Breeders’ Cup Classic
The Breeders' Cup Classic is the crowning moment of the two days of the Breeder's Cup.
The Breeders' Cup is open to horses three years of age and older which offers an unparalleled level of excitement for fans. With a 1 mile course and a purse of $5 million, this is the biggest race in Thoroughbred racing.
Since there is such a large prize to be won, competitors enter the race from every corner of the world. There are some restrictions in place on weight and age in order to make sure the race is a fair one.
Three year olds born in the northern hemisphere and having an official birthday of January 1st are required to carry 122 pounds. Three year olds born in the southern hemisphere and having an official birthday of August 1st are required to carry 117 pounds. Horses born in the southern hemisphere are considered to be younger than horse's born in the northern hemisphere due to the difference in foaling seasons below the equator.
The horse which wins the Breeder's Cup Classic very often will go on to also win the U.S. Horse of the Year. The last four winners of the Breeder's Cup Classic have all done this - Curlin, Invasor, Saint Laim and Ghostzapper, respectively.
This race is traditionally a hard race to predict. The competition in the Breeders' Cup Classic is so fierce and of high quality that you never know which horse will be the winner for the day. One classic underdog win was in 1993 when Arcangues took the win. This was considered to be the biggest upset in Breeders' Cup history with a payoff of $269.20 for a $2 bet.
Not only do horseracing fans see the best of the best in today's horses, but they also see the world's top trainers and riders. However, due to the popularity of the race and the tough competition, it is not uncommon to see a new trainer take the win.
For instance, D. Wayne Lukas, who has won numerous races in other Breeders' Cup events only has one Breeders' Cup Classic under his belt with 1999's winner Cat Thief. You also see the best of the best in jockeys in the Breeders' Cup Classic with great names such as Chris McCarron, Jerry Bailey, Mike E. Smith and Pat Day having numerous wins in this race.
