BREEDERS’ CUP ANNOUNCES SANTA ANITA PARK AS HOST OF 2023 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

By Mike Willman —-

BREEDERS’ CUP ANNOUNCES SANTA ANITA PARK AS HOST OF 2023 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 21, 2022) — The Breeders’ Cup, one of Thoroughbred racing’s most prestigious international events, today announced that Santa Anita Park will host the 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships for a record 11th time. Next year will mark the 40th running of the Breeders’ Cup, where racing participants, horses, and fans from around the globe will convene at one of the world’s most picturesque racetracks for two days of championship racing.

Located against the backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains in Arcadia, California, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Grade 1 races with purses and awards totaling more than $31 million, will be held at 1/ST RACING’s Santa Anita Park on Friday, Nov. 3 and Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.

“Santa Anita Park is an integral part of Breeders’ Cup history and is the perfect venue for our landmark 40th running,” said Drew Fleming, Breeders’ Cup President and CEO. “Since our founders conceived this season-ending championship four decades ago, the Breeders’ Cup has consistently been one of the leading global events in Thoroughbred racing. Santa Anita’s outstanding reputation and scenic venue provide us with the ideal setting to continue to grow our audience by combining the best that racing, hospitality, and entertainment have to offer.”

“1/ST RACING is delighted to welcome back the Breeders’ Cup to Santa Anita Park for the special 40th running of these extraordinary World Championships,” said Craig Fravel, Chief Executive Officer, 1/ST RACING. “1/ST RACING looks forward to showcasing Santa Anita Park for a record 11th time as California’s premier racing venue committed to delivering the best backdrop for world-class racing, entertainment and hospitality, and to being part of the unique excitement that comes with the Breeders’ Cup.”

Breeders’ Cup expects the 2023 World Championships to have a nearly $100-million impact on the Southern California economy, based on a 2017 study. Given the World Championships’ 40th running and the beautiful backdrop of Santa Anita, fans and guests from around the world are expected to attend races and patronize local hotels, restaurants, and other entertainment venues. Breeders’ Cup World Championships held at Santa Anita have consistently set the standard for both attendance and wagering over the years. The 2016 World Championships at Santa Anita holds the event’s all-time attendance record, with 118,484 fans. When the World Championships were last held at Santa Anita in 2019, a new wagering record of more than $175 million was set.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Breeders’ Cup back to Santa Anita Park for a record 11th time next November,” said Kathryn Schloessman, President & CEO, Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission. “This signature event will once again deliver a memorable experience for guests and significant economic impact for the greater Los Angeles region.”

To sign up for ticketing and other information about the 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, please visit BreedersCup.com/2023.

The 39th running of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be held on Nov. 4 and 5, 2022 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. and will be televised live by NBC Sports. Limited tickets are still available at BreedersCup.com/tickets.

ABOUT THE STRONACH GROUP AND 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The company’s consumer facing brand 1/ST (pronounced “First”) powers The Stronach Group’s forward-thinking 1/ST RACING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY, 1/ST EXPERIENCE, and 1/ST PROPERTIES businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred horse racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING drives the best-in-class horse racing operations at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, Gulfstream Park West and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the newly formed operating group for all of 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, GWS and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is horse racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. 1/ST PROPERTIES is responsible for the development of the company’s live, work and play communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred horse rac