The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) and officials at
Breeders’ Cup Ltd. announced that $7.305 million in Breeders’ Cup
Funds will be distributed to 125 races throughout the United States and Canada
for the 2005 Breeders’ Cup Stakes program. That number increased by $205,000
over last year and a total of 15 races will receive Breeders’ Cup enhancements
for the first time.
The 2005 program will feature 69 American graded events and six Canadian
graded stakes, including the $350,000 Gamely Breeders’ Cup H. (G1) and $350,000
Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1). Among the 15 races added to the program are
the $150,000 Sunset Breeders’ Cup H. (G2), $200,000 Northern Dancer S. (G3) and
the $150,000 Arlington-Washington Lassie Breeders’ Cup (G3).
The Sunset Breeders’ Cup receives the allotment originally given to the
Triple Bend H. (G1) last year because of new rules for the program which state
that all Grade 1 races must be run under weight-for-age conditions, beginning
with races held July 1 and afterward.
Since 1984, Breeders’ Cup Ltd. has paid out more than $345 million in purses
and awards through the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships and its
year-round racing program.