With its annual attendance typically trailing only the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Kentucky Oaks, the Breeders’ Cup stands as one of the most popular events in all of Thoroughbred horse racing. The 2013 edition marks the 30th anniversary, so take note of this year’s event when it comes to Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., on Nov. 1-2. Many of the finest racehorses from around the globe are set to make an appearance, as fans who attend can look forward to seeing them compete in 15 different races with purses that total more than $25 million. This will be the fifth time that Santa Anita serves as host for the Breeders’ Cup, which is returning to Southern California for the first time since 2009. As usual, the Turf, Mile, and Classic races are sure to capture most of the spotlight.
Jockeyed by Brian Hernandez, Fort Larned won the 2012 Classic race. At 11-1 odds, there were four other horses expected to do better, but the four-year-old colt and son of E Dubai ran a perfect race on Hernandez’s 27th birthday. Fort Larned’s winning time of 2:00:11 kept him in the lead from start to finish, though Mucho Macho Man made a late push to snag the $5 million purse for finishing in second place. Game On Dude was the favorite to win with 3-2 odds, but a sluggish start resulted in a seventh-place finish. There’s sure to be plenty of electricity at Santa Anita Park this year, so purchase 2013 Breeders’ Cup tickets today and enjoy a fine day at the track.
