Celebrating the Breeders’ Cup

It’s almost time. 13 races. More than a hundred and seventy of the finest runners the world has to offer will congregate for a two-day celebration of the race. In my humble opinion, thoroughbred horse racing is the most beautiful sport in the world and the main participants are the most honest, humble, and hardest trying athletes that you will ever find. The Breeders’ Cup is the greatest of all horse racing celebrations, as it brings together more of the world’s best than any other set of races, anywhere. I always strive to illustrate the majesty and beauty of the sport through the written word, therefore thoughts of who will not be there, or why the Breeders’ Cup is back for a third consecutive year at Santa Anita, (Keeneland next year!), are merely dust in the wind. This is Breeders’ Cup and it does not get any better.

Which highly regarded three-year-old (Bayern, California Chrome, Shared Belief, or Tonalist) will shine brightest in the California sun on Saturday afternoon? That, I believe, is the biggest storyline of this year’s edition of the World Championships. All are talented in clear and different ways, and as much as they’ve dominated America’s glamour division, they’ve had very few races against each other. In fact, not even three of the four have ever been in the same race. This leads to an intriguing and mysterious Classic. The best of the four could easily become the most decorated race horse of 2014, but this Classic is far from a four-horse race. Horses like Cigar Street, Zivo, Candy Boy, Moreno, Toast of New York, V.E. Day, and Majestic Harbor want to make sure of that.

I don’t know about you, but I am enthralled with the story of Hardest Core. The horse lost a trainer, and almost lost his own life. His primary owner has Down Syndrome, and he is trained like a steeplechaser. With my own eyes I saw him come from seemingly nowhere to run away with the Arlington Million, and he has not run since. Other than that, he is just your average Breeders’ Cup starter. And you know what? Call me crazy if you must, but I think Hardest Core has a real shot to pull of the Breeders’ Cup Turf upset.

Have I mentioned the showdown between femme fatales Close Hatches and Untapable yet?

Winning at the Breeders’ Cup once is a big deal. Do it twice, and you enter rarified air in the Sport of Kings. Last year was a big year for two-timers, with three repeat winners in Wise Dan, Groupie Doll, and Mizdirection, while Beholder and Secret Circle became winners of two different BC races. This year, Dank, Goldencents, and Magician are all in with a real shot to repeat in their respective races, with Ria Antonia and Stephanie’s Kitten chasing a victory in their second BC race. And what about the horse looking for a third Breeders’ Cup? In three decades of the great event only one horse has won three Breeders’ Cup races. Minimize Secret Circle’s chances in the Sprint at your own risk.

Lest we forget that this sport is about much more than the horses, how much fun was it to see the 51-year-old Gary Stevens comeback to get to the wire first aboard Mucho Macho Man in the Classic, after having booted home Beholder the day before in the Distaff? This year’s comeback, made especially for the Breeders’ Cup, would be even a better story if it comes to fruition with a visit to the winner’s circle. Dare I say a Gary Stevens Breeders’ Cup victory in 2014 would be the greatest comeback since Lazarus? Well, at least Da Hoss.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the Breeders’ Cup is worth getting excited about. Do you remember when it all began? 30 years ago the inaugural Cup was run at Hollywood Park. In the first ever Classic, Slew O’ Gold was supposed to rule the roost. He had dominated the handicap division from his New York base, where he was in full flight for Horse of the Year. In opposition that day was the quirky colt from the Jack Van Berg barn, Gate Dancer. The hooded wonder was trying to beat the heavily favored son of Seattle Slew, while trying to supplant another son of Seattle Slew, Swale, for the three-year-old championship. At 31-1, little attention was paid to the well traveled 4-year-old, Wild Again. It would be a race for the ages. Wild Again turned away the early competition and, despite the testing fractions, would brace for the challenge of both superstars. First Slew O’ Gold, on the far turn, and then Gate Dancer, outside the eighth pole, would throw everything but the kitchen sink at the long shot son of Icecapade. The three horses came together as they battled head and head and chest to chest. Wild Again on the rail, Gate Dancer with his white hood on the outside, and Slew O’ Gold in between. It was a Hollywood script kind of finish that day at Hollywood. In what may be his greatest ever ride, Pat Day, the master of getting that little bit extra out of his pace setters, pumped and drove Wild Again to a narrow and heart-stopping victory. A long inquiry would only reverse 2nd and 3rd place results. It may have been the very first Breeders’ Cup Classic, but it was wild, Wild Again.