicarage into the 7 1/2-furlong Ack Ack.

The son of Vicar won Keeneland's Perryville by 10 lengths in his most recent outing and is expected to face a veteran cast that includes Level Playingfield and Artemus Sunrise in the meet opening feature.

Other racing highlights of the meet include the Grade II Mrs. Revere for 3-year-old fillies on the turf, which could attract Sweet Talker, the winner of Keeneland's Grade I Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup for trainer Helen Pitts. And the meet-ending Big Four

Stakes Week/files/storyimages/is always terrific, with the closing day races for 2-year-olds joining the Falls City Handicap for fillies and mares on Thanksgiving Day and the 131st running of the Clark Handicap on Nov. 25 as the big attractions over the three day holiday weekend.

Expect some Breeders' Cup contenders to show up in those four races - and there's an outside chance the Preakness and Belmont winner Afleet Alex could make his return to racing in the Clark.
Post time is 12:40 p.m. daily, except for the holiday post of 11:30 on Nov. 24-26.