Breeders’ Cup 2011 – Sprint for Juveniles new race, Churchill Downs to host new total of 15 races
Breeders’ Cup adds a two year old juvenile sprint to other races. With this addition the number of total races goes to15 from 14.
It was decided at Churchill Downs in Louisville. The race will have a purse of $500,000 and it will be a six furlong race.
Last expansion of races in the World Championship program was back in 2008, when the number of races was elevated to 14 from11. At the inception of the Breeders’ Cup, which was in 1984, they had seven races in total with a combined purse of $10 million.
In 1999, filly, and, mare turf was added to the Breeders’ Cup.
The new race is open for both sexes and the aim is to provide the two year crop with an opportunity to run in a prestigious race and also add interest for the public in the betting department.
It is a good opportunity for trainers and owners to sprint their two year olds and test what they are made of. There are a number of talented two year olds that could benefit from this race and this race provides these horses with alternatives because if
they are not ready to run, the two turns that makes the distance of 1 1/16 miles, then they can run once on the track, which is refreshing to know, especially for the trainers.
The combined purse for the 15 races remains unchanged at $26 million because the Grade One Sentinet Jet Breeders’ Cup’s purse money is cut down to $1.5 million from $2 million, the issue was contested but still there is no change in the prize money for that
particular Group One race, so the combined purse for Breeders’ Cup remains the same even with the addition of a new race.
Sprint for Juvenile’s was added with the collaboration of Breeders’ Cup Wagering Committee and Breeders’ Cup Racing and Nominations Committee chaired by Clem Murphy.
Though the search to host the Breeders’ Cup this season was in jeopardy because of the search for a new president wasn’t concluded. Churchill Downs was decided as the venue for this seasons Breeders’ Cup.
Still a president figure is needed to run and manage the day to day and future endeavors of the organization. The void is still felt but the addition of the new race would make the former President, Greg Avioli, proud, or, maybe it was one of his future
projects for the organization.
All in all it’s a good addition to the Breeders’ Cup and through this project many talented horses could shine and would not have to wait till their three year old career to be recognized.
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