Latest news with #BreedersCup
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
Belmont Park will host the Breeders' Cup in 2027 after $455M renovation. Keeneland gets 2026 event
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.
CBS News
4 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Belmont Park will host Breeders' Cup in 2027 after $455M renovation
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. "It was always part of the initial goals" Belmont Park was last home to the Breeders' Cup in 2005, the fourth time in two decades after also being there in 1990, '95 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." 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. Breeders' Cup shifting back to East Coast 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. 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."
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Belmont Park to host Breeders' Cup in 2027 after $455M renovation. Keeneland gets 2026 event
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. 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, '95 and 2001. A goal of the $455 million teardown and reconstruction was to attract the major event and eventually get back into the rotation that has involved a Kentucky or a California track every year since 2008. Del Mar outside San Diego has the Breeders' Cup later 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. The Belmont Stakes also is set to return to its old home in either 2026 or '27, after a multiyear stint at historic Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York during renovations. ___ AP horse racing:
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Top trainer who died from rare eye cancer aged 59 leaves heartbreaking message
Christophe Clement trained more than 2,500 winners in America, including 2014 Belmont Stakes hero Tonalist and at the Breeders Cup. He told people to 'enjoy life every single day' in a message posted on X Dozens of tributes have been left for inspirational racing trainer Christophe Clement who has died at the age of 59 after battling cancer. The French-born handler who moved to America for work in 1991 had been diagnosed with a rare form of the disease, metastatic uveal melanoma. His sad passing was announced in an emotional post he had written for social media, which he signed off with the message: "Enjoy life every single day." It began: "Unfortunately, if you are reading this, it means I was unable to beat my cancer. "As many of you know, I have been fighting an incurable disease, metastatic uveal melanoma. As I reflect on my journey, I realise I never worked a day in my life. Every morning, I woke up and did what I loved most surrounded by so much love. "Being a racehorse trainer is far more than a profession, horses have brought me fulfilment, friends, and such wonderful memories." Over the years, Clement won 41 Grade One races with his horses, first of all with Danish in the 1994 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland and finally saddling Far Bridge in the 2024 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont. Two-time American turf champion Gio Ponti landed top events such as the Arlington Million and Man o' War Stakes over five seasons, with 12 victories from 29 races on his record, plus two places at the Breeders Cup. With training in the family, Clement started out with Alec Head in his own country and learned further from Luca Cumani before relocating to the US more than 30 years ago. He gained more than 250 Stakes races, earning more than $166 million in prize money and the 2014 Belmont Stakes with Tonalist. In the post, published on X, Clement thanked his wife and family for their support, as well as his owners who welcomed him into America with "immense kindness." He added: "I'm very proud that for over 30 years in this industry, we have operated every single day with the highest integrity, always putting the horses' wellbeing first. "It goes without saying but none of our success could have been possible without a wonderful team behind me. I am truly honoured to leave Clement Stable in the capable hands of my son and long-time assistant, Miguel Clement. Success without a successor isn't truly success." Clement's message has been shared more than 800 times and tributes have been left by fellow trainers and racing fans. Jonathan Thomas, who has horses in New York and Kentucky, wrote: "Christophe, in 2002 you convinced a 22-year-old struggling jump jockey into joining your team. The next 5 years changed the trajectory of my life and you set a standard for horsemanship and ethics I strive for daily. My deepest condolences to the Clement family.: David Menuisier described Clement as an "incredible horseman" while his colleague Ed Dunlop said he was a "great man and brilliant trainer." "Every now and then a rare individual comes along and distinguishes themselves in the way they approach life, rising to the top of their game and positively impacting those around them. Christophe was a leader, a family man, friend and mentor to others," said Marc Holliday, Chairman of the New York Racing Association's Board of Directors. "Christophe was an incredible horseman, who always put the horse first and the results speak for themselves. I feel lucky to have known him.
North Wales Chronicle
6 days ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Porta Fortuna makes stylish return to action
Donnacha O'Brien's filly has a superb CV and is a four-time Group winner who has been out of the top three only once in her career when unplaced in the Breeders' Cup Mile last November. Under Ryan Moore the 5-4 favourite took to the track for the first time this season and showed all of her class was still intact with a resolute Group Two success from Paddy Twomey's One Look. 'It was a lovely starting point for her. She did things right, relaxed nicely and quickened up well,' said O'Brien. 'Ryan said she got a little bit idle in front. That's beautiful and should set her up nicely for Ascot now. 'The Queen Anne seems likely, we have the option of that or the Duke of Cambridge, but I think she won so nicely and she's training good and she's happy and healthy. I think we have to look at the Queen Anne.' When asked if the Breeders Cup would be the late-season target again, he added: 'We'll see what happens. It was a target last year and the year before so it seems like an obvious possibility at the end of the year. 'We'll get through the rest of the year and see how she is and hatch a plan then.' Porta Fortuna was cut to 6-1 from 8-1 for the Queen Anne with both Betfair and Coral.
