2009 Breeders' Cup

Thoroughbred horse racing event Championship Event Series 2009 Breeders' Cup Santa Anita Racetrack Thoroughbred http://www.breederscup.com See individual races Turf, synthetic dirt Left-handed Varies by race; Between $1,000,000 – $5 millionThe 2009 Breeders' Cup World Championships were the 26th edition of thoroughbred racing's season ending premier event, and took place on November 6 and 7 during the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The event was telecast by ESPN. The Breeders' Cup is generally regarded as the end of the North America racing season, although a few Grade I events take place in later November and December. The highlight of the weekend was Zenyatta's victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic, marking the first time a female horse had won the race. Horses from Europe and California won the majority of races. Highlights 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic thumb|Zenyatta (turquoise cap) saves ground around the far turn The Breeders' Cup Classic was the most anticipated race of the 2009 event, especially because of the decision by the connections of mare Zenyatta to enter her against male horses in the race instead of attempting to defend her title in the Ladies Classic ( the Distaff). Zenyatta would face eight grade/group I-winning males, including horses who had won the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, Travers Stakes (in both 2008 and 2009), Jockey Club Gold Cup, Santa Anita Handicap, Pacific Classic, Arlington Million, Man o’ War, Champion Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Sussex Stakes, and Manhattan Handicap.Haskin Steve Haskin's BC Wrapup: Z One and Only http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/145936/haskins-bc-wrapup-z-one-and-only bloodhorse.com 18 September 2016 Zenyatta ran in last for most of the race then starting making up ground on the far turn, racing on the inside to save ground. When her path along the rail was blocked, she angled sharply to switch paths to the outside, then started closing again, eventually defeating Gio Ponti by a length. She became the first female to win the Classic in its 26-year history.Drape Joe Zenyatta Beats the Boys in the Breeders’ Cup Classic https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/sports/08racing.html The New York Times 18 September 2016 7 November 2009 "I was able to cut the corner with her off the turn, and that made the difference," said jockey Mike Smith. "She started to get to them in the stretch, and the crowd started screaming. Then she started looking at the crowd, so I had to get after her a little bit, but she still won within herself."2009 Breeders' Cup World Championships Results http://www.horse-races.net/library/bc09-results.htm www.horse-races.net 18 September 2016 European horses enjoyed success with two wins on Friday (Midday in the Filly & Mare Turf and Man of Iron in the Marathon),Beyer Andrew Andrew Beyer: A very Euro-friendly Breeders' Cup https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/06/AR2009110603990.html The Washington Post 18 September 2016 7 November 2009 followed by four wins on Saturday (Pounced in the Juvenile Turf, Vale of York in the Juvenile, Goldikova in the Mile, Conduit in the Turf).2009 Breeders' Cup World Championships Results http://www.horse-races.net/library/bc09-results.htm www.horse-races.net 18 September 2016https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/8345133.stm Zenyatta takes Breeders' Cup win 2009-11-08 BBC Sport 2009-11-09 https://web.archive.org/web/20091108182710/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/horse_racing/8345133.stm 8 November 2009 live California-based horses won several of the remaining races, including Zenyatta in the Classic, her stablemate Life Is Sweet in the Ladies Classic, California Flag in the Turf Sprint and Dancing in Silks in the Sprint. The relatively poor showing by horses from the East Coast was attributed by some to the synthetic dirt surface of the main track, with which horses from the East Coast had little experience. Noted turf writer Andrew Beyer wrote, "If the Breeders' Cup is a championship race, it's the championship of California, Britain and a few scattered tracks that have installed synthetic surfaces. But it is not a championship event in the way its creators intended." The total handle (amount bet) at the Breeders' Cup exceeded $150 million for the first time, up by over 4% from 2008. In addition, an estimated $24.75 million was wagered through Betfair. There was one winning Pick-6 ticket on the Saturday card, which paid $1,838,305.Breeders' Cup Handle $150 Million and Rising http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/145952/breeders-cup-handle-150-million-and-rising bloodhorse.com 19 September 2016 The television ratings on ESPN were also up, particularly for the segment covering the Classic, which increased from a 1.1 rating in 2008 to a 3.1 in 2009.Breeders' Cup Television Ratings Up From 2009 http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/139503/breeders-cup-television-ratings-up-from-2009 bloodhorse.com 19 September 2016 Friday The Friday attendance was 37,651.Breeders’ Cup reports Friday attendance of 40,677 Tom Law Thoroughbred Times November 4, 2011 November 5, 2011 http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2011/11/04/breeders-cup-reports-friday-attendance-of-40677.aspx November 6, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111106231152/http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2011/11/04/breeders-cup-reports-friday-attendance-of-40677.aspx dead Race name Sponsor Distance/Surface Conditions Purse WinnerMarathon1+3/4 mi – synthetic dirt3 yrs+$500,000Man of IronJuvenile Fillies Turf1 mile – turf2-year-old fillies$1 millionTapitsflyJuvenile FilliesGrey Goose1+1/16 mi – synthetic dirt2-year-old fillies$2 million She Be WildFilly & Mare TurfEmirates1+1/4 mi – turfFemales$2 million MiddayFilly & Mare SprintSentient Jet7/8 mi – turfFemales$1 million Informed DecisionLadies' Classic1+1/8 mi – synthetic dirtFemales 3 yrs+$2 millionLife Is Sweet Saturday The Saturday attendance was 58,825. Race name Sponsor Distance/Surface Conditions Purse WinnerJuvenile Turf1 mile – turf2-year-old males$1 millionPouncedTurf Sprintabout 13/16 mi – turf3 yrs+$1 millionCalifornia FlagSprintSentient Jet3/4 mi – synthetic dirt3 yrs+$2 millionDancing in SilksJuvenileGrey Goose1+1/16 mi – synthetic dirt2-year-old males$2 millionVale of YorkMileTVG Network1 mile – turf3 yrs+$2 millionGoldikovaDirt Mile1 mile – synthetic dirt3 yrs+$1 millionFurthest LandTurfEmirates1+1/2 mi – turf3 yrs+$3 millionConduitClassic1+1/4 mi – synthetic dirt3 yrs+$5 millionZenyatta References Breeders' Cup Category:Breeders' Cup Breeders' Cup Category:Santa Anita Park