Breeders' Cup expands number of qualifying races
March 22, 2012LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - This year's Breeders' Cup challenge series will consist of 73 automatic qualifying races into the Breeders' Cup World Championships that will be held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. on Nov. 2-3.
The challenge series has expanded to 10 countries with 52 of 73 of the races being Grade or Group 1 events. The Breeders' Cup pays entry fees and provides travel allowances of between $10,000 and $20,000 for the challenger winners into the championship field of the 15 races that are worth over $25 million.
There are six automatic berths for the feature race - the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic. The Classic automatic qualifying races begin on June 16 with the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs.