Memorable moments in the Breeders’ Cup – how it was then and how it is now
Founded by John R. Gaines in 1982, the Breeders’ Cup has been one of the most highly anticipated meets in America. Inaugurated in 1984, this event is held every year, and receives a significant amount of international attention.
With the purses ranging from $500,000 to $5 Million, it is one of the reasons why the popularity of this particular meet is increasing.
The meet consists mostly of Grade 1 races which are held over a span of two days at different locations every time.
From the day of its inception until 2006, it used to be a one day event known as the richest racing day in sport, but the rules changed in 2007, and since then it is hosted over two days.
The main purpose of the Breeders’ Cup was to honour the champions in an end-of-year meet, but now the Breeders’ Cup has become an International event with runners coming in from all the corners of the world to compete.
The runners enter this through a series of races known as the “Win and You’re In” challenges.
If the runners qualify, they earn an automatic spot in the Breeders’ Cup. Their entry fee is waivered off, and they earn all expense paid trip to the venue.
First day of the Breeders’ Cup consists of Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic are among some of the races that are held.
The second day concludes with the Grade 1, $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic, but the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, Breeders' Cup Juvenile also makes the meet exciting.
With several races taking place, Breeders’ Cup is the home for some of the best records that are set in racing.
Currently, the John A. Shirreffs trained, Zenyatta, holds the record for the highest earnings accumulated in the Breeders’ Cup with $4,680,000 followed by the Jay Robbins trained, Tiznow, with $4,560,400.
Over the course of her career, the daughter of Street Cry, out of mare Vertigineux, competed and won the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic and completed twice in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, which she won once, but lost the second time after
which she was retired.
To this day, she remains the only horse who won two different races in the Breeders’ Cup.
Tiznow has won the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic once in 2000, and once in 2001. He is joined in this category by Ouija Board, who claimed the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf twice in 2004 and 2006.
This year, the event will be hosted at Santa Anita Park on 2nd and 3rd November, and has already gained an immense amount of attention. It will be attended by many to see some of the best racehorses in
the sport.
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