Breeders' Cup Runneth Over: Texas Set To Sizzle Saturday
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Breeders' Cup Gearing Up For First
Ever Running In
Lone Star State |
Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, hosts its first Breeders’
Cup Saturday, marking only the third time the event will be held outside New
York, California, Florida or Kentucky. In San Antonio, Paula Hunt reports the
event’s reserved seating “has been sold out for weeks” and NBC “expects a worldwide
audience of 20 million viewers in 60 countries.” Only Arlington Park near Chicago
and Woodbine in Toronto have previously hosted the event outside those four
states. Lone Star Park officials have installed 38,000 temporary seats to accommodate
the sellout crowd of more than 51,000 (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 10/29).
Breeders’ Cup President D.G. Van Clief Jr. said of the Dallas/Ft. Worth market:
“We knew we’d get a very high-level of support. I think the most tangible example
is that north of 51,000 seats were sold in advance of the event” (BLOODHORSE.com,
10/27). In Louisville, Marcus Green noted Lone Star Park’s average daily
attendance is about 9,000 and its normal seating capacity is 12,000 (Louisville
COURIER-JOURNAL, 10/28).
TRACK RECORD: In Dallas, Katie Fairbank reported Lone
Star Park has spent about $9M “preparing for the” event, including $3M on temporary
seating changes and $3M on stable area improvements. Lone Star Park President
Corey Johnson said, “We spent about $3[M] on customer area improvements, too”
(DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/27). Van Clief said, “Any new venue is going
to be a test. Will we walk away at 6 p.m. on Saturday with the feeling it has
been a success? It’s always a test, but it’s always important to identify venues
that might become return venues. This could easily become one” (BLOODHORSE.com,
10/27). More Van Clief: “The track was actually conceived and built with
the confidence that it could someday host the Breeders’ Cup. So in that regard
it may be one of the most aggressive management and ownership teams we’ve ever
done business with” (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 10/29). Texas Thoroughbred
Association Exec Dir David Hooper said, “Having the Breeders’ Cup here in Texas
is a huge boon to both the racing and breeding industry. Because in effect it
puts the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval on Texas and particularly Lone Star
Park” (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 10/28).
NOT A FAN: In Dallas, Eddie Sefko reported trainer Nick
Zito “appears to be in the minority” of people who prefer the Breeders’ Cup
to remain at established tracks in bigger markets. Zito: “We’d prefer to be
at Belmont or one of the major tracks, of course. But they want to have this
all around, so that’s the way it’s going to be.” Sefko wrote “most in the industry
understand that, for the sport to grow, expanding the horizon is essential.”
Owner Kenneth Ramsey said, “I think it’s great, myself, that they space it around
the country. ... We have horse racing all across the [U.S.], so let everybody
have their day in the sun” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/27).
TEXAS TWO-STEP? In Houston, Mickey Herskowitz reports
Sam Houston Race Park in Houston “made a pass at” getting the Breeders’ Cup
four or five years ago. Sam Houston Race Park CEO Bob Bork said, “When the Super
Bowl and All-Star Game were here Houston, was seen as a city of champions. We
would like to be a part of that. Obviously, if Lone Star has the success we
think it will, it would improve the chances of bringing them back to Texas.
After the races, we plan to renew our proposal” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/29).
FOR MORE: For news on NBC’s broadcast of the Breeders’
Cup, please see today’s Closing Bell.
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