1000’s Anticipated at Santa Anita for Two-Day Breeders’ Cup Championships

1000’s of horse-racing aficionados, curious spectators and enthusiastic bettors will descend on Santa Anita Park Friday for the start of the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships, one of many sport’s most prestigious gatherings of horses, trainers and house owners from all over the world.

For Santa Anita, this yr’s gathering marks the document eleventh time the observe has hosted the occasion.

“Santa Anita’s excellent popularity and scenic venue present us with the best setting to proceed to develop our viewers by combining the most effective that racing, hospitality, and leisure have to supply,” Breeders’ Cup President/CEO Drew Fleming stated final yr when saying the observe can be internet hosting the 2023 occasion.

Organizers stated a report ready in 2017 confirmed that the occasion can have a virtually $100 million impression on the native economic system, given its worldwide business attraction.

Santa Anita final hosted the Breeders’ Cup in 2019. In 2021 it was at Del Mar Thoroughbred Membership in San Diego County. Final yr’s occasion was at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky.

Organizers stated 175 horses have been entered for the fortieth Breeders’ Cup World Championships, with races scheduled over two days, anchored by the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional on Saturday.

Friday’s first submit is scheduled for 11:30 a.m., starting with 4 undercard races. The primary Breeders’ Cup race Friday would be the $1 million Juvenile Turf Dash, set for about 2 p.m., adopted by the $2 million Juvenile Fillies, the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf, the $2 million Juvenile and the $1 million Juvenile Turf. A complete of 10 races are on the schedule for Friday.

Saturday’s 12-race card is ready to start at 10:10 a.m., with the primary Breeders’ Cup race being the third submit at about 11:30 a.m. — the $1 million Grime Mile. Additionally on faucet Saturday are the $2 million Filly & Mare Turf, the $1 million Filly & Mare Dash, the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile, the $2 million Distaff, the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf and the marquee race, the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Traditional, anticipated round 3:40 p.m. Will probably be adopted by the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash and the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Dash.

USA Community and FanDuel TV will present protection of Friday’s races. USA will present early protection Saturday, giving approach to NBC and Peacock beginning at 12:30 p.m. Saturday overlaying 5 races, together with the Breeders’ Cup Traditional. The races will even stream on BreedersCup.com and different Breeders’ Cup social media channels.

The week main as much as the massive occasion has been marred by a pair of horse deaths.

On Wednesday, Geaux Rocket Journey — a 3-year-old colt who was set to run within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional — was euthanized after failing to recuperate from surgical procedure to restore a leg harm suffered whereas coaching at Santa Anita final weekend.

On Tuesday, Sensible Transfer, a 3-year-old colt that was entered within the Breeders’ Cup Grime Mile, died at Santa Anita of what’s suspected to have been a cardiac occasion. Sensible Transfer was getting back from a exercise on the observe when the occasion occurred.

One other Breeders’ Cup Traditional entry, Arcangelo, dropped out of the race Tuesday as a result of a difficulty with the colt’s left hind foot. In remarks posted on social media from Santa Anita, coach Jena Antonucci confirmed the problem with the horse’s foot that “he’s not absolutely resolving, and we’re working out of time” to efficiently deal with the issue earlier than the race.

Kentucky Derby winner Mage had been anticipated to run within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional however by no means made the journey to Santa Anita “after spiking a fever final weekend,” ESPN reported.

Breeders’ Cup officers insisted in an announcement final weekend that they’ve taken all needed security precautions for the occasion.

“Main as much as the World Championships, the Breeders’ Cup has been working carefully with Santa Anita Park, the California Horse Racing Board, and our veterinary workforce to make sure each Breeders’ Cup runner is match to race,” organizers stated.

“The Breeders’ Cup Veterinary Crew additionally coordinated with regulatory and observe veterinarians throughout the nation to completely evaluate the veterinary data related to all potential Breeders’ Cup runners beginning in early October. This expanded veterinary evaluate protocol is designed to make sure, to the extent potential, each horse that made the journey to Santa Anita Park for the World Championships was sound to race and prepare.

” … Security at all times comes first, which is why Breeders’ Cup and business leaders just like the CHRB and 1/ST Racing have been longtime advocates for the uniform security and integrity reforms that finally turned a part of HISA. We’re continuously evaluating and updating our security and screening measures so we are able to proceed to offer the most secure potential racing setting.”

–Metropolis Information Service