Since its inception in 1984 the Breeders’ Cup World Championships have been hosted by 12 different venues across America and Canada.

Santa Anita has been the most gracious host with the BC being contested there a record 11 times. Churchill Downs has hosted he world’s best 9 times.

Including this year, Del Mar has been the Breeders’ Cup backdrop 4 times and Keeneland will present the BC next year to join the 4-timers club.

So, in what has become an annual question since 1984- why hasn’t the oldest race course in America ever hosted this extravaganza?

That’s right, Saratoga has never been home to the Breeders’ Cup.

The charm, beauty and the atmosphere at The Spa is second-to-none, yet there has never been a movement to bring the BC there.

There are a couple of, seemingly, obvious reasons.

First is the weather.  It’s Upstate New York in November. But, it’s early November.  In October, the average high in Saratoga is 61 degrees; the average low, 39, so there is a chance of cool weather. 

That said, the chances are good that you would have 45 to 55 degree weather for the two days of racing.

The second reason could be that the track is closed- but that’s not entirely accurate. 

Saratoga‘s  normal racing season runs through Labor Day but the track is open for training from late March to November, which means it is staffed. 

The Breeders’ Cup has, in many ways, taken the easy way out;  Santa Anita is an easy pick—California, breathtaking with usually perfect weather.  Ditto for Del Mar. 

It’s also easy to sell Churchill Downs.  It has the Twin Spires and because of the Kentucky Derby, most Americans know the venue.

It’s important to get other locations involved.  The Super Bowl rotates each year, so too, does the NCAA Men’s Final Four.  Shouldn’t the Breeders’ Cup do the same? 

The NFL would much rather go to Miami than Minneapolis for its final game, but they realize they need to spread things around- they did, after all, bring the Big Game to the New Jersey, Meadowlands in 2014.

Saratoga may not want the Breeders’ Cup, but that shouldn’t matter. 

The New York Racing Association should be approached and they should make it happen as soon as possible.

NYRA needs to get out in front of this and one way to do this is through marketing.  You market the people who work in the sport, who love the sport and most importantly, who care, and care deeply about the sport. 

After that message sinks in, you market the actual racing aspect, and one of the best things the sport offers is Saratoga Race Course, a venue that has been around since 1864, the year before the Civil War ended.

The track has seen a lot; it deserves to see a Breeders’ Cup.