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What is the Breeders’ Cup and what has it meant for thoroughbred racing? The closest parallel I can think of is the founding of the Super Bowl in 1967. The mystery surrounding the event was how the upstart American Football League (AFL) would fare against the established NFL franchises. Although the Green Bay Packers dominated the first two editions of the game, victory remained elusive Joe Namath and the Jets played a major role in forcing a merger of the leagues and a recognition of the quality of the AFL in 1969.
History of the Breeders’ Cup
Just as the Super Bowl energized and unified pro football, the Breeders’ Cup, when it began in 1984, had a unifying effect on horse racing. Before the Breeders’ Cup it was not so common for horses to be transported across country, nor was it common for horses to be shipped from Europe for major American races. It was the vision of John Gaines, John Nerud, and a group of industry leaders to create a true world championship event in sport. As Ray Paulick pointed out in a 2015 Paulick Report article: “It was an amazing accomplishment, not just for Gaines, but for the whole industry, to transcend politics and personal agendas and do something that was right for the game.” Of course sacrifices were made to make the Breeders’ Cup a reality. Consider the New York Racing Association, whose fall races often decide year-end awards. Now important races on both coasts would serve as preparatory races for the Breeders’ Cup and they would lose some of their prestige. It would add nearly a month to the traditional racing season, meaning top horse trainers would adjust their schedules to culminate in a Breeders’ Cup appearance. Additionally, horses from Europe or Japan would need to make significant adjustments to accommodate travel time and a short quarantine period upon their first arrival in the United States
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Few people understood how the event would be received, and it had its share of doubters. One of the biggest questions: would viewers be willing to watch seven horse races in an unprecedented 4-hour TV show? To get an insight into the founding of the event, I spoke with them John Gonzalez, who was the producer of NBC’s television shows in its early years. He spoke of meetings where Gaines and Nerud discussed why the event required 7 races and big purses and 4 hours of airtime. NBC staff at these meetings included the President of NBC Sports Arthur Watsonexecutive producer Mike WeissmanPR expert Mike Cohenand John Gonzalez. One of the main concerns was how the time would be filled with only 14 minutes of real on-track action. But each of those seven races required backstory, paddock coverage, an after parade, commentary while the horses were on the track, post-race analysis and awards ceremonies. While some doubted NBC’s ability to fill the 4 hours, as Gonzalez began creating a format for the show, he realized it wouldn’t be a problem.
Another important factor in the success of the event was Marge Everett, then the owner of Hollywood Park, where it opened in 1984. Her contacts with Hollywood celebrities helped to popularize the Breeders’ Cup. celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant, Fred Astaire, Jack Klugman, John Forsythe, Linda Evans, and many others were on TV. In this era we expect a celebrity red carpet at major sporting events, but this was truly an unprecedented display of star power for a sports broadcast. Everett was also instrumental in helping the industry partner with television like never before. When foul allegations were debated, NBC had cameras showing the stewards’ deliberations. When jockeys were on the phone near the scales and explaining their version of what happened in relation to a foul allegation, NBC mics heard what they said. The coverage generated an intimacy with the sport rarely seen on broadcast.
Another part of the event’s success in its early years was the participation of riders. Back then, no coach was more important to the event than D. Wayne Luke. The Hall of Famer still holds the record for most Breeders’ Cup wins (20) and starters (167). Back in 1987, when the event consisted of only 7 races (today there are 14), Lukas had an unbelievable 14 starters. I remember going to his stables to take conformation or “body” shots of his horses. If he told us to be there by 3pm, with military precision his horses would be out of the stable at 3am. 45 years later, at age 87, he will likely send Kentucky Oaks winners secret oath on the distaff post at this year’s event.
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How does the Breeders’ Cup work?
The Breeders’ Cup has a great history, but fans unfamiliar with the sport beyond the Triple Crown are generally unfamiliar with its structure. Here are the basics of the event:
- 14 World Championship races will be held over two days
- A main purpose of the event is to bring together the best horses from around the world to compete in the same venue
- The races are run in a variety of categories based on distance, race surface and age of the horses
- The total purse for the 14 races is over $30 million
I spoke to NBC’s Kenny Rice, and he gave me some analogies to relate the event to other marquee sports. Rice pointed out that the Triple Crown is only for 3-year-olds racing on Earth, and at that age many horses have not yet reached the peak of their ability. However, the Breeders’ Cup includes 14 different races, each spanning ‘divisions’ or categories of racing. As an example, there are 5 races for 2-year-olds that vary according to the gender of the horses, distances and the race surface (grass or sand). He says the Triple Crown is like a high-level collegiate sporting event, while the Breeders’ Cup, with all its divisions, is like the NFL playoffs, which pits the best in each division against each other. Others have compared it to Olympic athletics, where athletes compete to be the best in many different categories of events.
The idea of bringing together the best horses in the world in each division is central to the Breeders’ Cup concept and has given the sport a truly international showcase. There has always been consistent competition from Europe, but last year two of the races were won by horses from Japan. One of the goals from the start was to increase the international flavor of the event and that has certainly been done. In addition to the Japanese successes in 2021, consider that the coach with the 4th The highest total wins in the history of this US-based event is Ireland’s Aidan O’Brien. Also the jockey tied for 4th placeth The highest winning amount is based in England Frankie Dettori.
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Another frequently asked question about the event is why 14 races are necessary. The best answer I can give is fairness. For example, among sprinters it is generally accepted that men will be slightly faster. It is true that in the early years of the event, the great fillies Very subtle and Safely stored were good enough to beat the guys in the sprint. However, it is logical that if there are separate sprint races for male and female horses throughout the year, then there should be separate Breeders’ Cup races for male and female horses. Likewise the Filly and Mare Turf, which was held in 1999 as the 8thth The Breeders’ Cup race has created a separate category for female lawn runners over a ground course. It would be over a slightly shorter distance than the turf and it would eliminate the need for a top level female turf horse to face the best males over a mile and a half. Kenny Rice points out that while there was some skepticism when new breeds were introduced, the changes worked. He points to the success of Future Stars Friday, where championship races are restricted to 2-year-olds, as a key example.
Rice also feels that the success of the Breeders’ Cup has reinvigorated breeding in the sport. Celebrity owners and breeders like Bobby Flay and invoice packages are notable examples. When the event was first televised in 1984, each winner was recognized not only for his racing success but also for his breeding influence, with a video showing the winner’s father at his breeding farm. There is no question that the Breeders’ Cup has brought the focus to the breeding side of the industry.
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What to look out for at the Breeders’ Cup 2022
One of the greatest aspects of the Breeders’ Cup is that every year it takes place it is almost inevitable that there will be great and unforgettable moments. The inaugural event in 1984 was clearly aided by a memorable three-way battle on the course that ended in the long shot Wild again winning the classic with a head. The elation of the winning jockey Pat day holding his riding helmet up to the sky is the characteristic image in the history of the event. Such a memorable highlight of the Opening Ceremony did no little to raise awareness of the Breeders’ Cup among casual fans. This year, many fans are expecting another big moment as an unbeaten man airline will start the Breeders’ Cup Classic as a big favorite. NBC’s Randy Moss has said that Flightline’s performance at its last race (the Pacific Classic) was as great a performance as has been seen at any American circuit since secretariat 31-length win in the Belmont Stakes.