As reported at the Breeder’s Cup official website, John Gaines, a thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder announced the forming of the annual horserace in 1982. Although not as old as annual championship horse competitions like the three Triple Crown races including the Belmont Stakes which has been run at Elmont, New York’s Belmont Park since 1867 or the Preakness Stakes which has been run at Baltimore, Maryland’s Pimlico Race Course since 1873, the Breeder’s Cup has become one of the premiere horserace championship runs.
Breeders Cup History
The Kentucky Derby which has been run at Louisville, Kentucky’s Churchill Downs since 1875 is the youngest of the Triple Crown horse races. It is no small feat that even with the three Triple Crown championships securely in place John Gaines took on the challenge of creating another premiere horserace in the United States.
Created to award top performing stallions and their offspring with a world championship, the first Breeder’s Cup was run at Inglewood, California’s Hollywood Park in 1984, two years after John Gaines announced the creation of the world championship horserace. Horses from as far away as Europe participate in the competition. In fact, the first Breeder’s Cup turf race was won by Aga Khan’s Lashkari, a European based horse.
Raven Pass was the 2008 Breeder’s Cup Classic winner. The 2008 championships were held on October 24 and 25. Raven Pass, jockeyed by Lanfranco Dettoir, and the second place winner, Henrythenavigator which was ridden by John Velazquez, had competed against each other before in European horse races. The purse for the 2008 Breeder’s Cup championship was five million dollars. Curlin, jockeyed by Robby Albarado, was a four to five favorite to win the Classic; in a surprise finish, he ended up taking fourth behind Tiago who was ridden by Mike Smith.
Divisional Championship Horse Races
Fourteen divisions comprise the Breeder’s Cup. Classic, Turf, Dirt Mile, Juvenile, Marathon and Ladies’ Classic are some of the popular divisional races. Careless Jewel, Music Note and Zenyatta are favorites to win the 2009 Ladies’ Classic. When it comes to the Juvenile Fillies division, Blind Luck, Devil May Care and Negligee are 2009 favorites to win.
Each of these horses and their riders has proven themselves. However, it is the Classic division that viewers and fans tune into in large numbers across the span of the two-day championship event. Contenders in the 2009 Classic Breeder’s Cup division are Zenyatta, Bullsbay, Summer Bird and Colonel John. Bullsbay has received one of the highest 2009 race earnings with a total payout of $712,030.
Named after an Army Reserve Lieutenant, Colonel John’s 2009 earnings total $145,182. Like last year’s Raven Pass, Colonel John could prove to be a surprise champion in the pack.
Location for the Breeder’s Cup has changed throughout the history of the championship horse races. Previous locations for the race have been Churchill Downs, Belmont Park, Gulfstream Park and Monmouth Park. The 2009 Breeder’s Cup will be televised on ESPN, ABC and ESPN which will allow for a global viewing audience. The races will take place November 6 through November 7, 2009 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.
Sources:
Breeder’s Cup Official Website. 2 November 2009.
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