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