Football
Associated Press 16y

Breeders' Cup decides to hold two straight Breeders' Cups at Santa Anita

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The Breeders' Cup will be held at Santa
Anita the next two years, the first time thoroughbred racing's
showcase event will be run at the same racetrack in consecutive
years.

The Breeders' Cup awarded the 2009 edition to Santa Anita in
Arcadia, Calif., on Thursday -- the same day the track announced it
was canceling racing for an eighth time this season because of
drainage problems with the new Cushion Track.

Track officials said Friday's racing would be canceled because
of a one-day delay in the last phase of renovating the surface
plagued by rain-related problems.

The first Breeders' Cup on a synthetic surface already has been
set for Oct. 24-25 at Santa Anita. A total of 14 races with $25.5
million in purses will be contested over two days.

"We are excited about the prospect for consecutive years in
America's second largest media market," Breeders' Cup chairman
Bill Farish said in a release.

Santa Anita has hosted the Breeders' Cup three times, in 2003,
1993 and 1986. Three of the first four Breeders' Cups were held in
California, in 1984 at Hollywood Park, '86 at Santa Anita and '87
at Hollywood Park.

Breeders' Cup officials said future sites would be considered on
a case-by-case basis, and a permanent format of consecutive years
had not been established.

"We will pursue discussions for the 2010 Breeders' Cup and
years beyond with Churchill Downs, Del Mar and the New York Racing
Association, among others," Breeders' Cup president Greg Avioli.

^ Back to Top ^