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Events and Attractions

American Pharoah Seals Legacy With Breeders' Cup Classic Win In Final Race

Triple Crown winner American Pharoah "provided a storybook ending" to the first Breeders' Cup held at Keeneland Race Course, as he races "into his retirement to stud with a 6 ½-length victory over longshot Effinex" in Saturday's $5M Breeders' Cup Classic, according to Jennie Rees of the Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL. American Pharoah trainer Bob Baffert said, "He gave everybody what they came to see today. That's what horse racing is about." Horse owner Ahmed Zayat: "This race was only about American Pharoah, we wanted him to go out as a winner, just for the horse." Rees noted the $26M Breeders' Cup was played out "on a cool and overcast day before a crowd of 50,155, a track record" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 11/1). In L.A., Andrew Campa noted American Pharoah became "the first-ever horse to win the 'Grand Slam' of horse racing, which is the Triple Crown -- Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes -- along with the Breeders’ Cup," which was started in '84. The horse "finished his career having won nine of 11 races and with a winnings total of $8,650,300." Baffert: "We’ll never have another one. The people came to see this and they got it. It’s very rare" (L.A. TIMES, 11/1). YAHOO SPORTS' Pat Forde wrote, "Here came American Pharoah, nailing the ending." The horse brought the fans "to their feet, bringing hair on the back of the neck to attention, bringing tears to the eyes." American Pharoah has "elevated a fading sport, given new vitality to an anachronistic business." He has "provided the casual-fan draw that has so often eluded racing" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/31).

THE MANE EVENT: ESPN.com's Bill Finely wrote American Pharoah was "never pressured, galloped around the track loose on the lead and made a $5 million horse race look like a workout" (ESPN.com, 10/31). ESPN.com's Dana O'Neil wrote, "When in sports does everyone arrive at an event and root for the same team? That's what happened Saturday at Keeneland" (ESPN.com, 10/31). In Lexington, John Clay wrote the Breeders' Cup "gave us a beauty, right here at our very own Keeneland Race Course, when on a day of terrific racing and amazing stars, the best was saved for last" (LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, 11/1). Also in Lexington, Alicia Wincze Hughes wrote while not every great athlete "gets to walk off their playing field of choice with a championship in their grasp, Saturday's Classic was the latest example of American Pharoah being all he was billed and then some" (LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, 11/1).

LASTING IMPACT: In Lexington, Ben Roberts wrote the Keeneland crowd "roared with approval when Pharoah hit the wire, and they roared again when he made his way back to the winner's circle." Fans will "never see him race again, but Lexington will go down in history as the setting of his soaring swan song." The announced attendance figure of 50,155 "included everyone who was on the Keeneland grounds, which featured several unique structures and fan areas not seen on regular race days." The event next year "returns to Santa Anita Park" on Nov. 4-5 (LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, 11/1). In N.Y., Joe Drape wrote American Pharoah for the past year has been "restoring the magic in horse racing." He was "transcendent." Drape: "American Pharoah is the best horse I ever saw" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/1). In L.A., Bill Dwyre wrote American Pharoah has "become, perhaps, the most photographed living thing on the planet." Dwyre: "The Kardashians are furious" (L.A. TIMES, 11/1).

HANDLE BARS: BLOODHORSE's Tom LaMarra noted the Breeders' Cup handle was "about even with last year, and officials said Keeneland measured up well as a first-time host site given its investment in the infrastructure needed to accommodate the event." The two-day handle for Oct. 30-31 totaled $150.57M, down 0.5% from $151.79M last year, when the event was held at Santa Anita Park. However, on-track wagering "increased about $500,000" to $20.61M from $20.12M. For the 12-race program Oct. 31, handle totaled $105.63M, "down a tick" from $105.98M (BLOODHORSE.com, 10/31). In Louisville, Jonathan Lintner wrote there were "few reports of traffic congestion, fan displeasure or upset horsemen after the track hosted the championships for the first time." Baffert: "It was a great show at Keeneland -- beautiful." Lintner noted added hospitality and viewing areas for the Breeders' Cup "spread crowds out." Also, many fans were "shuttled in from spots such as the Kentucky Horse Park and Rupp Arena rather than parked on site" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 11/2).

LEAVING THE WRONG MARK: In Lexington, Janet Patton wrote the Maker's Mark Lounge at Keeneland was "supposed to be a great place to sip premium bourbon and watch the best races in the world," but it "left a bad taste in the mouths of some racegoers" on Friday. Fans who got to the tent early "apparently were told that they were allowed to sit at any table." However, just before the races began, an announcement over the loudspeaker "informed them that they would have to move." A "chorus of loud booing broke out, and Kentucky State Police officers moved in, going table to table and checking tickets." Those who did not have tickets for reserved seats were "politely asked to move," but "not many were eager to go." Breeders' Cup ‎Senior Communications Consultant Jim Gluckson said that affected patrons were "being offered admission refunds; there was no immediate count of how many people asked for them." A Breeders' Cup statement said that the problem was "caused by a communication error with an external staffing group" (LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, 10/31).

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