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History has often been made in this race and maybe will again in the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
The great Zenyatta couldn’t end her career unbeaten when going under by a nose. The 2018 Breeders’ Cup Classic (2012m) at Churchill Downs on Saturday shapes as a very level race.
2018 BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The Breeders’ Cup Classic is a Grade 1 race run under Weight For Age conditions for three year olds and up at Churchill Downs conducted by the Breeders’ Cup Limited.
The Breeders’ Cup Classic is run over a mile and a quarter (2012m) on dirt. It was first run in 1984 and won by Wild Again.
The concept of the Breeders’ Cup was inaugurated in 1984. It was an idea based around being a so-called World Championships and is moved around leading American race tracks on a rotational basis.
The Breeders’ Cup has been held at many tracks since its inception in 1984. Hollywood Park, Aqueduct, Santa Anita Park, Churchill Downs, Gulfstream Park, Belmont Park, Woodbine, Arlington Park, Lone Star Park, Monmouth Park, Keeneland and Del Mar Thoroughbred Club have all held the meeting.
The Breeders’ Cup Classic, like the other international features, is designed to see mainly the Europeans take on the locals. The issue of running on the anti-bleeding medication Lasix is always a factor.
The race record is held by Ghostzapper at Lone Star Park at 1:59.02.
There have been some rough results in the Breeders’ Cup Classic including the first running as Wild Again was a 30-1 chance and Arcangues scored at well over 100-1 in 1993.
However Zenyatta, who had won in 2009, was back to hopefully end her illustrious unbeaten career in 2010. She was 8 lengths last out of the straight the first time, had to make such a long run and missed by a nose.
In 2015, it was the first time since its inception that the Triple Crown winner could complete the grand slam by winning the Classic. American Pharoah did just that.
Two jockeys have won the race on five occasions – Chris McCarron and Jerry Bailey.
The trainer with most wins is Bob Baffert with three (in a row).
The Breeders’ Cup Classic is worth US$6m in 2018. It is the richest race on the Breeders’ Cup weekend.
Some famous Breeders’ Cup Classic winners include Aysheba (1988), Sunday Silence (1989), AP Indy (1992), Cigar (1995), Tiznow (2000/2001), Curlin (2007), Raven’s Pass (2008), Zenyatta (2009), Mucho Macho Man (2013), American Pharoah (2015), Arrogate (2016) and Gun Runner (2017).
The 2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic was won by Gun Runner from Collected and West Coast.
