The Breeders’ Cup announced Friday that the distance of the $500,000
Breeders’ Cup Marathon has been lengthened from 1 1/2 miles to 1 3/4 miles for
this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita.
The Breeders’ Cup Marathon will be the longest major stakes race contested on
a main track in the United States this year.
The new distance of the Marathon, which had its inaugural running at last
year’s Breeders’ Cup over the Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita, was proposed by
the Breeders’ Cup Racing and Nominations Committee and approved by the Breeders’
Cup Board of Directors.
“In furthering our commitment for a high caliber extended distance race in
the World Championships, the Racing and Nominations Committee strongly
recommended the lengthening of the Marathon to 14 furlongs to bring the race in
line with the category standards of the International Federation of Horseracing
Authorities,” said Robert T. Manfuso, Chairman of the Breeders’ Cup Racing and
Nominations Committee.
“The extended distance of the Marathon also allows the race to begin near the
six furlong chute at Santa Anita,” said Pamela Blatz-Murff, Breeders’ Cup Senior
Vice President of Racing. “This will give the horses a longer run into the first
turn.”
The inaugural Marathon was won by Richard Pegum’s four-year-old gelding
Muhannak (Ire) (Chester House).