Breeders’ Cup to return to Del Mar in 2024

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The Breeders’ Cup will probably be held in Southern California for the second straight time subsequent yr when the two-day occasion returns to Del Mar on Nov. 1-2. The announcement was made by the Breeders’ Cup on Thursday. It will probably be held this yr at Santa Anita on Nov. 3-4.

The transfer was not a shock because the group has fallen right into a cycle of Santa Anita, Del Mar, Churchill Downs and Keeneland alternating in numerous orders. Santa Anita has hosted the occasion 10 instances and Del Mar twice. The first time it was held at Del Mar was 2017 and its success allowed the occasion to return in 2021. One mitigating issue about Del Mar is its barely smaller dimension in comparison with the cavernous Santa Anita. But as racetracks have grow to be smaller, in lots of instances pushed by on line casino play being the first enterprise, the choices to carry the Breeders’ Cup have dwindled.

With the upcoming renovation of Belmont Park, it’s anticipated that the Breeders’ Cup would finally return to the New York monitor for the primary time since 2005. But that would take as much as 5 years.

“Breeders’ Cup has always been a strong supporter of California racing and we look forward to showcasing the wonderful venue once again to our horsemen and fans from around the world,” mentioned Drew Fleming, president and chief govt of the group.

The Breeders’ Cup is made up of 14 Grade 1 races, all value a minimum of $1 million. The purses are constructed from nominations of horses and stallions from the day a horse is foaled. The enterprise mannequin of horse racing is such that breeding has grow to be extra essential, and profitable, than racing horses.

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Last yr’s Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, the Santa Anita-based Flightline, was retired after solely six races over two years due to his worth as a stallion. Of the eight horses that ran within the $6-million Classic, the richest race within the United States, six have been retired to stallion obligation. Only Taiba, who runs Saturday within the Saudi Cup, and Rich Strike, winner of final yr’s Kentucky Derby, are nonetheless racing.