Editing Breeders' Cup (section)

==History==

===1980s-1990s: Founding, early races===
The event was created as a year-end championship for North American Thoroughbred racing, and also attracts top horses from other parts of the world, especially Europe. The idea for the Breeders' Cup was proposed at the 1982 awards luncheon for the [[Kentucky Derby Festival]] by pet food heir John R. Gaines (1928–2005),<ref name=Duckworth/> a leading Thoroughbred owner and breeder who wanted to clean up the sport's image. The Cup was initially faced with much skepticism in the racing community, but with the vocal support of legendary trainer [[John A. Nerud|John Nerud]] and others, the Breeders' Cup was carried out, and subsequently experienced tremendous popularity domestically and abroad.

The prize money is largely supported by nomination fees paid by breeders for stallions and the resultant foals. In North America, participating stud farms pay an annual nomination fee for a given stallions that is equal to the stallion's advertised stud fee, plus an additional amount if the stallion has more than 50 foals in a given year. The cost to nominate a European stallion is 50% of their stud fee, while the nomination fee for a South American stallion is 25% of their stud fee. In North America, the breeders of the resultant foals must also pay a one-time nomination fee (currently $400) by October 15 of the year of birth.<ref>{{cite web|title=Breeding & Nominations|url=http://www.breederscup.com/history-tradition/breeding-nominations|website=www.breederscup.com|access-date=13 April 2018|language=en}}</ref>

The races are operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. The first event was in 1984. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in [[2007 Breeders' Cup|2007]], it expanded to two days. All sites have been in the United States, except in 1996, when the races were at the [[Woodbine Racetrack]] in Canada.

===2000–09: Expansion===
[[File:Breeders Cup 2009 001 (4108585150).jpg|thumb|left|The saddling paddock, decorated for the Breeders' Cup]]
In 2006 Greg Avioli began serving as interim President and CEO of the Breeders' Cup,<ref name="gakasdf"/> and he became the official CEO in April 2007.<ref name="gafSportsBusiness "/> "This is an exciting time for the Breeders' Cup", said Avioli. "We will continue to focus on growing the international market for our championships, creating a successful two-day event and promoting the Breeders' Cup brand with both our television and sponsorship partners."<ref>{{cite web|title=Avioli Named President, CEO of Breeders' Cup|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/160352/avioli-named-president-ceo-of-breeders-cup|website=bloodhorse.com|access-date=1 July 2016}}</ref> In 2007, the event was expanded from one to two days and in 2008, the first day was devoted to female horses and the overall purse increased to over $25 million, making it what the ''[[New York Post]]'' called "the richest turf festival in the world."<ref name="gawBonanza">
{{cite news
| title       =25 Years Later, Cup A Bonanza
| first       =Ray
| last        =Kerrison
| url         =https://nypost.com/2008/10/20/25-years-later-cup-a-bonanza/
| newspaper   =[[New York Post]]
| date        =October 20, 2008
| access-date  = 2014-11-10
}}</ref> Before the Breeders' Cup expanded to two days, it was generally considered to be the richest day in sports. Beginning in 2008, the second day of the Breeders' Cup became the second-richest. In 2008, a total of $17 million was awarded on that day, down from $20 million in 2007 (two races were moved from Day 2 to Day 1). The richest single day in sports is now another Thoroughbred racing event, [[Dubai World Cup Night]]. It features six races with a combined [[Purse (horse racing)|purse]] of $21 million in 2008. In 2008, the [[Breeders' Cup Marathon]] was added but was dropped in April 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.drf.com/news/breeders-cup-eliminates-bc-marathon|website=drf.com|title=Breeders' Cup eliminates BC Marathon|date=April 25, 2014|author=Hegarty, Matt|access-date=May 26, 2016}}</ref> 2008 also marked the first time most of the races were run on an artificial surface, instead of the traditional dirt.<ref name="gawBonanza"/>

On August 11, 2009, the Breeders' Cup announced that it would use the standard colored saddle towel system starting with the 2009 event. The new color-coded system (which has been used at many North American racetracks since the mid-1990s) replaces the standard purple saddle towels which had been used since 1985. The first Breeders' Cup in 1984 used yellow saddle towels.<ref>{{cite news | title = Breeders' Cup to adopt standard colored saddle towels for World Championships (includes picture of new towels)| url =http://www.breederscup.com/content.aspx?id=41010 | publisher=breederscup.com | work=Breeders' Cup | date = August 11, 2009| access-date=2009-08-14}}</ref>

On October 22, 2009, the Breeders' Cup announced it had signed simulcasting and licensing agreements with [[Betfair]],<ref name="gaxpressrelease">
{{cite news
| title       =Press Release: Breeders' Cup and Betfair Reach Landmark Wagering Agreement
| url         =http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/news/10-22-09/another-break-betfair.html
| newspaper   =Standard Bred Canada
| publisher   =Breeders' Cup / [[Betfair]]
| date        =October 22, 2009
| access-date  = 2014-11-20
}}</ref> a company which in turn had purchased the horse-racing network [[TVG Network|TVG]] in January of that year. The agreement brought in Betfair's customer base of over 2.5 million, many of whom had legal access to common-pool betting.<ref name="gaqpunters">
{{cite news
| title       =British punters gain new 'gateway' to Breeders' Cup betting pools
| first       =Greg
| last        =Wood
| url         =https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/oct/22/betfair-betting-breeders-cup
| newspaper   =[[The Guardian]]
| date        =October 22, 2009
| access-date =2014-11-20
}}</ref> Betfair handled common-pool wagering at the organization's November 2009 championships, also streaming the events live to both national and international wagerers for the first time.<ref name="gaxpressrelease"/> At that point, the World Championship event was being telecast in over 140 countries, through various networks.<ref name="gaxpressrelease"/>

The Breeders' Cup also introduced the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" qualifying system, a policy wherein winners of major races throughout the year, from North America, England, Ireland, France, Hong Kong, Japan, South Africa, Australia would gain automatic access to the Breeders' Cup Championships races.<ref>{{cite web|title=BC Challenge Series Adds Four British Races|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/147964/bc-challenge-series-adds-four-british-races|website=bloodhorse.com|access-date=1 July 2016}}</ref> Profits for 2010 were the highest in the organization's history, with wagering (both [[pari-mutuel]] and non-pari-mutuel) in 2010 nearing $200 million, or $21 million more than the previous year. Over $23 million of the non-pari-mutuel was wagered over Betfair.<ref name="rjushandelgrowth"/>

===2010–19===
In 2011, the organization appointed Craig R. Fravel as CEO and President, a role he will be leaving after the [[2019 Breeders' Cup|2019 event]] to head the racing operations of the [[Stronach Group]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Fravel to Leave Breeders' Cup for Stronach Group |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/235788/fravel-to-leave-breeders-cup-for-stronach-group |website=BloodHorse.com |access-date=13 September 2019 }}</ref> Also in 2011, the [[Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint|Juvenile Sprint]] was added, only to be dropped after the 2012 running.<ref name=DRF>{{cite news|url=http://www.drf.com/news/breeders-cup-will-not-expand-lasix-ban-drops-juvenile-sprint |title=Breeders' Cup will not expand Lasix ban, drops Juvenile Sprint |newspaper=Daily Racing Form |date=March 1, 2013 |access-date=October 24, 2013}}</ref> Organizers had originally planned to ban raceday use of the anti-bleeding medication furosemide (Lasix) for more consistency with European standards, but reversed the decision due to concerns from horsemen and many handicappers.<ref name=DRF/>

From 2008 to 2014, the Breeders' Cup was held at either Churchill Downs or Santa Anita Park, both major tracks with a demonstrated record of success in hosting the event. In 2015 however, [[Keeneland]] was selected as the host track for the first time, in large part because of [[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington]]'s position as the center of the North American thoroughbred breeding industry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.keeneland.com/racing/breeders-cup-2015|website=keeneland.com|title=Breeders' Cup 2015|access-date=May 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501130541/http://www.keeneland.com/racing/breeders-cup-2015|archive-date=May 1, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Although concerns were raised over Keeneland's limited amount of permanent seating,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paulickreport.com/news/ray-s-paddock/despite-differences-breeders-cup-at-keeneland-will-shine/|title=Despite differences, Breeders' Cup at Keeneland will shine|author=Paulick, Ray|date=June 24, 2014|access-date=May 26, 2014}}</ref> the 2015 event was considered a success, with record Friday attendance and a sell-out on Saturday.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/horses/breeders/2015/10/31/breeders-cup-2015--record-keeneland-crowds-attend-friday-saturday/74973446/|title=Breeders' Cup 2015 – Record Keeneland Crowds|author=Lintner, Jonathan|date=November 2, 2015|work=courier-journal.com|access-date=May 26, 2016 }}</ref>

2015 marked the first time a Triple Crown had been won since the inception of the Breeders' Cup, and thus the first opportunity to win the so-called [[Grand Slam of Thoroughbred racing]], consisting of the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup Classic. [[American Pharoah]] completed the feat in a decisive wire to wire victory.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2015/10/31/watch-american-pharoah-win-horse-racings-first-ever-grand-slam-at-breeders-cup/|title=Watch American Pharoah win horse racing's first ever grand slam|newspaper=Washington Post|author=Bieler, Des|date=October 31, 2015|access-date=May 26, 2016 }}</ref>

[[File:BreedersCupDistaff2016-Start.jpg|thumb|Start of 2016 Breeders' Cup Distaff]]
In 2016, Santa Anita had the record upon hosting the Breeders' Cup for a record ninth time.<ref name="breederscup.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.breederscup.com/media-center/press-releases/2014-06-24-0|title=Breeders' Cup – October 30 & 31, 2015|work=breederscup.com|access-date=August 29, 2015}}</ref> The 2017 event was held at [[Del Mar racetrack|Del Mar]] for the first time.

The 2018 event was held at Churchill Downs. For the 2018 event, the Friday card  was known as "Future Stars Friday" and featured five races for two-year-olds, including the new [[Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint]]. The Distaff moved back to the Saturday card.<ref>{{cite web |title=Breeders' Cup Friday to Spotlight Juvenile Races |url=https://bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/227465/breeders-cup-friday-to-spotlight-juvenile-races |website=BloodHorse.com |access-date=4 July 2018 |language=en}}</ref> Additional Breeders' Cup changes arrived with the Breeders' Cup Future Wager,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.brisnet.com/content/2018/08/first-three-2018-breeders-cup-future-wager-pools-features-classic-distaff/|title=First of three 2018 Breeders' Cup Future Wager pools features Classic, Distaff|last=Staff|first=Brisnet|date=2018-08-22|website=Brisnet|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.breederscup.com/Future-Wagers|title=Future Pool Wager {{!}} Breeders' Cup|website=www.breederscup.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-26}}</ref> similar to the Kentucky Derby Future Wager,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kentuckyderby.com/wager/future-wager|title=Future Wager on Kentucky Derby|website=www.kentuckyderby.com|access-date=2018-10-26}}</ref> and the first time the Equestrian event which was intermingled with Breeders' Cup and Churchill Downs activities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://equestricon.com|title=HOME|website=EQUESTRICON|language=en-US|access-date=2018-10-26}}</ref>

The 2019 event at [[Santa Anita Park]] ended in the death of a popular horse, Mongolian Groom, in the [[Breeders' Cup Classic]]. Mongolian Groom suffered a broken lower cannon bone as well as an upper portion of pastern during the race and was euthanized. The accident came after 37 other deaths at [[Santa Anita Park]] in less than a year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/236834/mongolian-groom-euthanized-after-bc-classic-breakdown |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103041907/https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/236834/mongolian-groom-euthanized-after-bc-classic-breakdown |archive-date=November 3, 2019 |title=Mongolian Groom Euthanized After BC Classic Breakdown - BloodHorse}}</ref>