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Breeders’ Cup World Championship Horse Racing Returns to Santa Anita Park Nov 2 – 3 , 2012
Arcadia Weekly Aug 11, 2011
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Arcadia's Mayor, Gary Kovacic speaks to media about Breeders' Cup 2012 at Santa Anita - Photo by Terry Miller
Bo Derek was on hand to hear the announcement that Breeders' Cup is returning to Arcadia next year - Photo by Terrty Miller
Breeders’ Cup World Championship Horse Racing
Returns to Santa Anita Park Nov 2 – 3 , 2012
Event Will Mark the 6th Time Santa Anita Has Hosted the Prestigious Races
By Terry Miller
It’s now official: Returning to the site of some of the most successful events in its 27-year history, the 2012 Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, on Friday, Nov. 2 and Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, Breeders’ Cup Limited announced Wednesday at a press conference at LA Live inside the JW Marriott.
On hand for the announcement in Los Angeles was Arcadia’s Mayor Gary Kovacic, city manager Don Penman, and Mayor Pro Tem Bob Harbicht along with officials from Santa Anita and Breeders’ Cup. Moyor Kovacic said “ We are thrilled that Breeders’ Cup has decided to come back to Arcadia. Our hope is that people will come and enjoy city, our world class restaurants and keep coming back to Arcadia long after the Breeders’ Cup in November next year.” Kovacic added that hundreds of volunteers will help visitors to Arcadia feel welcome during this prestigious racing event.
Santa Anita has hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships five times, most recently back-to-back editions in 2008 and 2009, both of which set records for attendance and wagering. The decision followed a lengthy review process by the Breeders’ Cup Host Site Selection Committee, which included proposals from multiple racing venues in North America including Churchill Downs.
“We are thrilled to bring back the Breeders’ Cup to southern California which is always a strong draw for horseracing fans from around the world and where the Breeders’ Cup has always been embraced by the community,” said Craig Fravel, President & CEO of Breeders’ Cup. “Santa Anita Park is a world class racing venue that will once again provide a spectacular setting for two days of the best in international racing.”
“Hosting the Breeders’ Cup is important to the California horseracing industry and it is an honor for Santa Anita to be chosen as host of the Breeders’ Cup for the sixth time,” said Frank Stronach, Chairman of The Stronach Group, which owns Santa Anita. “Our team looks forward to the challenge of building on the success of 2008 and 2009 with the 2012 Breeders’ Cup.”
Fravel was joined by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Stronach Group President Greg Avioli, California Horse Racing Board Chairman Keith Brackpool, Arcadia Mayor Garu Kovacic and California Horse Racing Board member and actress Bo Derek.
“We are proud and delighted to once again host the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita Park and to welcome the legion of loyal racing fans to Southern California,” Mayor Villaraigosa said. “This prestigious, international sporting phenomenon will boost our local economy and generate tens of millions of dollars in economic impact to the region.”
Zenyatta’s electrifying performance to become the first female to win the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic highlighted the 2009 World Championships at Santa Anita. In addition to the then record attendance and handle (exceeded only by the 2010 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs), the 2009 races attracted the most international starters in event history with 34 participants from outside the US.
The Breeders’ Cup generated in excess of $60 million in economic impact in the Los Angeles area in both 2008 and 2009. Next year’s running will mark the sixth time that Santa Anita will host the Breeders’ Cup, after hosting the event in 1986, 1993, 2003, 2008 and 2009.
The Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s most prestigious global event, annually attracts the best horses from around the world. It is the richest prize-money event in sports, consisting of 15 races and purses totaling $26 million. The 29th Breeders’ Cup will be televised on ABC/ESPN and to more than 130 countries.
About Santa Anita and The Stronach Group
Santa Anita Park, located in Arcadia, California, is among the most iconic sports venues in the world and has been the proving ground for some of the greatest racehorses in history from Seabiscuit to Zenyatta. Santa Anita is owned by the Stronach Group, a privately-held consortium that owns and operates a number of leading businesses in a wide range of industries, including: Thoroughbred racing and gaming; Thoroughbred horse breeding; agriculture; electric and hybrid vehicle technologies, medical technologies. The Stronach Group also owns a number of premier development properties and real estate assets in North America and Europe.
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