The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Grade I Thoroughbred horse races, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. All sites have been in the United States, except in 1996, when the races were at the Woodbine Racetrack in Canada.
The attendance at the Breeders' Cup ranks fourth or fifth in North America and usually surpasses the attendance of all other stakes races. The attendance of the Breeders' Cup typically only trails the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Kentucky Oaks (and in some years, the Belmont Stakes); for more information see American Thoroughbred Racing top Attended Events.
With the addition of three new races for 2008, a total of $25.5 million was awarded over the two days, up from $23 million in 2007. Each Breeders' Cup race awards to the winner a garland of flowers draped over the withers of the winning horse and four Breeders' Cup trophies presented to the connections of the winners.
The Breeders' Cup Grand National Steeplechase is not operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, but instead by the National Steeplechase Association, which has a licensing agreement to use the "Breeders' Cup" name.
In the 2015 listing of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), three Breeders' Cup races are ranked among the top Grade 1 races in the world: the Classic (4th), the Turf (10th) and the Mile (12th). The Distaff is ranked second among the top Grade 1 races for fillies and mares.
History
1980s-1990s: Founding, early races
The event was created as a year-end championship for North American Thoroughbred racing, and also attracts top horses from other parts of the world, especially Europe. The idea for the Breeders' Cup was proposed at the 1982 awards luncheon for the Kentucky Derby Festival by pet food heir John R. Gaines (1928â€"2005), a leading Thoroughbred owner and breeder who wanted to clean up the sport's image.
The races are operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. The first event was in 1984. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. All sites have been in the United States, except in 1996, when the races were at the Woodbine Racetrack in Canada.
2000-09: Expansion
In 2006 Greg Avioli began serving as interim President and CEO of the Breeder's Cup, and he became the official CEO in April 2007. Stated Avioli at the time, the organization's core purpose was "to create an event of that stature and size that it will attract new racing fans and new buyers of racehorses." For the October 2008 World Championships the event was expanded from one to two days, with the first day devoted to female horses and the overall purse increasing from $10 million to over $25 million, making it what the New York Post called "the richest turf festival in the world." Before the Breeders' Cup expanded to two days, it was generally considered to be the richest day in sports. As of 2008, the second day of the Breeders' Cup is the second-richest. In 2008, a total of $17 million was awarded on that day, down from $20 million in 2007 (two races were moved from Day 2 to Day 1). The richest single day in sports is now another Thoroughbred racing event, Dubai World Cup Night. It features six races with a combined purse of $21 million in 2008. In 2008, the Breeders' Cup Marathon was added but was dropped in April 2014. It also introduced a new form of turf, instead of the traditional dirt.
On August 11, 2009 the Breeders' Cup announced that it would use the standard colored saddle towel system starting with the 2009 event. The new color-coded system (which has been used at many North American racetracks since the mid-1990s) replaces the standard purple saddle towels which had been used since 1985. The first Breeders' Cup in 1984 used yellow saddle towels.
On October 22, 2009, the Breeder's Cup announced it had signed simulcasting and licensing agreements with Betfair, a company which in turn had purchased the horse-racing network TVG in January of that year. The agreement brought in Betfair's customer base of over 2.5 million, many of whom had legal access to common-pool betting. Betfair handled common-pool wagering at the organization's November 2009 championships, also streaming the events live to both national and international wagerers for the first time. At that point, the World Championship event was being telecast in over 140 countries, through various networks.
Breeder's Cup also introduced the "Win and You're In" playoff system, a policy wherein winners of major races throughout the year, from England, Ireland, France, Hong Kong, Japan, South Africa, and Australia would gain automatic access to the Breeder's Cup Championships races. Profits for 2009 and 2010 were the highest in the organization's history, with wagering (both pari-mutuel and non-pari-mutuel) in 2010 nearing $200 million, or $21 million more than the previous year. Over $23 million of the non-pari-mutuel was wagered over Betfair.
2010-14: Recent years
In 2011, the Juvenile Sprint was added but was dropped after the 2012 running. Churchill Downs has hosted the race card eight times. It hosted the card most recently in 2011.
Also as of 2012, the organization's CEO and President was Craig R. Favel, a role he continued to hold into 2014. As of 2014, the attendance at the Breeders' Cup ranks fourth or fifth in North America and usually surpasses the attendance of all other stakes races. The attendance of the Breeders' Cup typically only trails the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Kentucky Oaks (and in some years, the Belmont Stakes). Santa Anita Park hosted the Breeders' Cup an eighth time as well in 2014, tying this record. In 2016, Santa Anita will hold the record upon hosting the Breeders' Cup for a ninth time.
Races
Churchill Downs has hosted the race card eight times. It hosted the card most recently in 2011. Santa Anita Park hosted the Breeders' Cup an eighth time as well in 2014, tying this record. In 2016, Santa Anita will hold the record upon hosting the Breeders' Cup for a ninth time.
Current
As of 2014, the races currently run are:
- $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT)
- $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I)
- $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IT)
- $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I)
- $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I)
- $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT)
- $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I)
- $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT)
- $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I)
- $3 million Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT)
- $1.5 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I)
- $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT)
- $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I)
Past
The following is a partial list of races discontinued or sold by Breeder's Cup:
- Breeders' Cup Marathon (2008-2013)
- Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint (2011-2013)
Selection process
A maximum of 14 starters are allowed in each of the 14 Breeders' Cup Championships races with the exception of the Dirt Mile which will be limited to 12 starters. Breeders' Cup Limited has adopted a field selection system to select runners in the event fields are oversubscribed. This system ranks horses in order of preference based upon (1) performance in Breeders' Cup Challenge Races, (2) a point system, and (3) the judgment of a panel of racing experts. The field selection system will be implemented as necessary following the taking of pre-entries approximately two weeks before the Breeders' Cup (in 2012, this will take place on October 22) to officially rank the oversubscribed fields. The Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel (the "Panel") will rank all the horses pre-entered in the oversubscribed races as described below. After pre-entry, any vacancies in the fields will be filled by horses in order of panel preference.
Through 2006, there were eight races on the Breeders' Cup card, all classified as Grade I races. In 2007, three races â€" the Dirt Mile, Filly and Mare Sprint, and Juvenile Turf â€" were added, all of them run the Friday before the remaining eight races. Three more new races â€" a Turf Sprint, Juvenile Filly Turf and Marathon â€" were added for 2008. A Juvenile Sprint was added for 2011.
The order of the races on the card has changed many times throughout the event's history, but the Turf and Classic are traditionally the last two races (although this was not the case in 2012). The 2008 event was the first in which Day 1 of the event was dedicated to races for fillies and mares, with Day 2 featuring all other races. For 2009, the Marathon, open to runners of both sexes, was moved from Day 2 to be the opening race on Day 1, but all other races stayed on the day they had been run in 2008. In 2011, the Marathon was moved from Day 1 to Day 2, with the Juvenile Sprint becoming the first race overall (and also the only one on Day 1 open to males). The Marathon returned to Day 1 in 2012. For 2013, the first day was no longer primarily devoted to races for fillies and mares, with the Dirt Mile and Juvenile Turf moving to Day 1 and the Filly & Mart Sprint and Filly & Mare Turf moving to Day 2.
Two other significant changes were made in 2013. First, the Juvenile Sprint was discontinued after only two runnings. That race had been widely perceived as a consolation prize for horses not good enough to run in the Juvenile. Second, the Ladies' Classic returned to its original name of Distaff. When the latter announcement was made, Breeders' Cup president Craig Fravel said,
We restored the Ladies' Classic to its original name due to feedback from our loyal fans who have a strong affinity for the Distaff. In recognition of our 30th year, the Distaff has provided us with some of racing's most remarkable moments, personified by such outstanding thoroughbreds as Lady's Secret, Personal Ensign, Azeri, Zenyatta, and our two-time defending champion, Royal Delta. It is a fitting tribute to bring back the name Distaff to honor the rich history of the championships.
Winners and records
Most wins and earnings
Breeders' Cup Wins â€" Jockey:
- Mike Smith â€" 20
- Jerry Bailey â€" 15
Breeders' Cup Wins â€" Trainer:
- D. Wayne Lukas â€" 19
- Shug McGaughey â€" 9
Breeders' Cup Earnings â€" Owner:
- Allen E. Paulson â€" $8,730,000
Breeders' Cup Earnings â€" Horse:
- Zenyatta â€" $4,680,000
- Tiznow â€" $4,560,400
- Goldikova (IRE) â€" $3,508,200
- Conduit (IRE) â€" $3,240,000
- Curlin â€" $2,955,000
The following horses have won the same Breeders' Cup race at least twice:
- Classic: Tiznow (2000, 2001)
- Filly & Mare Turf: Ouija Board (2004, 2006)
- Dirt Mile: Goldencents (2013, 2014)
- Distaff: Bayakoa (1989, 1990), Royal Delta (2011, 2012)
- From 2008 to 2012, this race was known as the Ladies' Classic.
- Mile: Miesque (1987, 1988), Lure (1992, 1993), Da Hoss (1996, 1998), Goldikova (2008, 2009, 2010), Wise Dan (2012, 2013)
- Sprint: Midnight Lute (2007, 2008)
- Turf: High Chaparral (2002, 2003), Conduit (2008, 2009)
- Turf Sprint: Mizdirection (2012, 2013)
- Filly & Mare Sprint: Groupie Doll (2012, 2013)
The following horse(s) have won two different Breeders' Cup races:
- Zenyatta, Distaff in 2008, Classic in 2009.
- Beholder, Juvenile Fillies in 2012, Distaff in 2013
- Secret Circle, Juvenile Sprint in 2011, Sprint in 2013
The following horse(s) have won the same Breeders' Cup race three times:
- Goldikova, Mile (2008, 2009, 2010).
The oldest horse to win a Breeders' Cup race is Calidoscopio, age 9, who won the Breeders' Cup Marathon in 2012.
Women in the Breeder's Cup
The 1988 Breeders' Cup marked the first time a woman jockey competed, as American Julie Krone rode in three races that day; the Juvenile Fillies, the Juvenile and the Classic finishing 2nd, 6th and 4th respectively. Krone also became the first woman to win when she guided Halfbridled to a historic victory in the 2003 edition of the Juvenile Fillies. Rosie Napravnik became the second woman jockey to win a Breeders' Cup race, winning the Juvenile in 2012 on Shanghai Bobby. Five women trainers have won Breeders' Cup races, most recently Kathy Ritvo, who saddled 2013 Classic winner Mucho Macho Man.
Television
NBC had broadcast every Breeders' Cup from its inception in 1984 through 2005. In 2006 ESPN took over the television contract for eight years through 2013. However, in January 2012 the Breeders' Cup announced a new contract with NBC Sports Group, superseding the final two years of the ESPN contract. Beginning in 2012, the Breeders' Cup would be broadcast in its entirety on the NBC Sports Network, except for the Classic which would be televised on NBC in primetime.
The Breeders' Cup races were called by Tom Durkin from 1984 through 2005, and by Trevor Denman from 2006 to 2012. Larry Collmus called the races for NBCSN and NBC while Denman called the races for the track in 2013.
Race tracks
Past and Future Breeders' Cup sites:
See also
- Breeders Crown
- The Grand National
- Breeders' Stakes
- List of horse races
- Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
Notes and references
External links
- Past Breeders' Cup winners and Stats
- Breeders' Cup History & Facts
- Breeders' Cup News
- Ten Things You Should Know about the Breeders' Cup at Hello Race Fans!
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