This weekend marks both an end and a beginning for North America's highest earning horse, as he is set to take his curtain call this Saturday. Curlin, the reigning horse of the year, will make his final parade performance before a most appreciate crowd at Churchill Downs before he is scheduled to stand at stud next year at Lane's End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky.

Curlin will be walked onto the main track at Churchill Down's between the fifth and sixth races at about 1:35 p.m. Eastern. A brief tribute in the winner's circle will follow. The event also marks the close of Churchill Down's 26-day fall racing schedule.

Curlin's career earnings topped $10.5 million for owner Jesse Jackson.

"The Jacksons are due great credit for allowing our sport to enjoy this great champion as a four-year-old," said Will Farish of Lane's End. "Many would have retired him after winning the Breeders' Cup Classic and Horse of the Year honors as a three-year-old. Curlin's performance on the track, his pedigree, and his conformation make him the most exciting sire prospect to retire in many years. We are honored to have him join his champion sire Smart Strike at Lane's End."

For a look back at one of Curlin's latest victories, check out this video of the 2008 Dubai World Cup.

Get all your online horse racing odds at the Bodog Sportsbook.

And you thought North American horse racing was over for the year? Not by a longshot. There’s plenty of action for horse racing fans and bettors at Aqueduct Racetrack and Churchill Downs.

Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York City, launches its five-week Fall Horse Racing season this weekend and for the next five weeks, the main track will play host to a series of Grade 2 and Grade 3 races before the action moves to the winterized inner track for four months beginning Dec. 3.

Highlighted by the Grade 1, $350,000 Cigar Mile on Nov. 29, the 10 graded race card also includes the Grade 2 Remsen for juvenile colts and Grade 2 Demoiselle for juvenile fillies; the $100,000 Discovery Handicap for 3-year-olds on Nov. 22; the $65,000 Best of Luck Stakes for 3-year-olds

Historic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky gets set to launch its 26-day, 12-race stakes fall racing schedule starting on Sunday, Nov. 9th with the 16th running of the $100,000 Ack Ack H. Grade 3 race and ending on Nov. 29th with the Stars of Tomorrow.

Get all your Aqueduct and Churchill downs horse racing odds at the Bodog Racebook.

With Curlin's long-term goal being the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) at Longchamp Oct. 5, it was imperative he run his next race on the grass. The Horse of the Year recently had a successful work at Churchill Downs and after some licensing issues regarding the colt's minority partners, it was unclear as to whether Curlin would reach any of the potential races (Arlington Handicap or Man o' War).

"We’ve been OK’d to race in New York and we’re planning on flying him to Belmont on Thursday," Asmussen said. “I have no particulars; that was handled by Stonestreet."

If Curlin looks good at the Man o' War, prepping for the Arc will be the next step.

“I think the Arc is one of the greatest races in the world and we’re hoping to prove that Curlin is one of the greatest horses in the world,” Asmussen said. “If we can establish a grade I form on him this Saturday in the Man o' War, we’ll make arrangements from there to get him to Chantilly and start our preparations with him to be comfortable going right-handed. That will start Saturday, and if all goes well we’ll still have a lot to do.”

Get all your online horse betting in the Bodog Racebook today.

The decision on which race Curlin will run relies upon licensing issues in racing jurisdictions.

"He’s an awesome horse – I’m excited," trainer Steve Asmussen said. "It looks like we ought to know something on the licensing today, I understand. We’re obviously very anxious about that."

Asmussen would prefer for Curlin to run the Man O' War, as the 1 3/8 mile race will pit Curlin against two other Breeders’ Cup champions, Red Rocks and Better Talk Now.

"That race is coming up fabulous," said Asmussen. "If you’re going to venture overseas, you don’t want to be kidding yourself about how good or bad you are on the turf."

Asmussen hopes that if the licensing issue is resolved, Curlin would fly to New York on Thursday for Saturday’s race at Belmont Park for the Man O' War. If all goes well in New York, then Curlin will travel to France for the Arc de Triomphe. With just two 2008 wins from as many starts, Curlin continues to lead all active earners with a total of $4,189,000.

Summer racing has arrived at Del Mar! Get all your summer horse betting in the Bodog Racebook today.

"Not running would be an injustice to him," Asmussen said. "When you look at it, we're giving quality horses 15 pounds, and that’s quite significant. But he must overcome. They didn't put him back in training to debate weights." Asmussen continued with, “He’s prepped for the race, but I don’t like the weights at all, “I thought 126 would have been enough.”

"He needs to run," Asmussen said. "My issue with the weight is: If he carries 128 now, where are you going to end up if you have success? We haven't had anybody carry that much in 10 years," Asmussen is making reference to horse Skip Away who won the Pimlico Special with 128 pounds and the Iselin Handicap with 131 pounds, these events took place in 1998.

The Grade I Stephen Foster Handicap field is expected to include Einstein with 118 pounds, Grasshopper with 117, Brass Hat with 116, Delightful Kiss with 114, Jonesboro with 114, Barcola with 113, High Blues with 113, Red Rock Creek with 113 and Sam P. also with 113.

The Grade I Stephen Foster Handicap’s base purse is $750,000 but this year Churchill Downs revised the conditions and raised a bonus of $250.000 should a grade I winner start in the event, making it even more attractive at $1,000,000 purse. Curlin was assigned 126 pounds for the March 29th Dubai World Cup and Asmussen feels Curlin should be assigned the same amount in this Saturday’s race.

Ben Huffman, the Churchill racing secretary, said he believes Curlin’s assignment of 128 pounds is fair, take a look at his record, "He has won the Breeders' Cup, reeled off four in a row, took the Jockey Club (Gold Cup), and easily beat Dubai World Cup horses," Huffman said. "It's a lot of weight, but he's a lot of horse."

Bet on Curlin in the Bodog Racebook today.

Kentucky Derby spectator, Colleen Rice, reads a race program in the paddock area at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. (AP Images)

We are just hours away from the 6:04 p.m. ET start of the 2008 Kentucky Derby. If you weren't able to hop on a jet plane out to Louisville, you can watch the race on TV on NBC, coverage will begin at 4:00 p.m. EST.

Besides whether or not Kentucky Derby favorite Big Brown's Post 20 draw will affect his run, the next biggest unknown is the Louisville weather report. According to the Weather Channel there is about 30% chance of isolated thunderstorms over Louisville from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., which could affect track conditions come post time. If the track gets wet, keep an eye on contenders Visionaire, Cool Coal Man, Smooth Air and Denis of Cork, all of which have won on wet tracks before. Pyro also finished second in the Breeders' Cup at muddy Monmouth Park.

The Bodog Racebook has the best odds for undefeated favorite Big Brown at 3/1. Get 'em while they're hot. Bodog's 2008 Kentucky Derby odds.