Breeders' Cup continues to expand races offered

By: SPORTS NETWORK

 New York, NY (Sports Network) - For the second straight year there will be three new races offered on the Breeders' Cup World Championships program. Breeders' Cup Limited has announced the addition of three races for the 2008 renewal at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park.

The three races brings the Breeders' Cup program to 14 contests, six on Friday and eight on Saturday. Next year's Breeders' Cup races will be conducted on Friday, October 24 and Saturday, October 25.

The new races are the $1 million Turf Sprint at six and a half furlongs, $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf at one-mile and the $500,000 Dirt Marathon at 1 1/2 miles. These join the three races that were established for this year's Breeders' Cup that was held at Monmouth Park.

"The establishment of the three new races continues our aggressive expansion of the Breeders' Cup World Championships as a preeminent international sports and entertainment property for our fans, sponsors and television viewers around the globe." said Greg Avioli, Breeders' Cup president and CEO. "These new races also continue our mission in providing more opportunities for horsemen to compete at the highest levels over the two-days of the Championships."

The 14 races now have a total purse of $25.5 million.

Here is how the 2008 Breeders' Cup World Championships will look over the two days of competition:

Friday, October 24

$1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile 1 Mile, 70 yds

$1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint 7 furlongs

$1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf 1 mile (turf)

$1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint 6 ½ furlongs (turf)

$1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf 1 mile (turf)

$500,000 Breeders' Cup Dirt Marathon 1 ½ miles

Saturday, October 25

$2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies 1 1/16 miles

$2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile 1 1/16 miles

$2 million Filly & Mare Turf 1 1/4 miles (turf)

$2 million Breeders' Cup Mile 1 mile (turf)

$2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint 6 furlongs

$2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff 1 1/8 miles

$3 million Breeders' Cup Turf 1 ½ miles (turf)

$5 million Breeders' Cup Classic 1 ¼ miles