After six years, ”It`s like holding seven championship fights on the same night” has become the official cliche of the Breeders` Cup.
But that`s the best way to describe this annual $10 million seven-race fall series that has become racing`s championship forum. Since the inaugural running in 1984, 45 of the 55 horses earning Eclipse Awards emblematic of North American championships have participated in the Breeders` Cup races.
The last three winners of the $3 million Breeders` Cup Classic were chosen Horse of the Year-Sunday Silence, Alysheba and Ferdinand.
In addition, the series has become a major intercontinental event. Top European runners have participated every year and have won the two grass races-the $2 million Turf and the $1 million Mile-a total of five times.
Saturday afternoon Belmont Park will be the host of the series that has traveled to six tracks during its seven-year history. Hollywood Park Park was the host in 1984 and 1987, Aqueduct in 1985, Santa Anita in 1986, Churchill Downs in 1988 and Gulfstream Park in 1989.
NBC-TV (WMAQ-Ch. 5 locally) is providing live coverage of the races from 12:30 to 5 p.m. for an estimated audience of 20 million in 20 countries.
This is what John Gaines had in mind when the thoroughbred owner and breeder conceived the Breeders` Cup in April, 1982. He wanted it to promote racing and provide a sumit conference of outstanding horses in the seven principal divisions.
Major funding is generated by annual nomination payments for stallions and one-time nomination payments for their offspring.
Besides the annual seven major races, the Breeders` Cup program includes a $2.4 million premium stakes program consisting of 130 races and a $4.2 million program co-sponsored by Budweiser consisting of 50 races at 40 tracks. Many of these secondary races have become significant regional events, such as Saturday`s fifth running of the Grade III $100,000 Hawthorne Budweiser Breeders` Cup.
