The Breeders' Cup posted a two-day attendance of 118,484 at Santa Anita Park, the highest in the event's history. A crowd of 72,811 was on hand at the L.A.-area track yesterday, the highest single-day attendance since the event went to a two-day format in '07. A crowd of 72,730 attended Saturday races in '10 at Churchill Downs, where Zenyatta was competing in the final race of her career. The 118,484 figure is up 25.5% over two-day attendance of 94,652 at Keeneland last year and up 20.5% over crowds of 98,319 when the Breeders' Cup was held at Santa Anita in '14. The two-day figure is 3.5% higher than the 114,353 in '10.

A total of $159,991,803 was wagered on the Breeders' Cup races over the two days, an increase of 6.25% over $150,574,656 wagered in '15. But total wagering was down 10.5% from the $173,857,697 wagered in '10.

Clear skies and high security "greeted the 50,000 runners" in today's TCS N.Y. Marathon. The NYPD said that it "assigned 10% more cops to marathon duty this year than the thousands who worked on last year's race" (USATODAY.com, 11/6). In terms of elite runners, the men's and women's pro fields are "weak this year." One of the reasons is that "many of the world's best marathoners competed" in the Rio Games and are "not running fall marathons" (NYTIMES.com, 11/6). TCS runs a full-page ad in today's N.Y. Times that calls the marathon the "World's Greatest Race" (THE DAILY).

We're down to 3 men here on 1st Avenue, where the #TCSNYCMarathon excitement is fueled by crowds of thousands! pic.twitter.com/KBVjk1sgIq

— TCS NYC Marathon (@nycmarathon) November 6, 2016

Sources said that Cavaliers F LeBron James is "set to appear with Hillary Clinton in Cleveland" today at a get-out-the-vote rally at the Public Auditorium. This will be James' "first appearance with Clinton." A source said that the two "have never met." James "formally endorsed Clinton through an op-ed in early October" (NYMAG.com, 11/4). The rally is slated to begin at 4:30pm ET (POLITICO.com, 11/6).

Meanwhile, a motorcade "believed to be escorting" VP Joe Biden from a Clinton rally yesterday in Bucks County, Pa., caused some Cavaliers players "to be delayed" on their way to the team's game against the 76ers. After their bus was "stopped for more than 20 minutes waiting for the motorcade to pass," Gs Kyrie Irving, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert "left it along with team security personnel and hopped in an Uber to finish their trip to the Wells Fargo Center." They "arrived approximately 65 minutes before tipoff" (ESPN.com, 11/5).

Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage on Saturday said the track's surface will be repaved "sooner than later." Gossage in his comments "acknowledged what will please ticket-buying fans and disappoint drivers." This is the 15th season for the current surface, which is "old by racing standings." Weather and elements such as the "ground-effects racing of the Verizon IndyCar series have taken a toll" (DALLASNEWS.com, 11/5). 

Meanwhile, 30,000 Tony Stewart bobbleheads "decked out in his red, white and blue Mobil 1 firesuit and holding a checkered flag" were to be given away before today's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at TMS (USATODAY.com, 11/4). Two Target Milk Bone dog parks have "opened on the premises" of TMS, one for "car owners and drivers in the infield, and another outside the track for race fans" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 11/5).

.@KyleLarsonRacin and Bullseye from @Target cutting the ribbon at the brand new @MilkBone #PuppyPitStop in the Campground! pic.twitter.com/4qbN1yc2en

— Texas Motor Speedway (@TXMotorSpeedway) November 4, 2016

Manny Pacquiao beat Jessie Vargas by unanimous decision last night, "taking Vargas' WBO welterweight belt" before an announced crowd of 16,132 at the Thomas & Mack Center. Floyd Mayweather Jr. was ringside for the bout. Pacquiao said that he "invited Mayweather to the fight, but didn't say if he wanted a rematch" with him (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 11/6).

ESPN’s Merril Hoge today blamed his own network and other NFL media for the perception that Panthers QB Cam Newton is correct to complain about unfair treatment by officials. Hoge: “We are the biggest culprit in this right now, 'we' meaning ESPN and football shows, because we are highlight-driven. We have taken that hit to the knee and shown it hundreds of times, but there are 20 other pocket plays that were fine in that game and we don't show those. You have to look and compare apples-to-apples. You can't look at a game objectively, because he plays outside the pocket” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 11/6).

During last night’s edition of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” Cubs players Anthony Rizzo, Dexter Fowler and David Ross appeared in a skit where they performed as male exotic dancers at a bachelorette party. Rizzo said, “It's your lucky night. We're about to pull a triple header.” The episode also featured Rizzo, Fowler, and Ross joining actor Bill Murray during “Weekend Update” to sing “Go Cubs Go.” Fowler said, “This is the best thing we have ever done” (“SNL,” NBC, 11/5).

JetBlue's Gate 34 at Logan Int'l Airport will soon be "dedicated" to newly retired MLBer David Ortiz (BOSTON HERALD, 11/6).

Sevyn Streeter and the 76ers said that the singer would "perform wearing her 'We Matter' jersey at the team's Dec. 16 home game" against the Lakers (AP, 11/5).

U.S. Cellular said that its Q3 earnings "were dinged" to the tune of $13M as a "result of expenses from ending its naming rights agreement" with the White Sox early. U.S. Cellular bought the rights in '03 in a "deal that had been scheduled to run" through '28 (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/5).

SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS columnist Buck Harvey today penned his final column for the paper (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 11/6).

"There's a million ways you can express yourself and you should do that, for sure. Taking a knee in the United States of America while millions of people are watching, I think it's a poor example" – Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert, on National Anthem protests by athletes (DETROIT NEWS, 11/5).

“We probably should have been in New York a long time ago, but I always said that when we get to MSG, I’m going to build a card that people will remember. ... It's the biggest, baddest fight card in combat sports history” – UFC President Dana White, during an appearance on Fox' NFL pregame show, on UFC 205 (“Fox NFL Sunday,” 11/6).

"This is bigger, with all due respect, than the All-Star Game, a football game, a basketball game – combined, times two. This economic impact is huge" – North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, on the state hosting the '18 World Equestrian Games after many governing sports bodies pulled events from the state due to the controversial HB2 (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 11/5).

"Very consistent with years past, there's no hard-and-fast payroll number. We're going to see what happens in the market, see what develops. We do need to make some moves from the obvious holes that are there" – Red Sox President Sam Kennedy, on the team's financial capability to sign players during the offseason (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/5).

The WASHINGTON POST notes the NFL is "enduring an unusual season," as TV ratings are down, "riveting games and story lines have been scarce, and though games have actually been shorter this season than a year ago, it often hasn't seemed like it amid the penalty flags and play stoppages." The BOSTON GLOBE goes with the header, "10 Theories Why NFL TV Ratings Are Down."

In the N.Y. TIMES: "Nonprofit organizations clamor to be associated with sports teams, leagues and events because of their broad reach and the popularity of the athletes. Sports fans are also more inclined to give to causes linked with their favorite players or teams."

The BOSTON HERALD goes with the header, "Charles Steinberg, Larry Lucchino Are Having Fun With Pawtucket Red Sox, Making Sure Fans Do, Too." The PawSox have "created a warm family environment, one that even extended to last week’s Halloween festivities."

Elsewhere:

• Ravens organization, fans navigate evolving ticketing landscape.   
• NFL Jets GM Mike Maccagnan's wife Betty takes stand on domestic violence.
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar feels connection with politically conscious athletes.
• Warriors GM Bob Myers finds hope after death of brother-in-law Scott Dinsmore.
• A look at an alternate reality: what if Donald Trump bought the Bills?
• Is NFL Panthers coach Ron Rivera's wife Stephanie the secret to his success?

Good circumstances for Cam Newton to get favorable calls today. He's spoken to Roger Goodell & he's going against Gregg Williams' defense.

— Joel Corry (@corryjoel) November 6, 2016

"We want to find a pencil and jam it in our eyeball!" - @AmyTrask on how #NFL front office execs react when they see bad play calling

— Nancy Gay (@nancygay) November 6, 2016

Earlier this wk NYRR told media they'd like to grow the race (currently world's largest w/ 50k+ finishers) but it's up to mayor and NYPD

— Sara Germano (@germanotes) November 6, 2016

According to this map, there are less than 200 tickets available for #CFL East Semi-Final between #Ticats & #Esks https://t.co/oxb3r1qoON

— Drew Edwards (@scratchingpost) November 6, 2016