| 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 of |
| funding of a year-round series of stakes races, | | | | American racing," says Breeders' Cup president D. G. |
| consumer marketing programs and nationally televised | | | | Van Clief, Jr.The Breeders' Cup continues to grow in |
| races.The Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred | | | | 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 80,452 |
| called the best of the best belongs, many would argue, | | | | spectators in 1998 and when Breeders' Cup came |
| to the winner of the day's final and richest race: the $4 | | | | back to Louisville in 2000, over $108 million was |
| 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 televised |
| moment the horses step onto the track for the first | | | | the event since its inception, providing a degree of air |
| race, the Distaff, until the garland is draped across the | | | | time unprecedented in Thoroughbred racing. The |
| shoulders of the Classic winner at dusk. Heart-stopping | | | | network's coverage has won Eclipse Awards for |
| finishes, stunning upsets, international glamour, | | | | National Television Achievement and the Outstanding |
| old-fashioned fun - Breeders' Cup has it all.Racing's | | | | Live Sports Special of 1992 at the 14th Emmy Awards |
| richest event is truly a movable feast. Each fall, a | | | | for Sports annual ceremony.The buildup to the |
| different North American track plays host to the | | | | Breeders' Cup begins well in advance of the |
| Breeders' Cup in a unique and special way. One year | | | | Championship day. NTRA's "Racing to the Breeders' |
| finds it at Churchill Downs with its rich trove of history, | | | | Cup" on ESPN gets the momentum started in early |
| another at stately Belmont Park, the next at panoramic | | | | summer and continues through mid-October. The |
| Santa Anita in the foothills of the San Gabriel | | | | nationally televised series consists of dozens of stakes |
| Mountains. Major tracks compete aggressively for the | | | | races at major tracks across the country and serves |
| right to stage the championship program and each | | | | as racing's version of the playoffs. |
| year's selection is eagerly awaited. At the same time, | | | | In addition to television, simulcasting - the transmission |
| the revolving nature of the Breeders' Cup ensures that | | | | by satellite of actual races - has helped further the |
| it belongs to all of racing.That's just what its founders | | | | recognition of the Breeders' Cup. At the same time, |
| envisioned when the concept of the Breeders' Cup | | | | the quality of the races on Championship day has |
| took root in 1982. Racing's leaders wanted a vehicle to | | | | made simulcast outlets eager to carry the |
| promote the sport, a showcase for its finest elements, | | | | program.The number of outlets showing the telecast is |
| and a grand finale to the racing season. The | | | | growing by leaps and bounds. In 1984, the seven races |
| Championship races became the cornerstone of a | | | | were beamed to 19 North American outlets, where |
| year-round program which has allocated more than | | | | patrons wagered $8 million. Today, over 1000 outlets |
| $380 million to owners and breeders since the | | | | handle in excess of $108 million. Expanding its |
| inaugural 1984 event. The first Breeders' Cup, at glitzy | | | | recognition, the actual race signal is transmitted by |
| Hollywood Park, was an instant hit.Since then, the | | | | satellite to simulcast outlets in over 25 countries, |
| Breeders' Cup has redefined the racing calendar - | | | | throughout the Western Hemisphere, Europe and |
| becoming the season-ending goal for the best horses - | | | | Australia. The continued expansion of the Breeders' |
| and given the sport a championship event much like | | | | Cup simulcast across the world is a primary goal of |
| the World Series or the Super Bowl. Most divisional | | | | the Breeders' Cup.Major corporate sponsors also have |
| champions crowned since 1984 have participated in a | | | | helped boost recognition of the Breeders' Cup. |
| Breeders' Cup race. In addition to the Classic, the other | | | | Sponsors have included Buick, Alberto-Culver, |
| races are the Juvenile and the Juvenile Fillies, the | | | | Budweiser, Delta Air Lines, Emirates Airline, Mobil, |
| Distaff and the Filly & Mare Turf for females ages | | | | National Car Rental, Visa and Sears.While sponsors |
| three and up; the Sprint, the Mile, and the Turf. The | | | | have brought added name recognition to the Breeders' |
| latter three are open to horses of both sexes, as is | | | | Cup, Thoroughbred owners and breeders have been |
| the Classic.The Breeders' Cup has provided racing | | | | its backbone since the beginning. They not only supply |
| with some of its finest moments. Images like these are | | | | the horses which compete in Breeders' Cup events, |
| indelibly etched in its rich chronicles: the great Cigar | | | | they pay the nominations from which the organization |
| ending his perfect 1995 season with a thrilling victory in | | | | derives its major source of funding.Stallion owners |
| the Breeders' Cup Classic; Personal Ensign | | | | annually pay a nomination fee that is the equivalent of |
| courageously inching past Kentucky Derby winner | | | | a stallion's advertised stud fee, or a minimum of $1,000. |
| Winning Colors to retire undefeated in 1988; Arazi | | | | Breeders pay a nomination fee of $500 for each foal. |
| swooping in from France and stunning all who saw him | | | | Nominated horses are eligible to compete for millions in |
| in the 1991 Breeders' Cup Juvenile."Championship day is | | | | both the Breeders' Cup Stakes program and the |
| unquestionably racing's finest hour," says John R. | | | | Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships |
| Gaines, founding father of the Breeders' Cup and | | | | events.As an international program, the Breeders' Cup |
| former owner of Gainesway Farm near Lexington, | | | | has instituted a nomination process to breeders around |
| Kentucky. "It defines our reason for being and elevates | | | | the world. Annual nominations from all over the world |
| the spirit of an entire industry."Each year is special. | | | | have made the Breeders' Cup a global institution.In a |
| Each year is better. One of the event's most exciting | | | | short time, the Breeders' Cup has been firmly |
| elements is the intense rivalry between North | | | | established as Thoroughbred racing's most prestigious |
| American and European contenders. In almost every | | | | event. 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 can |
| from England, Ireland, France, Japan, and Germany | | | | 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 do |
| European horses board cargo planes each fall and | | | | - and more. It remains the definitive test of champions |
| cross the Atlantic in search of the Breeders' Cup's rich | | | | and has become racing's most recognizable and |
| spoils. Their success in many of these races has | | | | successful showpiece. It only promises to improve in |
| ensured that foreign horses keep coming back. Who | | | | the years to come.Matthew Bass on behalf of Doug |
| can forget the gallant French filly Miesque winning | | | | Dearen owner of a premiere thoroughbred racing |
| back-to-back editions of the Breeders' Cup Mile? Or | | | | package company. |