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