The Breeders’ Cup race meeting is nearly upon us. The meet scheduled for November 5 and 6 this year, is being held at Churchill Downs. One of the World’s most legendary racetracks. The Breeders’ Cup is an annual series of Grade I thoroughbred horse races operated by Breeders’ Cup Limited, a company formed 1982. Back then the meet was only one day, but since 2007 it became a two day race meeting. The venue is always in the United States and rotates around the USA’s best racecourses. There was one exception to this though, in 1996. For this one year only the Breeders’ Cup was held north of the border in Canada. Churchill Downs has hosted this event six times previously, more than any other track. The last time it hosted this prestigious two days was back in 2006. As well as this year, it has the honor of hosting the Breederas’ Cup in 2011 too.
The Breeders’ Cup Classic is the most anticipated race of the meeting, and is a division of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. It is a Grade 1 race for thoroughbreds of three years and older. The race which is ran on a dirt track, is over 1 and ¼ miles (2012m). The Breeders’ Cup Classic is the premier race for thoroughbred horses throughout the racing calendar. To reflect that fact, or rather maybe the reason for its staure is the purse that is held for the winner of the Classic. A $5 million dollar purse is attached to the race. On four previous occassions, the winner of the Classic has won the US Horse of the Year award. The horse that have gone down in history by winning both accolades are Ghostzapper, Saint Liam, Invasor and Curlin. The race has a reputation for being very hard to predict. There is alot of quality out there on the track ready to go hesd to head. It is the horse racing equivalent of an Olympic 100m final.
The event was devised to be a close the door on the North American racing season with a dramatic end of term showdown. It isn’t just US horses that take part though. The meet also attracts some of the best horses from all over the World, with many coming to race from Europe.
The Breeders’ Cup was founded by John R. Gaines, a well known thoroughbred owner and breeder in 1982. It was known to tbe the richest day in sports until it was spread over two days. That title is now held by the Dubai World Cup, which is a one day event. In 2008, it featured six races with a totaa purse of $21 million. The only horse to ever win two different Breeders’ Cup races is Zenyatta. She won the Ladies’ Classic back in 2008 and also won the Classic itself last year (2009). Zenyatta will back to add to the excitement for this years’ Classic. If you can’t make it to the meet, you can find out if she wins back to back Bredders’ Cup Classics on live on ESPN.
Watch the undefeated Zenyatta take the crown in 2009.
By Breederscupcontenders On September 3rd, 2010 in Race Schedule /
There are six races on the first day which is November 5 and eight races on the final day, giving a total of 14 top tier horse powered showdowns.
First up is the Breeders’ Cup Marathon. This division was added to the card in 2008. And it is already a smassive hit with racing fans across the globe. The race is run over 1 ¾ miles (14 furlongs) and has a purse of $500,000.
This is followed by the Juvenile Fillies Turf and the Juvenile Fillies. The prize for the Juvenile Fillies Turf will be a cool 1 million and even cooler $2 million for the Juvenile Fillies. Both races are run over exactly a mile. Race four is the Filly and Mare Turf again with a $2 million purse and is ran over 1 ¼ miles. the race is open to all fillies and mares of three years and older. Another mixed race follows as fillies and mares go head to head in the Filly and Mare Sprint. This fast paced race covers just seven furlongs. And the prize you get for winning over less than a mile is the princely sum of one million US dollars.
Day one concludes with the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic. This race will run for a distance of 1 and 1/8 miles with a purse of $2 million. One of this years’ Breeders’ Cup Classic favourites Zenyatta, won the Ladies Classic in 2008.
On Saturday 6 November we see the Juvenile Turf and the Sprint. the Sprint is regarded as one of the greatest spectacles of the two days and this six furlongs is open to both sexes.
The Mile, the Dirt Mile, the Juvenile, the Turf all lead us up to the highlight of every Breeders’ Cup race meeting, the Breeders’ Cup Classic. This will be a showdown of America and Europe’s finest over 1 ¼ miles on the dirt track. This finale of all finales has a prize fund of $5 million and is one of the richest races in the sport.
By Breederscupcontenders On September 2nd, 2010 in 2011 Tickets /
The 27th Breeders’ Cup is happening this November 2010 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Over two days on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 November the world’s attention is drawn to the greatest horse racign event of the year, and this year is already well set to live up to the Breeders’ Cup meets of the past.
The meeting will be shown live on ESPN, but why sit in front of the TV, when there are still tickest available for race day one and two. You can see, feel and breathe in the history of this thrilling sporting event. There are 14 races over the two days so you certainly get good value for money. The owners and trainers do too, with the purse for the race meeting totalling $25 million. This year will be the seventh time that the Breeders’ Cup has been held at the home of the Kentucky Derby. When the Breeders’ Cup comes to Louisville, it doesn’t get any better in the racing world.
Churchill Downs has been the site of six out of the seven largest crowds in Breeders’ Cup history. In 1998, 80,452 fans attended the venue to watch the Breeders’ Cup. It also holds the record for a single day on-track handle of $19,259,971. Breeders’ Cup Chairman William S. Farish Jr. has said “We are delighted to be returning the Breeders’ Cup to Churchill Downs and to our great supporters in Kentucky and throughout the region.” He also stated that Churchill Downs has always proved to be an outstanding Breeders’ Cup venue and that it is very popular with Jockeys and fans alike.
Fom 2001 to 2005, Churchill Downs underwent a three and a half year renovation which cost around $121 million. The clubhouse was replaced, and 79 luxury suites were also added at the course. The twin spires that the World recognises as belonging to the racecourse were also refurbished at this time. The new clubhouse includes a 36 foot mural made by Pierre Bellocq. This mural depicts all 96 jockeys that won the Kentucky Derby from 1875 to 2004. In 2008 he added a second mural which depicts all of the winning trainers. The spires’ tips are the highest part of the venue (but now only just).
Churchill Downs houses the kentucky Museum which is steeped in racing history. Churchill Downs is the pinnacle for racing fans and has hosted America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derbby since 1875. There is no more fitting a venue to hold this years’ Breeders’ Cup.
This is the last time Zenyatta and St Trinians went head to head earlier in 2010. Get your tickets if you want to be in Louisville to see the rematch in the Classic in November.
By Breederscupcontenders On September 2nd, 2010 in 2011 Contenders /
The racing event of the fall is The 27th Breeders’ Cup which this year is being staged at Churchill Downs in Louisville. A number of the World’s best thoroughbred race horses will be competing for two days on the 5 and 6 November 2010. It has been four years since Churchill Downs in Louisville has hosted a Breeders’ Cup meet and there is something very special about the two days when held at the home of the Kentucky Derby. It has also seen crowds of over seventy thousand people in the past at Louisville, and the atmosphere created will be like no other horse racing event. The Breeders’ Cup Classic 2010 boasts a purse of $5 million. .
Tiznow is the only horse ever to have won the Breeders’ Cup Classic twice. Tiznow took the took the title in both 2000 and 2001. Last years’ winner was Zenyatta. She is a very special horse and also has the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic to her name which she won in 2008 at Santa Anita Park.
Watch Zenyatta come from the back to win the Ladies Classic in 2008.
The racing world thought that they may have seen the end of this undefeated six year old because she was scheduled for retirement. however, to everyone’s delight she is back, as Jerry Moss (her owner) has confirmed that he will enter her this year.
Another contender for this one and a quarter mile run will be the Mike Mitchell trained, St. Trinians. St. Trinians and Zenyatta have history. In the Vanity in June, St. Trinians almost inflicted Zenyatta’s first ever defeat on her. However, Zenyatta was having none of it and pipped her on the line in an amazing finish. In August 2010, Zenyatta won again to make it 18 wins out of 18 career starts.
Looking at Lucky who is trained by Bob Baffert is also a contender this year for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Looking at Lucky earned his spot in the Breeders’ Cup meet with a victory in the Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes held at Santa Anita last October. Gio Ponti with trainer Christophe Clement will also be there in November looking to win the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf. Gio Ponti won the Grade 1 Arlington Million in August 2009. To get the most from your dough on the two biggest days in the racing calendar check out this As seen on TV betting system.
