Ladies Classic to be night race in 2010

By: SPORTS NETWORK

New York, NY (Sports Network) - The bright lights of Louisville will be the scene for this year's running of the $2 million Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic on Friday, November 5. The concluding racing of the first day of the 2010 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs will go off at 7:30 p.m. (et).

The historic racetrack will host the two day event after Santa Anita Park played host in 2009 and 2010. Friday's first championship race will go off at 2 p.m. (et). Saturday's races will begin at noon (et) and wrap up at 6:45 p.m. (et).

"With the large, passionate base of racing fans in Kentucky and its magnificent facility, Churchill Downs is always one of the most popular venues for our Championships," said Breeders' Cup President and CEO Greg Avioli. "We're very excited to be running one of our premier races under the lights on Friday and to be staging two days of the finest racing in the world in our home state."

Churchill Downs had permanent lights installed prior to its current spring meeting.

"Churchill Downs, residents of Metro Louisville and the entire region are anticipating the return of the Breeders' Cup and our first opportunity to enjoy the Championships as a two-day event," said Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs. "Much Breeders' Cup history has been made beneath our track's signature Twin Spires in its record six previous visits to Churchill Downs, and the running of the first Breeders' Cup races under our new permanent lights on Friday will be another first-of-its-kind experience. We look forward to welcoming the world for a seventh time to the Breeders' Cup Championships."