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<h2>BREEDERS’ CUP ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP EXTENSION WITH FANDUEL</h2>FANDUEL RENEWS AS OFFICIAL WAGERING PARTNER OF THE BREEDERS’ CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPSLEXINGTON, Ky. (March 22, 2023) — The FanDuel Group, home of FanDuel Sportsbook, FanDuel Racing, FanDuel TV, and TVG.com, and Breeders’ Cup Limited have reached a multi-year agreement to extend FanDuel’s status as the Official Wagering Partner of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.FanDuel will retain its status as the Official ADW Partner, Official Sports Wagering Partner, Official Fantasy Sports Partner, and Official Mobile Casino Partner of the Breeders’ Cup. With the 2023 renewal of the World Championships set for Nov. 3-4 at iconic Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, FanDuel will continue to serve as title partner of the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Santa Anita Park. This agreement will continue at Del Mar for the 2024 Championships.“FanDuel is one of the most innovative online wagering companies in the world,” said Drew Fleming, President and CEO of the Breeders’ Cup. “We’re delighted to be extending and strengthening our partnership with them and appreciate their continued investment in Thoroughbred racing in the United States. The exposure FanDuel has given to the Breeders’ Cup has been critical to the growth of our organization and the Thoroughbred industry at large.”In December, FanDuel became the first U.S. sportsbook to create a single account/single wallet for both parimutuel wagering on horse racing and sports betting. Prior to this innovation, customers were required to open and maintain separate wagering accounts.“By integrating and prominently promoting racing as part of its market-leading sports betting platform, FanDuel will further enable the Breeders’ Cup to grow its reach to new audiences,” said Fleming.FanDuel TV will continue to produce and broadcast The Breeders’ Cup Players’ Show, a popular, live wagering-focused telecast of the World Championships, in addition to its coverage of key Breeders’ Cup Challenge races and other special programming in the run-up to the Championships.“The Breeders’ Cup represents the pinnacle of international racing and we are looking forward to continuing our partnership,” said Andrew Moore, General Manager of Racing for the FanDuel Group. “The FanDuel Group is committed to investing in and growing the audience for horse racing and our partnership with the Breeders’ Cup is a lynchpin of that commitment.”ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUPBreeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races, and also administers the U.S.-based Dirt Dozen Bonus Series. The Breeders’ Cup supports and operates under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), which, for the first time, establishes a national, uniform set of rules applicable to every Thoroughbred racing participant and racetrack. HISA seeks to enhance the safety of both horse and rider and to protect the integrity of the sport to the benefit of all racing participants, fans, and bettors.The 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Grade 1 Championship races, and $31 million in purses and awards, is scheduled to be held on November 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Championships will be televised live by NBC Sports. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.ABOUT FANDUEL GROUPFanDuel Group is an innovative sports-tech entertainment company that is changing the way consumers engage with their favorite sports, teams, and leagues. The premier gaming destination in the United States, FanDuel Group consists of a portfolio of leading brands across gaming, sports betting, daily fantasy sports, advance-deposit wagering, and TV/media. FanDuel Group has a presence across all 50 states with approximately 17 million customers. The company is based in New York with offices in California, New Jersey, Florida, Oregon, Georgia and Scotland. FanDuel Group is a subsidiary of Flutter Entertainment plc, the world’s largest sports betting and gaming operator with a portfolio of globally recognized brands and a constituent of the FTSE 100 index of the London Stock Exchange.

BREEDERS’ CUP ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP EXTENSION WITH FANDUEL

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The FanDuel Group, home of FanDuel Sportsbook, FanDuel Racing, FanDuel TV, and TVG.com, and Breeders’ Cup Limited have reached a multi-year agreement to extend FanDuel’s status as the Official Wagering Partner of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

<h2>2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships Generated more than $81 Million in Economic Impact on Lexington Area</h2>LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 17, 2023) ― The 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course generated a total estimated economic impact of $81,846,897 in Lexington, Ky. and the surrounding areas. Determined by a <a href="https://assets.contentstack.io/v3/assets/blt9b0ea57b1efe7a70/bltd173d2c85e94332d/6414611cf8ddda6e4f67b721/2022_BreedersCup_Economic_Impact_Study.pdf" target="_self">recent study</a> led by University of Louisville Economics Professor Thomas E. Lambert, Ph.D., the results represent the second-highest economic impact recorded in Breeders’ Cup history, following the record set in 2017 at Del Mar. The study’s results serve as a testament to the continued growth of the Breeders’ Cup, Breeders’ Cup Festival, and Thoroughbred racing, as well as the undeniable value all three provide to their host communities.On top of these glowing economic indicators, the 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, held last Nov. 4-5, generated record global wagering of $189.1 million, the highest in Breeders’ Cup history, 3.4 percent higher than the prior record of $182.9 million set in 2021. Records were also set for individual day wagering totals with Future Stars Friday registering $66.1 million and the Championship Saturday program amassing $122.9 million.The economic benefits of the Breeders’ Cup quantified in this study include:<ul><li>$30.5 million in on-track spending including wagering, concessions, parking, merchandise, and more </li><li>$33.6 million in spending on hotels, retailers, food and drink, transportation, and off-track entertainment </li><li>$10 million in track improvement investments for Keeneland Race Course, with $7.5 million in labor and material costs generated by the projects boosting the Lexington economy by an estimated $17.5 million overall </li><li>$900,000 secured in state and local tax revenues and $5.3 million secured in federal tax revenues</li></ul>“When the Breeders’ Cup comes to town, Lexington has the opportunity to step into the international spotlight and demonstrate why we are known as the Horse Capital of the World–clearly, we’re home to the best track in the world, Keeneland, and to the best Thoroughbreds,” Mayor Linda Gorton said. “However, the Breeders’ Cup is about much more than bragging rights. The event has a significant economic impact that helps our hotels, our restaurants, and our entire community.”“We are proud of the positive economic impact the 2022 World Championships had on the Lexington community, our hometown,” said Drew Fleming, President and CEO of the Breeders’ Cup. “After enduring a global pandemic, we held true to our word and returned to Keeneland just two years after the 2020 edition with an understanding of the needed boost the World Championships would give local businesses. Keeneland and Lexington are intimately connected to the history of our great sport, and it was wonderful to work with our highly engaged community to host an event that benefited everyone involved. I also enjoyed once again having the opportunity to work with Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin, Festival Chairman Kip Cornett, the VisitLEX Tourism Board, and Mayor Linda Gorton to execute a successful weeklong event, welcome guests from around the world to the Horse Capital of the World, and collaborate with local businesses to foster economic growth opportunities for the region and community members.”In tandem with the economic successes and community impact of the 2022 Breeders’ Cup, the World Championships featured two days of best-in-class racing under the safest possible conditions to benefit horses, riders, participants, fans, and bettors. Ticket purchasers traveled to Lexington from all 50 states and from 18 different countries, contributing to a significant increase in traffic at Blue Grass Airport. Breeders’ Cup also successfully promoted several charitable initiatives throughout the week.“The results of this study show with certainty that Lexington fully embraces the Breeders’ Cup,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “Breeders’ Cup and Keeneland share a mission to conduct racing at the highest levels of quality, safety, and integrity, and to contribute to our community. It was a pleasure to work again with Drew Fleming and the team at Breeders’ Cup, and we thank them, our industry partners, and Central Kentucky business and civic leaders who teamed with us to provide a warm welcome and outstanding hospitality to fans and racing connections from around the world.”“Breeders’ Cup 2022 was an outstanding weekend of racing, hospitality, and economic impact,” said Mary Quinn Ramer, president of VisitLEX. “We know there is no better place around the globe for championship racing than here in Lexington, the Horse Capital of the World, and we applaud Breeders’ Cup’s decision to bring the 2022 event to our city.”The 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be held Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUPBreeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races, and also administers the U.S.-based Dirt Dozen Bonus Series. The Breeders’ Cup supports and operates under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), which, for the first time, establishes a national, uniform set of rules applicable to every Thoroughbred racing participant and racetrack. HISA seeks to enhance the safety of both horse and rider and to protect the integrity of the sport to the benefit of all racing participants, fans, and bettors.The 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Grade 1 Championship races, and $31 million in purses and awards, is scheduled to be held on November 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Championships will be televised live by NBC Sports. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.ABOUT KEENELANDSince its first race meet more than 85 years ago, the Keeneland Association has devoted itself to the health and vibrancy of the Thoroughbred industry. The world’s largest Thoroughbred auction house, Keeneland conducts five sales a year, in January, April, September and November. Graduates of Keeneland sales dominate racing across the globe at every level. In April and October, Keeneland offers some of the highest caliber and richest Thoroughbred racing in the world. Keeneland hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in 2015, 2020 and 2022. Uniquely structured, Keeneland is a privately held company with a not-for-profit mission that returns its earnings to the industry and the community in the form of higher purses and millions of dollars donated in support of horse industry initiatives and charitable contributions for education, research, and health and human services throughout Central Kentucky. Keeneland also maintains the Keeneland Library, a world-renowned public research institution with the mission of preserving information about the Thoroughbred industry. To learn more, visit <a href="https://keeneland.com/" target="_self">Keeneland.com</a>.

2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships Generated more than $81 Million in Economic Impact on Lexington Area

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The 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course generated a total estimated economic impact of $81,846,897 in Lexington, Ky. and the surrounding areas.

<h2>BREEDERS’ CUP AND PNC BANK RENEW AND EXPAND MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP</h2>PNC Bank Named Title Partner of $1 million PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare SprintLEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 24, 2023) — Breeders’ Cup Limited and PNC Bank announced a renewal and expansion of their partnership through 2024, solidifying PNC Bank’s role as the official banking service provider and credit card processor of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which takes place this year at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, Nov. 3-4.Under the agreement, PNC Bank becomes the name-in-title partner of the $1 million PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, which will be run on Nov. 4 at this year’s World Championships.“PNC Bank has been a wonderful partner to the Breeders’ Cup and we feel incredibly confident in the future of our work together,” said Drew Fleming, Breeders’ Cup President and CEO. “As Breeders’ Cup continues to provide a world-class, luxury experience throughout World Championships weekend, we’re delighted to have best-in-class partners like PNC Bank expanding their commitment to the Breeders’ Cup.”In addition to becoming the name-in-title partner of the PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, PNC also will be the title partner of the PNC Bank Clubhouse at Santa Anita, which includes exclusive clubhouse signage, logo inclusion on all Clubhouse tickets and a branded photo opportunity for all Clubhouse guests. PNC Bank will be fully integrated into the 2023 Breeders’ Cup social media campaign, which showcases behind-the-scenes footage of the preparation leading up to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships weekend, and will run several television spots on NBC’s broadcast of the World Championships.PNC Bank also will be the presenting partner of a kick-off event welcoming racing participants, guests, and the community to the World Championships on Friday, Nov. 3. Consumer promotions such as ticket giveaways and other ticketing communications are part of the expanded deal.“We look forward to our continued relationship with the Breeders’ Cup as we continue to expand our now coast-to-coast main street bank model,” said Lou Cestello, head of PNC’s regional markets and regional president of Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania. “This year at Santa Anita Park, and as announced yesterday, next November at Del Mar, our Greater Los Angeles and San Diego Regional Presidents Todd Wilson and Alan Prohaska and their local market teams look forward to celebrating the rich history and tradition of this prestigious event.”The Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Grade 1 races with purses and awards totaling $31 million, annually draw the world’s best horses, trainers, and jockeys to compete in the sport’s year-end championship, which will be televised live by NBC Sports.The $1 million PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint will be run at seven-eighths of a mile on the main track. Last year’s race winner, Goodnight Olive, was voted the 2022 Champion Female Sprinter at the Eclipse Awards.The 2024 World Championships will take place at Del Mar in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 1-2.ABOUT PNC BANKPNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit <a href="https://www.pnc.com/en/personal-banking.html" target="_self">www.pnc.com.</a>ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUPBreeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races, and also administers the U.S.-based Dirt Dozen Bonus Series. The Breeders’ Cup supports and operates under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), which, for the first time, establishes a national, uniform set of rules applicable to every Thoroughbred racing participant and racetrack. HISA seeks to enhance the safety of both horse and rider and to protect the integrity of the sport to the benefit of all racing participants, fans, and bettors.The 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Grade 1 Championship races, and $31 million in purses and awards, is scheduled to be held on November 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Championships will be televised live by NBC Sports. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.

BREEDERS’ CUP AND PNC BANK RENEW AND EXPAND MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP

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PNC Bank Named Title Partner of $1 million PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

<h2>Breeders' Cup Announces Del Mar as Host Site for 2024 World Championships </h2>41ST Breeders’ Cup to be held at Del Mar near San Diego, California for the Third TimeDEL MAR, Calif., Feb. 23, 2023 — The Breeders' Cup, Thoroughbred racing's year-end global championship event, today announced the 2024 World Championships will take place at Del Mar in Del Mar, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 1 and Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, where fans from around the world will gather to witness the best horses, trainers, and jockeys compete over two days. The Breeders' Cup World Championships consists of 14 Grade 1 races with purses and awards totaling more than $31 million.Fans interested in ticket information for the 2024 World Championships can sign up <a href="https://breederscup.com/2023?tab=2024" target="_self">here</a>.“We are delighted to announce that the World Championships will be returning to Del Mar next year for what is sure to be an unforgettable two-year-run on the West Coast,” said Drew Fleming, Breeders' Cup President and CEO. “Breeders’ Cup has always been a strong supporter of California racing and we look forward to showcasing this wonderful venue once again to our horsemen and fans from around the world."Planning with Del Mar management and staff is already underway to bring the best of racing and hospitality to visiting fans, horsemen, and San Diego/Del Mar area locals alike. Located on the Pacific coastline, just north of San Diego, Del Mar is one of the world’s most recognizable and scenic racing venues."We're excited for the return of Breeders' Cup to Del Mar in 2024. The prestige of the event combined with our venue's iconic, seaside setting makes for an extraordinary weekend," said Josh Rubinstein, President of Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. "Additionally, we are grateful for the economic support the Championship races bring to our community. This is a milestone event for San Diego and we look forward to building upon the record-breaking success in 2017 and 2021.”Del Mar, “Where the Turf Meets the Surf,” will serve as the World Championships host site for a third time. With its breathtaking location, Del Mar is unique in its picturesque natural backdrop, and its village town center promises to attract domestic and international visitors seeking beautiful beaches, award-winning cuisine, and boutique hotels."We’re thrilled San Diego has been selected to host the Breeders' Cup again in 2024," said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. "Hosting prestigious international events like this one gives us the opportunity to showcase our beautiful region to fans and industry leaders from around the world. We look forward to welcoming the best in horse racing talent back to Del Mar for an exciting event.”As a host site in 2017 and 2021, Del Mar drew fans from around the world to its iconic grounds to celebrate one of international racing’s biggest weekends, and set wagering records on both occasions. At the 2017 World Championships, the two-day on-track wagering handle established a Breeders’ Cup record of $25,181,317. The Championships were highlighted by Gun Runner’s front-running victory in the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). Moreover, the 2017 Breeders’ Cup generated approximately $96 million in economic impact, including $3.6 million in hotel room revenue, according to the Tourism Marketing District.In 2021, the World Championship operated at 50 percent capacity due to pandemic reopening protocols. Still, Del Mar propelled a then-record all-sources handle for the World Championships of $183,260,127. The 2021 Championships were highlighted by Knicks Go winning the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic wire to wire, and the first-ever victories by horses based in Japan as Loves Only You (JPN) won the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) and Marche Lorraine (JPN) captured the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).This year’s 40th running of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, on Nov. 3 and 4.ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUPBreeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races, and also administers the U.S.-based Dirt Dozen Bonus Series. The Breeders’ Cup supports and operates under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), which, for the first time, establishes a national, uniform set of rules applicable to every Thoroughbred racing participant and racetrack. HISA seeks to enhance the safety of both horse and rider and to protect the integrity of the sport to the benefit of all racing participants, fans, and bettors.The 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Grade 1 Championship races, and $31 million in purses and awards, is scheduled to be held on November 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Championships will be televised live by NBC Sports. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.ABOUT DEL MAR THOROUGHBRED CLUBOpened in 1937, San Diego’s iconic — and the nation’s only — seaside racetrack features the world’s top racehorses, trainers and jockeys, as well as the best in fashion and classic California culture "where the turf meets the surf.” What began as a Hollywood hotspot in the era of the racetrack’s founder, Bing Crosby, is now one of America's foremost racetracks and a premier Southern California destination, as well as a national leader in racetrack safety.

Breeders' Cup Announces Del Mar as Host Site for 2024 World Championships

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41st Breeders’ Cup to be held at Del Mar near San Diego, California for the Third Time

<h2>Lemon Pop Wins February Stakes in Japan and Gains Automatic Berth into Longines Breeders' Cup Classic</h2>Edited Release from Japan Racing AssociationTOKYO (Feb. 19, 2023) — Prominent throughout, Godolphin’s 2-1 favored Lemon Pop surged to the front into the stretch under jockey Ryusei Sakai to win Sunday’s 1-mile, $US1.9 million February Stakes (G1) on dirt at Tokyo Racecourse by 1 ½ lengths over Red le Zele (JPN). With this victory, Lemon Pop gained the first automatic berth into this year’s US$6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.Charles Fipke’s Canadian-based Shirl’s Speight, runner-up in last year’s FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Keeneland, and the first foreign entrant in the history of the February Stakes, finished ninth of 16 runners.Now in its 16th season, the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, on Nov. 3-4.Lemon Pop, a 5-year-old, bred in Kentucky by Mr. and Mrs. S. Oliver Tait, is a son of Lemon Drop Kid out of Unreachable by Giant’s Causeway. Trained by Hiroyasu Takana, Lemon Pop earned his eighth win in 11 starts, and completed the mile in 1:35.60 over a track listed as standard. Lemon Pop came into the race off a half-length win in the 7-furlong Negishi Stakes (G3) at Tokyo on Jan. 29. Before a crowd of 46,121, the 40th February Stakes unfolded with the 6-year-old mare Shonan Nadeshiko (JPN) taking the lead, followed closely by Helios (JPN) and Keiai Turquoise(JPN) while Sakai settled Lemon Pop three-wide and a couple of lengths behind in fifth place.Gradually improving position, Lemon Pop came out of the last turn in fourth, unleashed a furious stretch drive overhauling Helios 300 meters out to grab the lead. Lemon Pop then held off the fast-closing Red le Zele for the win.“I’m grateful to have been given the chance to ride such a strong and favored horse and am happy we won,” said winning jockey, Sakai. “I rode him in workouts and found out he was laid-back and very easy to ride. Today we sat near the pace, just as planned. He responded well and pulled away strongly, all the way to the wire.”Red le Zele, the 9-1 third choice, who finished sixth in last year’s race, was reserved second from the rear after breaking from post 15, the second widest stall. After shifting wide for a clear path, Red le Zele stormed down the stretch but failed to catch the winner.Sent off as the 10-1 fourth favorite, Meisho Hario (JPN) stumbled a few strides after his break and chased the field from the rear. Entering the lane last, the chestnut displayed the second fastest late drive and picked off his rivals one by one to dig in for third, 2 1/2 lengths behind Red le Zele.Shirl’s Speight, trained by Hall of Famer Roger Attfield, broke well from stall two, ran in mid-field on the rail, shifted a path out for his stretch run but struggled to find room or demonstrate his good late speed, and finished ninth.“From what the jockey (Joao Moreira) was telling me, he wasn’t enjoying the kick-back that much but I think he ran an OK race,” said Attfield. “I just think he’s a superior turf horse, but we gave it a try.”As a part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for Lemon Pop to start in the 1 ¼-mile Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUPBreeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races, and also administers the U.S.-based Dirt Dozen Bonus Series. The Breeders’ Cup supports and operates under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), which, for the first time, establishes a national, uniform set of rules applicable to every Thoroughbred racing participant and racetrack. HISA seeks to enhance the safety of both horse and rider and to protect the integrity of the sport to the benefit of all racing participants, fans, and bettors.The 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Grade 1 Championship races, and $31 million in purses and awards, is scheduled to be held on November 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Championships will be televised live by NBC Sports. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, <a href="http://breederscup.com/">breederscup.com</a>. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.

Lemon Pop Wins February Stakes in Japan and Gains Automatic Berth into Longines Breeders' Cup Classic

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The Breeders' Cup announced today the official order of races and wagering menu for the 2021 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to take place on Friday, Nov. 5 and Saturday, Nov. 6 at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, Calif.

<h2>Lemon Pop, Dry Stout, and Shirl's Speight Headline Sunday's February Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse</h2>Photo courtesy of Japan Racing Association.Winner to Receive First Automatic Berth into 2023 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park &nbsp;TOKYO (Feb. 17, 2023) — Led by Godolphin’s Lemon Pop, Shimotsuki Stakes winner Dry Stout (JPN), and 2022 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) runner-up Shirl’s Speight, a field of16 runners has been entered for Sunday’s US$1.9 million February Stakes (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse, with the winner receiving the first automatic berth into this year’s US$6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.&nbsp;Now in its 16th season, the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, on Nov. 3-4.&nbsp;The February Stakes, run at 1 mile on dirt, will be televised live on FanDuel TV at 10:40 p.m. PT on Saturday, Feb. 18.&nbsp;The 5-year-old Lemon Pop, trained by Hiroyasu Tanaka, comes into the race off a half-length win in the 7-furlong Negishi Stakes (G3) at Tokyo on Jan. 29. The victory was the seventh in 10 starts for the son of Lemon Drop Kid out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Unreachable. Assistant trainer Toshikiko Hokari recently commented on Lemon Pop’s tough performance in the Negishi to the Japan Racing Association website: “He didn’t start particularly well last time, but the jockey (Keita Tosaki) made sure things went smoothly enough. At the top of the home straight, I thought things looked fine but the late challenge from Gilded Mirror (JPN) and other horses made it more difficult, although he was able to hold on and win.”&nbsp; &nbsp;The Negishi win was Lemon Pop’s fourth victory in his last five starts on dirt, with his only defeat coming in the Group 3 Tokyo Chunichi Sports Hai Musashino Stakes on Nov. 12, when he finished second by a nose to Gilded Mirror. Lemon Pop was bred in Kentucky by Mr. and Mrs. Oliver S. Tait.&nbsp;YGG Horse Club Co.’s 4-year-old Dry Stout has also been a consistent runner, winning four of six starts. A son of Sinister Minister, trained by Mitsunori Makiura, Dry Stout began his 2023 campaign with a second-place finish in the listed 7-furlong Subaru Stakes at Chukyo on Jan. 7. Dry Stout is unbeaten in two starts at Tokyo, including the Shimotsuki Stakes last November. &nbsp;“It got a bit crowded on the run for home last time and he had to wait to get his finish in, but when the opening came, he ran on well,” said Makiura about Dry Stout’s runner-up finish in the Subaru. “Up to now he’s been able to race from good positions in his races, but I wanted to see how he could finish running from mid-position. In that sense, it was an ideal test for him, and I’m satisfied with how things turned out and to see that he could finish second from where he ran in the trip.” &nbsp;Charles E. Fipke’s 6-year-old Kentucky homebred Shirl’s Speight is the first foreign-based entrant slated to run in the February Stakes. Trained by Hall of Famer Roger Attfield, Shirl’s Speight finished three-quarters of a length behind Modern Games (IRE) in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile on turf last November at Keeneland. Last April, Shirl’s Speight won the&nbsp; Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile, also at Keeneland.&nbsp;Shirl’s Speight is a son of 2004 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner Speightsown out of the Fipke-owned 2011 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) winner Perfect Shirl. In preparation for the February Stakes, Shirl’s Speight breezed five times on the dirt track at Payson Park in Florida since Dec. 31 before arriving in Japan on Feb. 8. Shirl’s Speight will be making his first start on dirt since two off-the-board finishes in optional allowance claiming races Gulfstream Park in 2021.&nbsp; &nbsp;“He’s in great condition and he’s happy here,” said Attfield at a Tokyo news conference on Thursday. “I was a little concerned about the deeper sand going for him because he is basically a turf horse in America. But he seems to have handled it very well. We schooled him this morning just from the turf to the dirt track which he handled very well.” &nbsp;Tokyo Horse Racing Co.’s 7-year-old Red le Zele (JPN), by Lord Kanaloa (JPN),finished sixth in last year’s February Stakes behind Cafe Pharoah but rebounded with a solid second-place finish behind Switzerland in the 6-furlong Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) at Meydan last March. Trained by Takayuki Yasuda, Red le Zele did not start again until the 6-furlong Tokyo Hai at Ohi on Oct. 5, and posted a 1-length victory. He closed out last year with a fourth-place finish in the JBC Sprint at Morioka on Nov. 3.&nbsp;Suzuyuki Koto’s Speedy Kick (JPN) and Tetsuhide Kunimoto’s homebred Shonan Nadeshiko (JPN) are the only females entered in the race. The 4-year-old Speedy Kick, trained by Tomoyuki Fujihara, won five races last year, including the Cinderella Mile at Ohi on Dec. 30. Shonan Nadeshiko, a 6-year-old daughter of Orfervre (JPN), has nine wins, and earned four of them last year on dirt. She also ran well against males in the 1 ¼-mile Tokyo Daishoten at Ohi on Dec. 29, carrying the lead into the stretch before finishing sixth.&nbsp; &nbsp;“She just ran out of steam in the final 100 meters of the Tokyo Daishoten last time,” said her trainer Naosuke Sugai. “I think she did her best.” &nbsp;As a part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of the February Stakes to start in the 1 ¼-mile Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 23 to receive the rewards. &nbsp;ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUPBreeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred horse racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races.The 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Championship races, is scheduled to be held on November 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Championships will be televised live by NBC Sports. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website,&nbsp;<a href="http://breederscup.com/" target="_self">breederscup.com</a>. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.

Lemon Pop, Dry Stout, and Shirl's Speight Headline Sunday's February Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse

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Led by Godolphin’s Lemon Pop, Shimotsuki Stakes winner Dry Stout (JPN), and 2022 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) runner-up Shirl’s Speight, a field of16 runners has been entered for Sunday’s US$1.9 million February Stakes (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse

<h2>$1,500 Breeders' Cup Late Foal Nomination Deadline Closes February 28</h2>LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 15, 2023) ― The Breeders’ Cup issued a reminder today that Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 11:59 p.m. ET is the last opportunity to nominate foals born in 2022 to the Breeders’ Cup program for a one-time late nomination fee of $1,500 USD.The $1,500 nomination entitles each foal with lifetime eligibility to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships and the Breeders’ Cup Racing Programs, which include the global Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win & You’re In and the U.S.-based Dirt Dozen Bonus Series. All foals sired by a fully nominated North American Breeders' Cup stallion are eligible for nomination to the Breeders' Cup program in their year of birth and up to Feb. 28 of their yearling year.Breeders' Cup Limited has been Thoroughbred racing's most significant international program for over 39 years. During this time, Breeders’ Cup has allocated purses and awards of nearly $900 million to owners, foal nominators, and stallion nominators through its programs, including the annual $31 million Breeders' Cup World Championships showcasing the best Thoroughbreds, owners, trainers, and jockeys to a global audience. Breeders’ Cup foal nominators will earn $10,000 USD for every victory in the worldwide Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In and every horse that starts in a Breeders’ Cup World Championship race will earn a nominator award in recognition of excellence in breeding. The individual nominating the foal receives these nominator awards even though the horse may change hands throughout its racing career. For more information and to nominate online visit <a href="http://www.members.breederscup.com/" target="_self">members.breederscup.com</a>.ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUPBreeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred horse racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races.The 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Championship races, is scheduled to be held on November 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Championships will be televised live by NBC Sports. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website,&nbsp;<a href="http://breederscup.com/" target="_self">breederscup.com</a>. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.

Foal and Stallion Nominators Elect 20 Breeders' Cup Members on June 6

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$1,500 Breeders' Cup Late Foal Nomination Deadline Closes February 28

<h2>Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Named 2022 Longines World's Best Horse Race</h2>January 17, 2023 (London)– The Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic has been named the 2022 Longines World’s Best Horse Race at the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities’ (IFHA) Longines World Racing Awards.“Breeders’ Cup is honored and humbled to have received this award in a year that has seen amazing Thoroughbred racing in the U.S. and around the world,” said Breeders’ Cup President and CEO Drew Fleming.Fleming took the stage at the 2022 Longines World Racing Awards ceremony hosted at the historic Banqueting House in London to receive the prestigious award. He proclaimed this year’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic “a once-in-a-lifetime experience for any sports fan,” and thanked Longines and the IFHA, as well as 2022 World Championships host Keeneland Race Course and the Breeders’ Cup staff, Board of Directors, members and nominators from around the world.The Longines World’s Best Horse Race is determined by averaging the rankings of the first four placed horses. The 2022 Classic earned a 126.75 rating. This is the second time the Breeders’ Cup Classic has been honored.Today’s ceremony was also highlighted by the crowning of Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Flightline as the 2022 Longines World’s Best Racehorse. Flightline capped off a legendary career when he won the crowning race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships by a record 8¼ lengths.“Breeders’ Cup was proud to witness and be a part of his stunning victory and the dazzling performances of all of our runners at Keeneland in November,” said Fleming after the event in London. “We all feel privileged to be recognized today alongside a horse like Flightline as well as his incredibly committed connections. “ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUPBreeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred horse racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races.The 2023 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Championship races, is scheduled to be held on November 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The Championships will be televised live by NBC Sports. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website,&nbsp;<a href="http://breederscup.com/" target="_self">breederscup.com</a>. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.

Race Order and Wagering Menu Announced for 2021 Breeders' Cup World Championships

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Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Named 2022 Longines World's Best Horse Race

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