2015 Breeders' Cup

Last updated
2015 Breeders' Cup
Championship Event Series race
Keeneland Race Course.jpg
Keeneland racecourse
Location Lexington, Kentucky
Race typeThoroughbred
Website www.breederscup.com
Race information
DistanceSee individual races
SurfaceTurf, Dirt
PurseVaries by Race; Between $1,000,000 – $5 million

The 2015 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 32nd edition of the thoroughbred horse racing season-ending premier event held on October 30 and 31 at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky. [1] The race series, held for the first time at Keeneland, required a significant amount of preparation to transform the small, historic track into a venue capable of handling large crowds, comprising 13 championship races held over a two-day period.

Contents

The highlight of the series was the victory of American Pharoah in the Breeders' Cup Classic, becoming the first horse in history to complete the Grand Slam of Thoroughbred racing, the three Triple Crown races plus the Classic. In the process he set a track record before a record crowd for the Keeneland facility.

Breeders' Cup Challenge series

The Breeders' Cup Challenge is a series of races that provide the winners of designated races with automatic "Win and You're In" berths in a specified division of the Breeders' Cup. For qualifying horses, the Breeders' Cup organization covers the entry fee and provides a travel allowance of up to $40,000 for the connections of horses from overseas. Thirty-nine horses entered in the Breeders' Cup races qualified via the challenge series, including six of the winners. These were: [2]

Event preparation

In 2014, the management of Keeneland began to replace the synthetic Polytrack racing surface of its main race track with dirt. While the synthetic surface, installed in 2006, was considered safer for horses, it also was not popular with horse owners because it was too different from the dirt tracks where many major races were held. Returning the track to a dirt surface was a significant factor in Keeneland's bid to host the Breeders' Cup in 2015. [3] The Keeneland bid was successful and was officially announced on June 24, 2014. [4]

The Keeneland paddock area More inside keeneland (1698688634).jpg
The Keeneland paddock area

2015 was the first year that the Breeders' Cup had ever been held at Keeneland. A track built in 1935 as "a model race track, to perpetuate racing in the proper manner", it had never handled crowds of the size anticipated for the Breeders' Cup and thousands of temporary seats had to be added without removing trees or otherwise changing the classic appearance of the facility. [4] But with a 1,100 acres (450 ha) facility, there was room to be flexibile. Track management decided to only offer 28,000 reserved seats and further required that all tickets for both reserved and general admission be purchased in advance. They created seating in buildings adjacent to the existing grandstands and set up large tents and other temporary facilities, plus two tailgate areas with big-screen televisions for additional spectators. Keeneland's organizers estimated they would be able to host about 45,000 people. [5]

The configuration of the Keeneland racetrack is unique compared to previous Breeders' Cup venues, requiring some races to be held at different distances than previous Breeders' Cups. [6] The dirt track is a 1+1⁄16 miles (1,700 m) oval with two possible finish lines, and the turf course is 7+1⁄2 furlongs (0.875 miles (1,408 m)) [7] with a 1,190 feet (360 m) homestretch that is one of the longest in the United States. The use of the alternate finish line on the dirt course for the Dirt Mile, Juvenile, and Juvenile Fillies raised the possibility of confusing the jockeys, and the long turf stretch was viewed as giving a heavy advantage to closers. [6]

The Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile had an unorthodox setup because Keeneland does not regularly hold 1–mile dirt races. To get the proper distance while maximizing the run-up to the first turn, the starting gate was set 70 yards (64 m) in front of the one-mile pole, where the timer would start, and the finishing line was set at the track's alternate finish line at the 1⁄16 mile pole, thus the race was slightly longer than a mile for the horses. Keeneland held four races at that distance in the 2015 Fall meet to test the configuration. [8]

The Filly & Mare Turf was conducted at 1+3⁄16 miles because the track's turf course configuration does not allow for the usual distance of 1+1⁄4 mile. [9]

Also due to the configuration of the turf course, the Turf Sprint was held at 5+1⁄2 furlongs [10] for the first time the history of the race, which had been run since 2008. Previously, the race was about 6+1⁄2 furlongs when held on the "downhill turf course" at Santa Anita Racetrack and 5 furlongs when held at Churchill Downs.

Results

The attendance at the 2015 Breeders' Cup set a record for the Keeneland race course. Over two days, total attendance was 95,102. [11] Attendance on Friday, October 30, at 44,947, was the highest for a Friday since the Breeders' Cup became a two-day event in 2007. [12] It also broke Keeneland's previous one-day record of 40,617, set in 2012. [11] The attendance on Saturday was 50,155. [13] While the total attendance figure over two days was not a Breeders' Cup record, [lower-alpha 1] the Keeneland facility received high marks for its facilities. [14]

While the total parimutuel wagering handle was comparable to other years, at $150,574,656, the figures for bets at the Keeneland track itself were higher than the handle in the previous year when the Breeders' Cup was at Santa Anita Racetrack. [14] Wagering on all races Friday, including the six non-Breeders' Cup races held earlier in the day was $44,949,165 total, 1.9% lower than in 2014, but with $7,550,279 of that bet at Keeneland, which was an 8% increase for betting on-site. [12]

Each day's program included several undercard stakes races. Friday had 10 races total, four of which were Breeders' Cup championships. The most-anticipated race on Friday was the Breeders' Cup Distaff for fillies and mares, won by the four-year-old campaigner, Stopchargingmaria. [15] Saturday hosted 12 races, nine of which were part of the Breeders' Cup program, including the Breeders' Cup Turf, which drew the British-bred Epsom Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Golden Horn and the much-anticipated Breeders' Cup Classic, where American Pharoah would challenge older horses for the first time in his career. For both horses, their contests would be the last time each would race before being retired to stud. [16] Golden Horn struggled with the sand-based turf course and was second to the Irish filly Found. [17] American Pharoah, coming off of a defeat in his previous race and a two-month layoff, led wire-to-wire in the Classic and won by 6+1⁄2 lengths, [16] becoming the first horse to win the Grand Slam of Thoroughbred racing, consisting of the Triple Crown plus the Classic. [18] With his win, he also broke the Keeneland track record for the 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) distance. [19]

Friday, October 30

Race namePost time (EDT)SponsorDistance/SurfaceRestrictionsPurseWinner (Bred)
Juvenile Turf 3:30p1 mile (Turf)2-year-old colts and geldings$1 million Hit It A Bomb
Dirt Mile 4:10pCity of Las Vegas1 mile3 yrs+$1 million Liam's Map
Juvenile Fillies Turf 4:50p1 mile (Turf)2-year-old fillies$1 million Catch A Glimpse
Distaff 5:35pLongines1+1⁄8 miles3 yrs+ fillies & mares$2 million Stopchargingmaria

[15]

Saturday, October 31

Race NamePost time (EDT)SponsorDistance/SurfaceRestrictionsPurseWinner (Bred)
Juvenile Fillies 12:05p14 Hands Winery1+1⁄16 miles2-year-old fillies$2 million Songbird
Turf Sprint 12:45p5+1⁄2 furlongs (Turf)3 yrs+$1 million Mongolian Saturday
Filly & Mare Sprint 1:25p7 furlongs3 yrs+ fillies & mares$1 million Wavell Avenue
Filly & Mare Turf 2:10p1+3⁄16 miles (Turf)Fillies and mares$2 million Stephanie's Kitten
Sprint 2:50pTwin Spires6 furlongs3 yrs+$1.5 million Runhappy
Mile 3:30p1 mile (Turf)3 yrs+$2 million Tepin
Juvenile 4:10pSentient Jet1+1⁄16 miles2-year-old colts and geldings$2 million Nyquist
Turf 4:50pLongines1+1⁄2 miles (Turf)3 yrs+$3 million Found
Classic 5:35p1+1⁄4 miles3 yrs+$5 million American Pharoah

[16]

Notes

  1. ↑ The record was 80,452, at the 1998 Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs set in 1998. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keeneland</span> Equine business based in Lexington, Kentucky

Keeneland Association, Inc. is an equine business based in Lexington, Kentucky. It includes two distinct divisions: the Keeneland Race Course, a Thoroughbred racing facility, and Keeneland Sales, a horse auction complex. It is also known for its reference library.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breeders' Cup</span> Grade I Thoroughbred horse racing

The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Grade I Thoroughbred horse races, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 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.

The Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for fillies and mares, three years old and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

The Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint is a 7-furlong Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred fillies and mares three years old and up. As its name implies, it is a part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the de facto year-end championship for North American thoroughbred racing, generally held in the United States. The race is run on a dirt course.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge is a series of Thoroughbred horse races in which the winner earns an automatic spot in a specified Breeders' Cup race. The challenge races change somewhat each year. The Challenge series began in 2007 with 24 "Win and You're In" races from 2 countries. By 2014, the series had grown to 71 races across 13 countries. During that period, 24 winners of Breeders' Cup races had qualified via the challenge series.

The 2008 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 25th edition of the premier event of the North American Thoroughbred horse racing year. It took place on October 24 and 25 during the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Breeders' Cup is generally regarded as the end of the North America racing season, although a few Grade I events take place in later November and December. The 2008 Breeders' Cup results were influential in the Eclipse Award divisional championship voting.

The 2013 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 30th edition of the premier event of the North American thoroughbred horse racing year. It took place on November 1 and November 2 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Breeders' Cup is generally regarded as the end of the North America racing season, although a few Grade I events take place in later November and December. The 2013 Breeders' Cup results were highly influential in the Eclipse Award divisional championship voting.

The 2014 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 31st edition of the premier event of the North American thoroughbred horse racing year. It took place on October 31 and November 1 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Breeders' Cup is generally regarded as the end of the North American racing season, although a few Grade I events take place in later November and December. The 2014 Breeders' Cup results were highly influential in the Eclipse Award divisional championship voting.

Dayatthespa is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. As a three-year-old in 2012 she won her first five races including the Herecomesthebride Stakes, Appalachian Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. After winning two races in an abbreviated 2013 season she reached her peak as a five-year-old in 2014, winning the Yaddo Stakes, the First Lady Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Judy the Beauty is a Canadian-bred, American-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by Adena Springs in Ontario, she has been owned and trained throughout her racing career by Wesley Ward who bought her for $20,000 as a yearling. As a juvenile, she won her first three races before finishing second in the Spinaway Stakes. In a brief three-year-old season she finished second in all three of her races. In 2013 she established herself as one of the best female sprinters in North America, winning the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes and finishing second to Groupie Doll in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. She was even better at five, winning the Las Flores Handicap, Madison Stakes and Rancho Bernardo Handicap before ending her season with a win in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. After her retirement, Judy the Beauty was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tepin (horse)</span> American Thoroughbred racehorse

Tepin is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse who was named the American Champion Female Turf Horse of 2015 and 2016. She showed very promising form as a two-year-old in 2013 when she won the Delta Princess Stakes on the dirt. After a disappointing three-year-old season when she failed to win in four starts, she emerged as a top-class turf performer in 2015. Her wins as a four-year-old included the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes, Just A Game Stakes and First Lady Stakes before recording her biggest success when defeating male opposition in the Breeders' Cup Mile. In 2016, she won her first four starts and was then sent to England, where she defeated a field of leading European milers to win the Queen Anne Stakes. On returning to North America, she extended her winning streak to eight in the Woodbine Mile. The streak included three Grade/Group 1 wins against male horses in three different countries. Although Tepin finished second in her next two starts including an effort to defend her title in the Breeders Cup Mile, she was still named the Champion Female Turf Horse for the second year in a row. Tepin was inducted to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2020 and the US National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Breeders' Cup</span> Horse race

The 2016 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 33rd edition of the premier event of the North American thoroughbred horse racing year. A total of 185 pre-entries were announced on October 26 in what was considered a highly competitive year in most divisions. The races, all of which were Grade I, took place on November 4 and 5 at Santa Anita Racetrack in Arcadia, California and were telecast by NBC. The Breeders' Cup is generally regarded as the end of the North America racing season, although a few Grade I events take place in later November and December.

The 2015 Breeders' Cup Classic was the 32nd running of the Breeders' Cup Classic, part of the 2015 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships program. It was run on October 31, 2015, at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Breeders' Cup</span> Horse race

The 2017 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 34th edition of the premier event of the North American thoroughbred horse racing year. The 13 races, all of which were Grade I, took place on November 3 and 4 at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California and were telecast by NBC and NBC Sports. The Breeders' Cup is generally regarded as the end of the North America racing season, although a few Grade I events take place in later November and December.

The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint is an American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old horses, run on a grass course at a distance of 5 or 5+1⁄2 furlongs, depending on the configuration of the host track. It is part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the de facto year-end championship for North American thoroughbred racing. All Breeders' Cups to date have been conducted in the United States, with the exception of the 1996 event in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Breeders' Cup</span> Horse race

The 2018 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 35th edition of the premier event of the North American thoroughbred horse racing year. The 14 races, all but one of which were Grade I, took place on November 2 and 3 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The races were telecast by NBCSN on Friday and early Saturday, and by NBC later on Saturday. The Breeders' Cup is generally regarded as the end of the North American racing season, although a few Grade I events take place in later November and December. The event typically determines champions in many of the Eclipse Award divisions, although it was missing the eventual Horse of the Year, Triple Crown champion Justify, who was retired in July.

The 2019 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 36th edition of the premier event of the North American thoroughbred horse racing year. The 14 races, all but one of which were Grade I, took place on November 1 and 2 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The races were telecast by NBCSN on Friday and early Saturday, and by NBC later on Saturday.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Breeders' Cup</span> Horse race

The 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 37th edition of the premier event of the North American thoroughbred horse racing year. The 14 races, all but one of which were Grade I, took place on November 6 and 7 at Keeneland racetrack in Lexington, Kentucky. The races were telecast by NBCSN on Friday and early Saturday, and by NBC later on Saturday.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knicks Go</span> American racehorse

Knicks Go is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 2021 American Horse of the Year after winning five of seven starts, including the Breeders' Cup Classic, Whitney Stakes and Pegasus World Cup. The year before he won the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. He is the sixth horse to win two different Breeders' Cup races.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Breeders' Cup</span> Horse race

The 2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 39th edition of the premier event of the North American Thoroughbred horse racing year. The 14 races, all of which were Grade I, took place on November 4 and 5 at Keeneland racetrack in Lexington, Kentucky. In the United States, the races were telecast on Friday and early Saturday by USA Network and FanDuel TV, with NBC covering the last three races on Saturday. In the United Kingdom, ITV broadcast all the races live, with day 1 on ITV3 and day 2 on ITV4.

References

  1. ↑ "Breeders' Cup Homepage". Breeders' Cup . 2015.
  2. ↑ "2016 Breeders' Cup Challenge Features 59 Grade/Group 1 Races in 12 Countries". breederscup.com. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  3. ↑ Hall, Gregory A (April 3, 2014). "Keeneland to replace Polytrack with dirt". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  4. 1 2 Hall, Gregory A (June 24, 2014). "Breeders' Cup confirms Keeneland as 2015 site". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  5. 1 2 Hegarty, Matt (October 17, 2014). "Breeders' Cup tickets at Keeneland will be limited to 28,000". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  6. 1 2 Arlington, Debbie (29 October 2015). "How will Breeders' Cup play in the bluegrass?". sacbee. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  7. ↑ "Keeneland Track Configuration". keeneland.com. Keeneland Racing.
  8. ↑ Angst, Frank (9 October 2015). "Jockeys Find Keeneland Mile Race Challenging". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  9. ↑ Angst, Frank (24 June 2014). "Keeneland a Breeders' Cup Homecoming". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  10. ↑ Ron Mitchell (16 October 2015). "Undrafted at Home for Turf Sprint Attempt". BloodHorse.com.
  11. 1 2 Lintner, Jonathan (October 31, 2015). "Largest-ever Keeneland crowds for Breeders' Cup". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  12. 1 2 LaMarra, Tom (30 October 2015). "BC Day 1: Record Crowd, Slight Handle Drop" . Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  13. ↑ Novak, Claire (31 October 2015). "American Pharoah Romps in BC Classic". Blood-Horse. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  14. 1 2 LaMarra, Tom. "Handle Even, But Keeneland BC Gets High Marks". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  15. 1 2 "Keeneland October 30, 2015" (PDF). Equibase. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  16. 1 2 3 "Keeneland October 31, 2015" (PDF). Equibase. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  17. ↑ "Breeders' Cup Turf: Golden Horn beaten by Found in Kentucky". BBC Sport. October 31, 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  18. ↑ Ehalt, Bob (October 31, 2015). "Pharoah ushers in Grand Slam era". ESPN . Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  19. ↑ Drape, Joe (October 31, 2015). "American Pharoah Ends Career With Win at Breeders' Cup". The New York Times. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.