Breeders' Cup Considers Permanent Site For World Championships

A Permanent Site For Future Breeders' Cup World Championships Could Be In Place By '11

The Breeders' Cup BOD on Friday authorized management to "explore the feasibility of a single permanent host site location for the Breeders' Cup World Championships," according to Ed DeRosa of the THOROUGHBRED TIMES. Breeders' Cup Senior Dir of Event Communications Jim Gluckson: "It's possible that the permanent site could be announced for the 2011 event." Belmont Park, Churchill Downs and Santa Anita Park have held the World Championships "most often," but "only Santa Anita had had discussions with Breeders' Cup about becoming a permanent host" prior to Friday's meeting. Churchill Downs is "slated to host the event for a record seventh time" in '10. Churchill Downs VP/Communications Liz Harris said, "No one yet has spoken with Breeders' Cup executives about specific plans, but I know that we'll be happy to discuss this with Breeders' Cup executives once they have specific proposals." Harris added, "Breeders' Cup always does well here, so I would hope that Churchill would be a part of long-term discussions." DeRosa noted Belmont Park, which has hosted the World Championships four times, is "believed to be in the running to stage the '11 event," but the NYRA has had "no discussions with Breeders' Cup about being a permanent host" (THOROUGHBREDTIMES.com, 12/11). In N.Y., Jerry Bossert wrote if the Breeders' Cup BOD names a permanent site, "please let them choose a dirt track, and not a synthetic track, which throws the importance of the Breeders' Cup right out the window" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/12).