Latest news with #Breeders'CupLimited
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Belmont Park will host the Breeders' Cup in 2027 after $455M renovation; Keeneland gets 2026
The Breeders' Cup World Championships are returning to New York in 2027 at the rebuilt Belmont Park, following a massive renovation project to revitalize one of the most important horse racing tracks in the country. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, along with officials from the Breeders' Cup and the New York Racing Association, announced Wednesday that the track on the edge of Queens and Nassau County on Long Island will stage the event in the fall two years from now. 'We wrote the Governor of New York a letter in 2023 that simply said, 'If you build it, we will come,'' Breeders' Cup Limited President and CEO Drew Fleming said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. 'And so we're very honored to keep our word and have a wonderful Breeders' Cup World Championships here in 2027 to showcase the new development and investment in Belmont Park to our fans from across the globe.' Keeneland in Lexington was revealed as the 2026 host. Belmont Park was last home to the Breeders' Cup in 2005, the fourth time in two decades after also being there in 1990,' 1995, and 2001. A goal of the $455 million teardown and reconstruction was to attract the major event. 'It was always part of the plan: We weren't going to redevelop Belmont Park without Breeders' Cup in mind, so it was always part of the initial goals,' NYRA President and CEO David O'Rourke told the AP by phone. 'Getting the championships back to New York is big from an economic point of view, and probably one of the most important (things), if not the most important; it gives our trainers and horsemen a chance to compete on their home tracks. I think it's great. It's been over 20 years.' Kentucky Derby 151 winning jockey faces suspension, $62K fine: Here's why Godolphin Racing reflects on historic weekend at Churchill Downs Bob Baffert reflects on 10-year anniversary of American Pharoah winning Kentucky Derby, Triple Crown Hochul, in a statement, said the redevelopment is bringing thousands of jobs and $1 billion in long-term economic activity to Long Island. 'Thanks to the investments we are making at Belmont Park, the long-held dream of bringing the prestigious Breeders' Cup back to New York will soon be a reality,' Hochul said. The Breeders' Cup has been at a Kentucky or California track every year since 2008. Del Mar, outside San Diego, has it this year as a back-to-back host and for the fourth time since 2017. Santa Anita outside Los Angeles, Keeneland and Churchill Downs in Louisville — home of the Kentucky Derby — have become the regular sites for the two-day festival featuring the best thoroughbreds in the world and tens of millions of dollars' worth of races. It's shifting back to the Eastern time zone for the next two years. 'California is and has always been a wonderful spot to have the Breeders' Cup with Santa Anita Park and Del Mar, but one of the missions of the Breeders' Cup is to grow the sport and one of the ways we do this is hosting world championships at various venues across the United States,' Fleming said, adding that he expects the event to generate $100 million for the New York economy. While NYRA has not yet announced a location for the 2026 Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown is set to return to its old home by 2027 at the latest, after a multiyear stint at historic Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York during renovations. Crystal Rogers case: Steve Lawson's stepchildren, former coworkers testify on day 2 of trial Paducah man claims he was stabbed over lawn-mowing argument No damages reported after Owensboro BBQ restaurant fire With the Belmont at Belmont Park shifting back to an annual occurrence, it is possible the track known for greats like Secretariat and Seattle Slew rumbling down the stretch to the finish line with fans roaring might get back in a regular rotation. 'The best part about working for the Breeders' Cup is that nothing is off the table,' Fleming said. 'New York City has some of the finest accommodations and restaurants, and entertainment in the world, so it'd be a natural fit that we would be at Belmont Park frequently.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Keeneland Race Course to host Breeders' Cup World Championships for 4th time. What to know
Keeneland Race Course in Lexington has been named the host site for the 2026 Breeders' Cup World Championships. Breeders' Cup announced Wednesday the host sites for the 2026 and 2027 races. Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., will host the 2027 event. Advertisement 'Keeneland exemplifies an unwavering dedication to excellence in thoroughbred racing and is currently making a significant investment to benefit our great sport, making it an ideal venue to host the 2026 Breeders' Cup World Championships,' said Drew Fleming, President & CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited. 'We look forward to welcoming fans back to the Horse Capital of the World, celebrating the rich history of the Bluegrass and highlighting the tremendous farms that make the area so special as we celebrate the pinnacle of thoroughbred racing.' Anchoring the Keeneland development plan is the three-level Paddock Building, which extends the entire length of the Saddling Paddock and Walking Ring and is scheduled to open this fall. The Paddock Building will provide new ticketed experiences for more than 1,000 fans during race meets, including traditional sit-down dining, new bar concepts and access to a Paddock Lawn on the north side of the Saddling Paddock. 'Keeneland is honored to host the Breeders' Cup World Championships in 2026, and we're thrilled to share this global racing celebration with fans from all over the world and with the Lexington community,' Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. 'We are especially excited to host guests in our new Paddock Building with further enhanced hospitality experiences.' Keeneland will host the Breeders' Cup for the fourth time, also hosting in 2015, 2020 and 2022. Race dates — pending approval by the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation — in 2026 are set for Oct. 30-31. Advertisement This year's Breeders' Cup is set for Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Del Mar in California. Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@ Follow on X @KentuckyDerbyCJ. More horse racing: Check out the list of contenders for the 2025 Belmont This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky to host Breeders' Cup 2026
New York Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Breeders' Cup returning to Belmont in 2027 after $455 million renovation
The Breeders' Cup will be returning to Belmont Park, with the two-day, 14-event slate of championship races set for Oct. 29 and 30, 2027. The announcement was made Wednesday morning by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul at a Manhattan press conference, where it was also revealed that Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., will be the 2026 host site. 'The redevelopment of Belmont Park is bringing thousands of jobs and generating $1 billion of economic activity on Long Island,' Hochul said. 'Thanks to the investments we are making at Belmont Park, the long held dream of bringing the prestigious Breeders' Cup back to New York will soon be a reality.' Advertisement An artist rendering of what Belmont Park will look like after its $455 million renovation. AP Belmont Park is currently undergoing a $455 million capital construction project, which includes the building of a 300,000-square foot, five-story main building with modern amenities, renovation of the main dirt track and two turf courses, and tunnels that will allow racing fans access to the 45-acre Belmont infield for the first time. NYRA plans to open the refurbished facility in September 2026. Before that, it will conduct the 2025 Belmont Stakes on June 7 as part of a five-day racing festival at Saratoga Race Course. Advertisement Kentucky Derby winner Sovreignty and Preakness champ Journalism are expected to go head-to-head at the historic upstate track. NYRA has yet to announce the location of the 2026 Belmont Stakes. Saint Liam, left, with jockey Jerry Bailey up, wins the Breeders' Cup Classic horse race at Belmont Park, on Oct. 29, 2005. AP Belmont Park has hosted four previous Breeders' Cups (1990, 1995, 2001 and 2005). The 1995 Breeders' Cup Classic is one of most famous races to be run at the track, as Cigar capped a 10-for-10 season. 'New York's racing fans and participants have longed to host this event since it was last held at Belmont in 2005, and we thank the Breeders' Cup for making that a reality,' said David O'Rourke, NYRA president and CEO. Advertisement 'The return of the Breeders' Cup to New York has been years in the making, and we thank Governor Hochul for supporting a new Belmont Park and a New York Breeders' Cup,' said David Fleming, president and CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited. 'The reimagined Belmont Park will provide an exceptional stage for the world's greatest racehorses and participants as we welcome contenders and fans from around the globe.' Del Mar in southern California will be the site of this year's event, with the races slated for Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Since 2008, the championships have been limited to a strict four-track rotation — Del Mar and Santa Anita in California and Churchill Downs and Keeneland in Kentucky. Prior to that, Breeders' Cup locations included Belmont and Aqueduct in New York, Monmouth Park in New Jersey, Lonestar in Texas, Arlington Park in Illinois, Gulfstream and Hollywood in Florida and Woodbine in Canada.
NBC Sports
26-03-2025
- Business
- NBC Sports
NBC SPORTS AND BREEDERS' CUP EXTEND PARTNERSHIP, BREEDERS' CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TO BE PRESENTED ON NBC, PEACOCK, AND USA NETWORK THROUGH 2030
With New Agreement, NBC Sports will Be Home to Breeders' Cup World Championships for 41 of its 47 Years STAMFORD, Conn. – March 26, 2025 – NBC Sports will continue to present the Breeders' Cup World Championships on NBC, Peacock, and USA Network through 2030, as Breeders' Cup Limited and NBC Sports today announced a multi-year extension of their partnership. The new deal begins this year with 10 hours of coverage of the 2025 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, featuring 3.5 hours on NBC in addition to coverage on USA Network. Peacock will stream live coverage across both days of the event. NBC broadcast the inaugural Breeders' Cup World Championships in 1984, and presented the first 22 events (through 2005) before returning as the media home of the event in 2012. NBC Sports will have served as the home of the Breeders' Cup in 41 of its 47 years at the conclusion of this new agreement. 'NBC sets the gold standard in sports broadcasting and will continue to bring the thrill and prestige of the World Championships to millions of fans around the world,' said Drew Fleming, President & CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited. 'We look forward to their award-winning team showcasing the sport's greatest moments and sharing the magic of the Breeders' Cup with a global audience.' 'Our partnership with Breeders' Cup spans four decades and has featured thrilling races and memorable stories,' said Jon Miller, President, Acquisitions & Partnerships, NBC Sports. 'We are excited to extend our relationship through 2030 and look forward to more world-class racing at the season-ending championships.' NBC Sports will also continue to present 'Betting the Breeders' Cup' content during championship week. For five consecutive years, NBC Sports has won the Eclipse Award for Live Television Programming, including for its 2023 presentation of the 40th Breeders' Cup World Championships from Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The 2025 Breeders' Cup World Championships, featuring 14 Grade 1 Championship races and a robust undercard run during a two-day festival worth more than $34 million in purses and awards, will be held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California. The World Championships annually showcase the best horses, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys from around the globe. The Breeders' Cup was advised by Sports Media Advisors and Proskauer on the deal. NBC SPORTS AND HORSE RACING NBC Sports is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, the Breeders' Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series. ABOUT BREEDERS' CUP Breeders' Cup Limited administers the Breeders' Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing's year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races through partnerships with host countries around the globe, and the U.S.-based Dirt Dozen Bonus Series. The Breeders' Cup operates under the national, uniform rules and regulations of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and its Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU). --NBC SPORTS--
The National
18-02-2025
- Business
- The National
Dubai World Cup winner to gain automatic entry to Breeders' Cup Classic
The winners of four Group 1 races on Dubai World Cup night – including the $12 million main event – will receive direct entry to the Breeders' Cup World Championships in the US later this year thanks to a new partnership between the two prestigious events. The Breeders' Cup is an annual series of Grade 1 thoroughbred races, with this year's meeting taking place in Delmar, California, across October 31 and November 1. The Dubai Racing Club on Monday announced a partnership whereby winners of the Dubai World Cup, Dubai Golden Shaheen, Dubai Sheema Classic and Dubai Turf will gain automatic entry to the Breeders' Cup meeting. The invitation will then be reciprocated, with four winners from October's racing in the US gaining automatic entry to the corresponding Group 1 races at the 2026 Dubai World Cup meeting. The partnership adds yet more prestige to the UAE's marquee horse racing event – slated for April 5 at Meydan Racecourse with a total prize fund of $30.5 million – with even more now at stake for the runners in the event's signature races. 'This is a significant development for international horse racing, further strengthening the positioning of the Dubai World Cup and the Breeders' Cup – two of the most important international meetings on the horse racing calendar,' said Sheikh Rashed bin Dalmook, chairman of Dubai Racing Club. 'We are delighted to enter this partnership and thank the Breeders' Cup team for expanding their Challenge Series, allowing four winners from the Dubai World Cup 2025 meeting to compete in America later this year and we look forward to welcoming winners from the Breeders' Cup 2025 at the Dubai World Cup 2026, in March next year.' The Dubai World Cup winner will earn a direct spot to run in the Breeders' Cup Classic, while the victor in the Dubai Golden Shaheen goes into the Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint. The winner of Dubai Sheema Classic gains entry to the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf and the Dubai Turf winner goes in the Breeders' Cup Mile. 'Breeders' Cup Limited is very pleased to expand our international Breeders' Cup Challenge Series with the addition of the Dubai World Cup, the Dubai Golden Shaheen, the Dubai Sheema Classic, and the Dubai Turf,' said Drew Fleming, president and CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited. 'This partnership with our friends at the Dubai Racing Club speaks to continued progress made towards the global unification of our great sport and rewards international contenders for competing at the highest level. 'We appreciate the spirit of collaboration and the shared pursuit of excellence that brought this opportunity about and look forward to welcoming four Breeders' Cup Challenge winners from Meydan to Del Mar.' As part of the arrangement, the Breeders' Cup will cover the entry fees for the winners of the four Dubai races to compete in their respective divisions at the Breeders' Cup World Championships 2025. A travel allowance will also be provided for all starters based outside North America. The Dubai World Cup is firmly established as one of the highlights of the UAE sporting calendar. In 2024, there was special significance as Bhupat Seemar became the first local trainer to win the coveted $12 million prize race. Saddling Laurel River in the silks of the renowned Saudi Arabian owners Juddmonte Farms and ridden by Tadhg O'Shea, the 12-time UAE champion and all-time leading jockey in the country, it turned out to be an historic occasion for the Zabeel Stables trainer and rider.
