Breeders' Cup
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Grade I thoroughbred horse races sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. It is a one-day event held at a location that changes each year. All the sites have been in the United States, except in 1996, when the races were at the Woodbine Racetrack in Canada.
The event, which has occurred annually since 1984, 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 Breeders' Cup was founded in 1982 by John R. Gaines, a leading thoroughbred owner and breeder. This is the single richest day in sports worth $18 million in prize money this year (2006).
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[edit] Selection process
All Breeders' Cup fields are limited to 14 runners. If more than 14 are pre-entered, Breeders' Cup officials use a two-part selection system to decide which horses will be allowed to compete. The first seven runners earn automatic berths based on the points they have earned in American graded stakes races then a panel of racing directors and secretaries choose the next seven entrants.
Currently, there are eight races on the Breeders' Cup card, all classified as Grade 1 races. The races are listed below in their order on the 2006 race card; the order of the first six listed races varies from year to year, but the 'Turf' and 'Classic' are traditionally the last two races. All races, unless otherwise indicated, are for any horse, regardless of sex, two years old and up, and are held on a dirt track.
- Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies: A 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-old fillies. Current purse is $2 million.
- Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile: A 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-old colts and geldings. Current purse is $2 million.
- Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf: A 1 3/8-mile or 1 1/4-mile race on grass for fillies and mares, 3 years old and up. Current purse is $2 million.
- TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint: A 6 Furlong Race. Current purse is $2 million.
- NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile: A 1-mile race on grass. Current purse is $2 million.
- Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff: A 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares, 3 years old and up. Current purse is $2 million.
- John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf: A 1 1/2-mile race on grass. Current purse is $3 million.
- Breeders' Cup Classic, Powered by Dodge: A 1 1/4-mile race. Current purse is $5 million.
Starting in 2007, a new qualifying process will take effect, where the winners of 24 races at six tracks — Saratoga Race Course, Arlington Park, Del Mar, Belmont Park, Keeneland and Santa Anita during the Oak Tree meeting — will automatically be entered for the event in their respective divisions, to be held October 27 at Monmouth Park.
[edit] History
The all-time leaders in Breeders' Cup wins are:
- Jockey:
- Jerry Bailey - 15
- Trainer:
- D. Wayne Lukas - 18
- Shug McGaughey - 9
- Leading money winning owner:
- Allen E. Paulson - $8,730,000
Churchill Downs has hosted the race card six times, more than any other track. It hosted the card most recently in 2006.
NBC had broadcast every Breeders' Cup from its inception in 1984 through 2005. Starting in 2006, ESPN took over the television contract for eight years.
All Breeders' Cup races have been called by Tom Durkin through 2005. Fellow race caller Trevor Denman now serves as the voice of the Breeders' Cup races on ESPN starting as of 2006, due to Durkin's exclusive contract with NBC Sports. <ref>Shulman, Lenny. "Durkin Out as TV Voice of Breeders' Cup", bloodhorse.com, 2006-09-02. Retrieved on 2006-09-02.</ref> <ref>"It's Official: Denman to Call 2006 Breeders' Cup", bloodhorse.com, 2006-09-06. Retrieved on 2006-09-06.</ref>
[edit] Race tracks
Previous championships have been held at the following tracks:
- 2006 - Churchill Downs
- 2005 - Belmont Park
- 2004 - Lone Star Park
- 2003 - Santa Anita Park
- 2002 - Arlington Park
- 2001 - Belmont Park
- 2000 - Churchill Downs
- 1999 - Gulfstream Park
- 1998 - Churchill Downs
- 1997 - Hollywood Park
- 1996 - Woodbine Racetrack
- 1995 - Belmont Park
- 1994 - Churchill Downs
- 1993 - Santa Anita Park
- 1992 - Gulfstream Park
- 1991 - Churchill Downs
- 1990 - Belmont Park
- 1989 - Gulfstream Park
- 1988 - Churchill Downs
- 1987 - Hollywood Park
- 1986 - Santa Anita Park
- 1985 - Aqueduct Racetrack
- 1984 - Hollywood Park
Some future sites have been set:
- 2007 - Monmouth Park
[edit] External links
[edit] References
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