Breeders' Cup board declines proposal splitting event up

According to a statement from the Breeders' Cup, the championship's board of directors on Thursday discussed what they called a "bifurcation” concept -- reportedly splitting the event across both November and December -- but "determined not to proceed" with it.

A hot topic lately for racing fans, the proposal reportedly called for 11 races to run in November, as usual, with the addition of a race restricted to 3-year-olds. That event could have served as a prep for a December Breeders' Cup Classic and top juvenile races, with the second date avoiding conflict with college football Saturdays.

The Daily Racing Form reported that celebrity chef Bobby Flay was involved with the proposal, which the Breeders' Cup statement indicated was formed by the "Innovation Committee."

"We continue to welcome and encourage the consideration of new ideas and affirm that healthy debate on those ideas will be a positive for both the Breeders’ Cup and international Thoroughbred racing," the statement reads. "Breeders’ Cup will have no further comment on this matter.”