| The primary goal of Breeders' Cup Limited is to build | | | | an obscure French-based runner named Arcangues |
| positive public awareness of Thoroughbred racing and | | | | pulling the biggest upset in Breeders' Cup history, |
| to expand opportunities for enhancement of the | | | | winning the 1993 Classic and paying $269.20 to |
| Thoroughbred industry. These objectives are first | | | | win?Horses have journeyed from as far away as |
| accomplished through the Breeders' Cup World | | | | Japan to compete in the Breeders' Cup. It truly has |
| Thoroughbred Championships, a year-end international | | | | become the foremost international racing event. "The |
| showcase of the sport's greatest stars. Additionally, | | | | program was looked at as a revolutionary step when |
| the Breeders' Cup supports these goals through the | | | | it started, but now it is considered part of the fabric |
| funding of a year-round series of stakes races, | | | | of American racing," says Breeders' Cup president D. |
| consumer marketing programs and nationally televised | | | | G. Van Clief, Jr.The Breeders' Cup continues to grow |
| races.The Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred | | | | in popularity because of its prestige and keen level of |
| Championships culminates the racing season and | | | | competition. Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, |
| crowns the fleetest sprinters, the most promising | | | | holds the records for both attendance and total |
| two-year-olds, the best turf horses. The right to be | | | | wagering. The renowned racecourse attracted |
| called the best of the best belongs, many would | | | | 80,452 spectators in 1998 and when Breeders' Cup |
| argue, to the winner of the day's final and richest | | | | came back to Louisville in 2000, over $108 million was |
| race: the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic. | | | | wagered.But the Breeders' Cup is known beyond the |
| The Breeders' Cup is non-stop action from the | | | | borders of the particular host track. NBC has |
| moment the horses step onto the track for the first | | | | televised the event since its inception, providing a |
| race, the Distaff, until the garland is draped across | | | | degree of air time unprecedented in Thoroughbred |
| the shoulders of the Classic winner at dusk. | | | | racing. The network's coverage has won Eclipse |
| Heart-stopping finishes, stunning upsets, international | | | | Awards for National Television Achievement and the |
| glamour, old-fashioned fun - Breeders' Cup has it | | | | Outstanding Live Sports Special of 1992 at the 14th |
| all.Racing's richest event is truly a movable feast. Each | | | | Emmy Awards for Sports annual ceremony.The |
| fall, a different North American track plays host to | | | | buildup to the Breeders' Cup begins well in advance |
| the Breeders' Cup in a unique and special way. One | | | | of the Championship day. NTRA's "Racing to the |
| year finds it at Churchill Downs with its rich trove of | | | | Breeders' Cup" on ESPN gets the momentum started |
| history, another at stately Belmont Park, the next at | | | | in early summer and continues through mid-October. |
| panoramic Santa Anita in the foothills of the San | | | | The nationally televised series consists of dozens of |
| Gabriel Mountains. Major tracks compete aggressively | | | | stakes races at major tracks across the country and |
| for the right to stage the championship program and | | | | serves as racing's version of the playoffs. |
| each year's selection is eagerly awaited. At the same | | | | In addition to television, simulcasting - the |
| time, the revolving nature of the Breeders' Cup | | | | transmission by satellite of actual races - has helped |
| ensures that it belongs to all of racing.That's just | | | | further the recognition of the Breeders' Cup. At the |
| what its founders envisioned when the concept of | | | | same time, the quality of the races on Championship |
| the Breeders' Cup took root in 1982. Racing's leaders | | | | day has made simulcast outlets eager to carry the |
| wanted a vehicle to promote the sport, a showcase | | | | program.The number of outlets showing the telecast |
| for its finest elements, and a grand finale to the | | | | is growing by leaps and bounds. In 1984, the seven |
| racing season. The Championship races became the | | | | races were beamed to 19 North American outlets, |
| cornerstone of a year-round program which has | | | | where patrons wagered $8 million. Today, over 1000 |
| allocated more than $380 million to owners and | | | | outlets handle in excess of $108 million. Expanding its |
| breeders since the inaugural 1984 event. The first | | | | recognition, the actual race signal is transmitted by |
| Breeders' Cup, at glitzy Hollywood Park, was an | | | | satellite to simulcast outlets in over 25 countries, |
| instant hit.Since then, the Breeders' Cup has redefined | | | | throughout the Western Hemisphere, Europe and |
| the racing calendar - becoming the season-ending goal | | | | Australia. The continued expansion of the Breeders' |
| for the best horses - and given the sport a | | | | Cup simulcast across the world is a primary goal of |
| championship event much like the World Series or the | | | | the Breeders' Cup.Major corporate sponsors also |
| Super Bowl. Most divisional champions crowned since | | | | have helped boost recognition of the Breeders' Cup. |
| 1984 have participated in a Breeders' Cup race. In | | | | Sponsors have included Buick, Alberto-Culver, |
| addition to the Classic, the other races are the | | | | Budweiser, Delta Air Lines, Emirates Airline, Mobil, |
| Juvenile and the Juvenile Fillies, the Distaff and the | | | | National Car Rental, Visa and Sears.While sponsors |
| Filly & Mare Turf for females ages three and up; the | | | | have brought added name recognition to the |
| Sprint, the Mile, and the Turf. The latter three are | | | | Breeders' Cup, Thoroughbred owners and breeders |
| open to horses of both sexes, as is the Classic.The | | | | have been its backbone since the beginning. They not |
| Breeders' Cup has provided racing with some of its | | | | only supply the horses which compete in Breeders' |
| finest moments. Images like these are indelibly | | | | Cup events, they pay the nominations from which |
| etched in its rich chronicles: the great Cigar ending his | | | | the organization derives its major source of |
| perfect 1995 season with a thrilling victory in the | | | | funding.Stallion owners annually pay a nomination fee |
| Breeders' Cup Classic; Personal Ensign courageously | | | | that is the equivalent of a stallion's advertised stud |
| inching past Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors | | | | fee, or a minimum of $1,000. Breeders pay a |
| to retire undefeated in 1988; Arazi swooping in from | | | | nomination fee of $500 for each foal. Nominated |
| France and stunning all who saw him in the 1991 | | | | horses are eligible to compete for millions in both the |
| Breeders' Cup Juvenile."Championship day is | | | | Breeders' Cup Stakes program and the Breeders' Cup |
| unquestionably racing's finest hour," says John R. | | | | World Thoroughbred Championships events.As an |
| Gaines, founding father of the Breeders' Cup and | | | | international program, the Breeders' Cup has instituted |
| former owner of Gainesway Farm near Lexington, | | | | a nomination process to breeders around the world. |
| Kentucky. "It defines our reason for being and | | | | Annual nominations from all over the world have |
| elevates the spirit of an entire industry."Each year is | | | | made the Breeders' Cup a global institution.In a short |
| special. Each year is better. One of the event's most | | | | time, the Breeders' Cup has been firmly established |
| exciting elements is the intense rivalry between North | | | | as Thoroughbred racing's most prestigious event. |
| American and European contenders. In almost every | | | | Nothing can rival its millions in prize money or its |
| race, national pride is on the line. Owners and trainers | | | | international cast of talent. No other day of racing |
| from England, Ireland, France, Japan, and Germany | | | | can match the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred |
| now circle the Breeders' Cup on their calendars and | | | | Championships for non-stop excitement.The Breeders' |
| plan their horses' schedules accordingly.Dozens of | | | | Cup has accomplished what its founders set out to |
| European horses board cargo planes each fall and | | | | do - and more. It remains the definitive test of |
| cross the Atlantic in search of the Breeders' Cup's | | | | champions and has become racing's most |
| rich spoils. Their success in many of these races has | | | | recognizable and successful showpiece. It only |
| ensured that foreign horses keep coming back. Who | | | | promises to improve in the years to come.Matthew |
| can forget the gallant French filly Miesque winning | | | | Bass on behalf of Doug Dearen owner of a premiere |
| back-to-back editions of the Breeders' Cup Mile? Or | | | | thoroughbred racing package company. |