Breeders' Cup Contenders

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.

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.