Breeders' Cup

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The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Grade I thoroughbred horse races sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. It is a one-day event held at a location that changes each year. All the sites have been in the United States, except in 1996, when the races were at the Woodbine Racetrack in Canada.

The event, which has occurred annually since 1984, was created as a year-end championship for North American thoroughbred racing, and also attracts top horses from other parts of the world, especially Europe.

The all-time leaders in Breeders' Cup wins are:

Jockey
*Jerry Bailey : 15
Trainer
* D. Wayne Lukas - 18
* Shug McGaughey - 9
Leading money wiinning owner:
* Allen E. Paulson - $8,652,800

Churchill Downs has hosted the race card five times, more than any other track.

Currently, there are eight races on the Breeders' Cup card, all classified as Grade 1 races. The races are listed below in their order on the 2005 race card; the order of the first six listed races varies from year to year, but the 'Turf' and 'Classic' are traditionally the last two races. All races, unless otherwise indicated, are for any horse, regardless of sex, 3 years old and up, and are held on a dirt track.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies: A 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-old fillies. Current purse is $2 million.
Breeders' Cup Juvenile: A 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-old colts and geldings. Current purse is $2 million.
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf: A 1 3/8-mile or 1 1/4-mile race on grass for fillies and mares, 3 years old and up. Current purse is $2 million.
Breeders' Cup Sprint: A 6 Furlong Race. Current purse is $2 million.
Breeders' Cup Mile: A 1-mile race on grass. Current purse is $2 million.
Breeders' Cup Distaff: A 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares, 3 years old and up. Current purse is $2 million.
Breeders' Cup Turf: A 1 1/2-mile race on grass. Current purse is $3 million.
Breeders' Cup Classic: A 1 1/4-mile race. Current purse is $5 million.

All Breeders' Cup races have been called by Tom Durkin since their inception.

NBC has broadcast every Breeders' Cup since it began in 1984. This will change in 2006, when ESPN will take over the television contract for eight years. ESPN will broadcast the show for 2 more Hours.

Race tracks

Previous championships have been held at the following tracks:

Some future sites have been tentatively set or suggested:

2006 - Churchill Downs
2007 - Monmouth Park

Breeders' Cup

Race tracks

External links

See also