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The Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita


The Seabiscuit statue in the paddock at Santa Anita during the 2003 Breeders' Cup.

Date: 9/17/2008

In 1986, Oak Tree hosted an on-track crowd at Santa Anita Park of 69,155, which bet a Breeders' Cup on-track record of $15,410,409. In 1993, total wagering on Breeders' Cup races at Oak Tree was $79,744,742, a North American record at that time for the event. That also was the year Arcangues posted the biggest upset in Breeders' Cup history, winning the Classic at odds of 133-1. And in 2003, the 20th anniversary edition of the Breeders' Cup, 51,648 were on hand to witness history as trainer Richard Mandella won four Championship races, a record which still stands, while contributing to the record $120,631,437 total handle.

On October 25 and 26th, Oak Tree hosts the 25th renewal of the Breeders' Cup, and Sherwood Chillingworth, the executive vice-president of the Oak Tree Racing Association, said, "We are looking forward with great anticipation to being the initial hosts for the Breeders' Cup Championships by Oak Tree at Santa Anita Park for two consecutive years. This will be the first Breeders' Cup conducted on a synthetic surface and free of any steroid use by any participating horse. It is a series of three firsts in Breeders' Cup's twenty-five year history, and Oak Tree is proud to be part of their innovations."


Richard Mandella is all smiles after winning his fourth Breeders' Cup race of the day with Pleasantly Perfect in the 2003 Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita.
California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who will also serve as the chairman of the Host Committee, said, "The very first Breeders' Cup was run in California, and so it is a special honor to host the 25th running of horse racing's most prestigious championship races at Santa Anita during the Oak Tree season. The event will not only showcase one of the world's most beautiful racetracks but also will generate more than $100 million for the California economy. I am looking forward to working with the other members of the Host Committee to ensure its success. We are proud of our world class racetracks and, in particular, of the Oak Tree Racing Association, which has been chosen to host the Breeders' Cup this year and next, an unprecedented achievement."

This will be the first Breeders' Cup to be contested over a synthetic surface. Originally, Santa Anita had installed a Cushion Track surface, the same brand used across town at Hollywood Park, however, the track failed to drain properly during the winter meeting. Pro-Ride from Australia came in to temporarily repair the surface for use in the winter, and then during the Hollywood and Del Mar summer meetings, replaced the entire surface. The new track did not open for training until September 3, after passing a drainage test in August. Trainer Clifford Sise worked his Breeders' Cup Sprint contender Idiot Proof on it that first morning, clocking 5f in 1:00.60. Sise said, "It's in good shape. He looked like he got over it. It's got some cushion. I think everyone will be happy with the track." Trainer A.C. Avila, who has a string of 15 horses at Santa Anita, said, "You don't see kickback. It's very good so far. The horses are coming back in good shape." Jess Jackson, owner of defending Horse of the Year Curlin, will personally inspect the surface before deciding if Curlin will attempt to become the second repeat winner of the Classic.


California-bred Tiznow became the first dual winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic with his victory in 2001 at Belmont.
During the 24-year tenure of the Breeders' Cup, 32 Oak Tree starters went on to become Breeders' Cup champions the same year. Tiznow and Azeri, Horse of the Year in 2000 and 2002, both honed their skills at Oak Tree prior to Breeders' Cup victories.

The 32 Breeders' Cup winners that raced at Oak Tree prior to winning on Breeders' Cup day are Chief's Crown, 1984 Juvenile winner (first in the Norfolk); Capote, 1986 Juvenile winner, (first in the Norfolk); Skywalker, 1986 Classic winner (second in the Oak Tree Mile); Success Express, 1987 Juvenile winner (fourth in the Norfolk); Ferdinand, 1987 Classic winner (first in the Goodwood); Great Communicator, 1988 Turf winner (second in the Oak Tree Turf); Pleasant Stage, 1991 Juvenile Fillies winner (first in the Oak Leaf); Cardmania, 1993 Sprint winner (first in the Ancient Title); Phone Chatter, 1993 Juvenile Fillies winner (first in the Oak Leaf); Hollywood Wildcat, 1993 Distaff winner (first in the Lady's Secret); Brocco, 1993 Juvenile winner (first in an allowance race); and Kotashaan, 1993 Turf winner (first in the Oak Tree Turf).

Also, Northern Spur, 1995 Turf winner (first in the Oak Tree Turf); Jewel Princess, 1996 Distaff winner (second in the Lady's Secret); Alphabet Soup, 1996 Classic winner (first in the Goodwood); Elmhurst, 1997 Sprint winner (first in the Ancient Title); Anees, 1999 Juvenile winner (third in the Norfolk); Silic, 1999 Mile winner (first in the Oak Tree Mile); War Chant, 2000 Mile winner (first in the Oak Tree Mile); Kona Gold, first in the 2000 Sprint (first in the Ancient Title); Tiznow, 2000 Classic winner (first in the Goodwood); Val Royal, 2001 Mile winner (first in the Oak Tree Mile); Tiznow, 2001 Classic winner (third in the Goodwood); Azeri, 2002 Distaff winner (first in the Lady's Secret); Adoration, 2003 Distaff winner (third in the Lady's Secret); Halfbridled, 2003 Juvenile Fillies winner (first in the Oak Leaf); Action This Day, 2003 Juvenile winner (maiden winner); Johar, 2003 Turf winner in a dead heat (second in the Clement Hirsch); Pleasantly Perfect, 2003 Classic winner (first in the Goodwood); Sweet Catomine, 2004 Juvenile Fillies winner (first in the Oak Leaf); Singletary, 2004 Mile winner (third in the Oak Tree Mile); and Thor's Echo, 2006 Sprint winner (second in the Ancient Title).

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