The Saratoga and Delmar summer meets are in the rearview, while the Keeneland fall meet is set to begin October 3rd.

These indicators suggest that the Breeders’ Cup World Championships are not far off.

Within each racing season there is only one cumulative Finish Line: the Breeders’ Cup.

When Halloween rolls around this year racing fans from around the world will turn their attention to Del Mar Race Track and the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

It is the two-day, 14-race, year-end culmination that every jockey, trainer and owner across the globe has in their sights.

The world’s greatest come together to crown Champions, and spectators celebrate as history unfolds before their eyes.

The inaugural Breeders’ Cup Championships were held at the now defunct Hollywood Park Race Track in 1984.

But it was in 1982 when a group of prominent thoroughbred horse breeders from Central Kentucky brainstormed the concept of the BC.

Hashed out on cocktail napkins (aren’t most good ideas?), with a nice bourbon providing the bravado, their idea was to create a year-end, culminating Championship for their sport, akin to the World Series. 

An event where horses from around the globe could meet to settle the age old question, who is the best? 

An event that would celebrate the best of thoroughbred horse racing. 

Put it on a national platform, broadcast it around the globe and help build the market for racing and breeding.  Their vision became The Breeders Cup.

With the exception of 1996 when it was held at Woodbine Racetrack in Canada, all the Breeders’ Cup Championships have been in the United States. 

From 1984 through 2006 it was a single day event.  In 2007 as the prize money grew, more races were added, and it became a two day affair- Friday and Saturday.

Over the course of 40 years the Breeders Cup has charged to the front of the worldwide racing stage, and is a fitting end to the racing season.