BC: 2015- Keeneland; '16- Santa Anita, -17 - Del Mar
Jun 17, 2014 23:06:04 GMT -5
Post by Evelyn on Jun 17, 2014 23:06:04 GMT -5
Not yet confirmed by the BC. Looks like they threw a bone to a non-CA track LOL
Breeders' Cup coming to Keeneland
Gregory A. Hall
The Breeders' Cup is returning to Kentucky after what will be a four-year absence — but not to Churchill Downs.
Instead, the 2015 Breeders' Cup will be at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington.
Lexington-based Breeders' Cup Ltd. is expected to announce this month that the next three sites after this year's running at Santa Anita Park in California, according to two sources with knowledge of the plans. Next year would be at Keeneland, followed by a return to Santa Anita in Arcadia in 2016 and then Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in San Diego in 2017, they said.
A Breeders' Cup spokesman has said the organization isn't commenting, and several board members declined to discuss plans when called individually. Chairman Bill Farish of Lanes End Farm said an announcement would come around June 24.
It would be the first time the fall thoroughbred championships would be held at Keeneland or Del Mar — both of which are viewed as among the most picturesque racetracks in the country, with Keeneland nestled in the Bluegrass and Del Mar by the Pacific Ocean. The schedule means Santa Anita would become the most frequent host of the two-day event; it already will tie Churchill Downs for that distinction this year at eight times.
The schedule also would ensure the longest absence of the Breeders' Cup at Churchill — at least seven years — despite the fact that the track has recorded the event's largest crowds and biggest betting totals.
Last year, when the 2014 decision was announced, the Breeders' Cup said not choosing Churchill was not a criticism of the track. But the two sides have differed over financial terms in past years, with representatives of both sides saying publicly that they wanted a better deal.
The Breeders' Cup has been held both in late October and early November. If it's early November, those dates traditionally have been awarded to Churchill Downs.
Churchill spokesman John Asher said Tuesday that the track had not yet been approached about any potential dates issues, but he congratulated the tracks being chosen.
"The return of the Breeders' Cup to Kentucky is good news for our state and great news for its signature horse industry," he said in a statement. "We wish the team at Keeneland the very best as it plans for next year's event."
Vince Gabbert, Keeneland's vice president and chief operating officer, referred questions to the Breeders' Cup.
Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, a Georgetown Republican and former Breeders' Cup employee, said he was pleased to hear the event will be coming to Keeneland. "It'll be a very special event, unlike any other Breeders' Cup ever run."
It is "very exciting for Central Kentucky to know that we're going to be hosting a Breeders' Cup at one of the greatest racetracks in the world," he said.
Keeneland officials previously had confirmed their interest in hosting the 2015 Breeders' Cup, while industry rumblings pointed toward the Lexington track being the expected choice of the Breeders' Cup board that met June 11.
A Keeneland Breeders' Cup is expected to involve temporary seating because the event typically has more than 50,000 people on its biggest day. Keeneland's record is 40,617.
The track has almost 8,800 permanent seats, including several hundred in dining areas that don't have track views. Temporary seating of up to 15,000 for the Breeders' Cup would provide about 23,800 seats besides standing-room only general admission.
Keeneland also is in the process of replacing it synthetic main track with dirt, a move viewed by many as geared toward getting the Breeders' Cup.
The Breeders' Cup benefited from a break on the state's pari-mutuel excise tax when it was here, but the tax break — which had been estimated to generate as much as $1 million — expired because the event hasn't been in Kentucky since runs at Churchill in 2010 and 2011.
Thayer said he's had an initial conversation with Keeneland about the tax break, but "it's still a little early to discuss prospects for renewing it. But once a contract between Keeneland and the Breeders' Cup is signed, certainly it's something we could take a look at."
While the decision to forego Churchill could be a blow to Louisville's tourism economy, Lexington could see a significant economic impact..
A University of Louisville study found the Breeders' Cup provided $53.3 million in revenue across the region in 2010, the first time it was in Kentucky under the two-day format that started in 2007. An earlier study done for the Breeders' Cup said the impact of its 1998 event, also held at Churchill, was $21 million.
The decision also could be of major benefit to Keeneland's and Fasig-Tipton's breeding stock sales, which follow the Breeders' Cup and are said to do better when the event is in Kentucky.
Louisville, meanwhile, could still see some economic spillover.
Chris Poynter, spokesman for Mayor Greg Fischer, said it would be "a short drive away for horse fans from Louisville, and we know Keeneland's going to do a wonderful job."
Poynter added that the city looks forward to discussions about returning the event to Churchill, adding that Louisville is "uniquely positioned because every time they come here, they get the biggest crowds and among the biggest handles. So we'll be shooting for '18 and beyond."
Breeders' Cup coming to Keeneland
Gregory A. Hall
The Breeders' Cup is returning to Kentucky after what will be a four-year absence — but not to Churchill Downs.
Instead, the 2015 Breeders' Cup will be at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington.
Lexington-based Breeders' Cup Ltd. is expected to announce this month that the next three sites after this year's running at Santa Anita Park in California, according to two sources with knowledge of the plans. Next year would be at Keeneland, followed by a return to Santa Anita in Arcadia in 2016 and then Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in San Diego in 2017, they said.
A Breeders' Cup spokesman has said the organization isn't commenting, and several board members declined to discuss plans when called individually. Chairman Bill Farish of Lanes End Farm said an announcement would come around June 24.
It would be the first time the fall thoroughbred championships would be held at Keeneland or Del Mar — both of which are viewed as among the most picturesque racetracks in the country, with Keeneland nestled in the Bluegrass and Del Mar by the Pacific Ocean. The schedule means Santa Anita would become the most frequent host of the two-day event; it already will tie Churchill Downs for that distinction this year at eight times.
The schedule also would ensure the longest absence of the Breeders' Cup at Churchill — at least seven years — despite the fact that the track has recorded the event's largest crowds and biggest betting totals.
Last year, when the 2014 decision was announced, the Breeders' Cup said not choosing Churchill was not a criticism of the track. But the two sides have differed over financial terms in past years, with representatives of both sides saying publicly that they wanted a better deal.
The Breeders' Cup has been held both in late October and early November. If it's early November, those dates traditionally have been awarded to Churchill Downs.
Churchill spokesman John Asher said Tuesday that the track had not yet been approached about any potential dates issues, but he congratulated the tracks being chosen.
"The return of the Breeders' Cup to Kentucky is good news for our state and great news for its signature horse industry," he said in a statement. "We wish the team at Keeneland the very best as it plans for next year's event."
Vince Gabbert, Keeneland's vice president and chief operating officer, referred questions to the Breeders' Cup.
Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, a Georgetown Republican and former Breeders' Cup employee, said he was pleased to hear the event will be coming to Keeneland. "It'll be a very special event, unlike any other Breeders' Cup ever run."
It is "very exciting for Central Kentucky to know that we're going to be hosting a Breeders' Cup at one of the greatest racetracks in the world," he said.
Keeneland officials previously had confirmed their interest in hosting the 2015 Breeders' Cup, while industry rumblings pointed toward the Lexington track being the expected choice of the Breeders' Cup board that met June 11.
A Keeneland Breeders' Cup is expected to involve temporary seating because the event typically has more than 50,000 people on its biggest day. Keeneland's record is 40,617.
The track has almost 8,800 permanent seats, including several hundred in dining areas that don't have track views. Temporary seating of up to 15,000 for the Breeders' Cup would provide about 23,800 seats besides standing-room only general admission.
Keeneland also is in the process of replacing it synthetic main track with dirt, a move viewed by many as geared toward getting the Breeders' Cup.
The Breeders' Cup benefited from a break on the state's pari-mutuel excise tax when it was here, but the tax break — which had been estimated to generate as much as $1 million — expired because the event hasn't been in Kentucky since runs at Churchill in 2010 and 2011.
Thayer said he's had an initial conversation with Keeneland about the tax break, but "it's still a little early to discuss prospects for renewing it. But once a contract between Keeneland and the Breeders' Cup is signed, certainly it's something we could take a look at."
While the decision to forego Churchill could be a blow to Louisville's tourism economy, Lexington could see a significant economic impact..
A University of Louisville study found the Breeders' Cup provided $53.3 million in revenue across the region in 2010, the first time it was in Kentucky under the two-day format that started in 2007. An earlier study done for the Breeders' Cup said the impact of its 1998 event, also held at Churchill, was $21 million.
The decision also could be of major benefit to Keeneland's and Fasig-Tipton's breeding stock sales, which follow the Breeders' Cup and are said to do better when the event is in Kentucky.
Louisville, meanwhile, could still see some economic spillover.
Chris Poynter, spokesman for Mayor Greg Fischer, said it would be "a short drive away for horse fans from Louisville, and we know Keeneland's going to do a wonderful job."
Poynter added that the city looks forward to discussions about returning the event to Churchill, adding that Louisville is "uniquely positioned because every time they come here, they get the biggest crowds and among the biggest handles. So we'll be shooting for '18 and beyond."
