This article appeared in the November 2010 issue of Louisville Magazine. To subscribe, please visit loumag.com.
Here’s a strong field of facts and figures to help Derby-centric race fans better understand the international ins and outs of the Breeders’ Cup.
Breeders' Cup starters by country, 1984–2009
- United States: 1,905
- Ireland: 189
- Great Britain: 148
- Canada: 78
- France: 52
- Argentina: 15
- Germany: 7
- Chile: 5
- Brazil: 4
- Japan: 3
- Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, United Arab Emirates: 2 each
- Venezuela: 1
Breeders' Cup winners by country, 1984–2009
- United States: 162 (8.5% of its total entries)
- Ireland: 20 (9.8%)
- Great Britain: 13 (12.5%)
- France: 5 (9.6%)
- Canada, Argentina: 4 each (5 % and 26% respectively)
- Germany: 1 (14%)
Top Breeders' Cup Earners
- Tiznow: 2 starts, 2 firsts, $4.56 million
- Zenyatta: 2 starts, 2 firsts, $3.78 million
- Conduit: 2 starts, 2 firsts, $3.24 million
- Curlin: 2 starts, 1 first, $2.95 million
- Invasor: 1 start, 1 first, $2.7 million
Leading overseas earners
- Conduit (Ireland): 2 starts, 2 firsts, $3.24 million
- Invasor (Argentina): 1 start, 1 first, $2.7 million
- Goldikova (Ireland): 2 starts, 2 firsts, $2.23 million
- Ouija Board (Great Britain): 3 starts, 2 firsts, 1 second, $2.13 million
- Daylami (Ireland): 1 start, 1 first, $2.04 million
Leading owners by cup winnings, 1984–2009
- Godolphin Racing LLC (headquartered in Dubai): 49 starters, $8.493 million
- Stronach Stables (Canada): 18 starters, $8.492 million
- Juddmonte Farms (England/Kentucky):58 starters, $7.03 million
- Allen E. Paulson (deceased): 30 starters, $6.67 million
- Michael B. Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier (England): 27 starters, $4.9 million
Leading trainers by Cup winnings
- D. Wayne Lukas: 148 starters, 18 firsts, $19.6 million
- Robert J. Frankel: 82 starters, 6 firsts, $13.2 million
- Bob Baffert: 54 starters, 7 firsts, $10.4 million
- William Mott: 61 starters, 5 firsts, $9.49 million
- Claude McGaughey III: 53 starters, 9 firsts, $9.15 million
Leading jockeys by Breeders' Cup winnings
- Pat Day (retired): 117 starts, 12 firsts, $23 million
- Jerry Bailey (retired): 102 starts, 15 firsts, $22 million
- Chris McCarron (retired): 101 starts, 9 firsts, $17.7 million
- Mike Smith (active): 67 starts, 13 firsts, $16.3 million
- Lanfranco Dettori (active): 62 starts, 9 firsts, $16.1 million
Top five starters and winners by state, 1984–2009
Starters
- Kentucky: 1,398
- Florida: 243
- California: 80
- Virginia: 39
- New York: 38
Winners
- Kentucky: 127 (9% of its entries)
- Florida: 20 (8.2%)
- California: 5 (6.2%)
- Maryland: 3 (27 starters, 11.1%)
- Pennsylvania: 3 (25 starters, 12%)
Winning post positions
- Post 1: 21 winners
- Post 2: 23 winners
- Post 3: 17 winners
- Post 4: 23 winners
- Post 5: 20 winners
- Post 6: 14 winners
- Post 7: 9 winners
- Post 8: 13 winners
- Post 9: 12 winners
- Post 10: 11 winners
- Post 11: 12 winners
- Post 12: 13 winners
- Post 13: 2 winners
- Post 14: 5 winners
Repeat Breeders' Cup first-place winners
- Bayakoa: Distaff, 1989 and 1990
- Da Hoss: Mile, 1996 and 1998
- High Chaparral: Turf, 2002 and 2003
- Lure: Mile, 1992 and 1993
- Midnight Lute: Sprint, 2007and 2008
- Miesque: Mile, 1987 and 1988
- Ouija Board: Filly and Mare Turf, 2004 and 2006 (finished second in 2005)
- Tiznow: Classic, 2000 and 2001
- Conduit: Turf, 2008 and 2009
- Goldikova: Mile, 2008 and 2009
- *Zenyatta: Ladies Classic (formerly the Distaff), 2008; Classic, 2009
*Zenyatta is the first horse to ever win in two different Breeders’ Cup races
Horse With Most Repeat Breeders’ Cup Appearances: Better Talk Now: Won the Turf in 2004, then ran seventh in 2005, second in 2006, fourth in 2007 and eighth in 2008
Oldest Horse in a Breeders’ Cup Race: John’s Call, nine, 2000 Turf; Bet On Sunshine, nine, 2001 Sprint
Oldest Horse to Win a Breeders’ Cup Race: Cardmania, seven, 1993 Sprint; Miesque’s Approval, seven, 2006 Mile
Oldest Jockey to Win a Breeders’ Cup Race: Bill Shoemaker, 56, on Ferdinand, 1987 Classic
Youngest Jockey to Win a Breeders’ Cup Race: Fernando Jara, 18, on Invasor, 2006 Classic
First Winning Female Trainer: Jenine Sahadi, Lit de Justice, 1996 Sprint (won 1997 Sprint with Elmhurst)
First Winning Female Jockey: Julie Krone, Halfbridled, 2003 Juvenile Fillies
Biggest Breeders' Cup crowds
The Breeders’ Cup has run at Churchill Downs six times, attracting some of the largest crowds in the history of the Cup for a single day of racing. In 2007, Cup officials added a second day of racing, with 11 heats at Monmouth, N. J. In 2008, three more races were added, rounding out the two days of racing. Here’s the list of top track attendance for a single day of Breeders’ Cup racing.
- 1998 Churchill Downs 80,452
- 2000 Churchill Downs 76,043
- 2006 Churchill Downs 75,132
- 1994 Churchill Downs 71,671
- 1988 Churchill Downs 71,237
- 1986 Santa Anita Park 69,155
- 1991 Churchill Downs 66,204
- 1984 Hollywood Park 64,254
- 1987 Hollywood Park 57,734
- 1993 Santa Anita Park 55,130
Photo: Courtesy Breeders' Cup
