A History of the Breeders’ Cup: 40 Years of Horse Racing

With the Breeders’ Cup fast approaching on November 3 and 4 at Santa Anita in California, it’s important to take a look back at where we’ve been—so we can look forward to what’s to come. The Breeders' Cup started in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1984 due to the vision and efforts of several key figures in the horse racing industry. The concept of the Breeders' Cup was conceived by John R. Gaines, a prominent Kentucky horse farm owner and Thoroughbred breeder. Gaines proposed the idea of creating a year-end championship event in horse racing that would bring together the best horses from around the world to compete in a series of races.

This “Super Bowl of racing” would showcase American Thoroughbred breeding and racing on an international stage. Gaines believed a championship event featuring multiple high-stakes races would attract widespread attention and elevate the sport's profile. He gathered support from other influential individuals in the racing industry, including breeders, owners, and racetrack operators. His team also included several sports marketing executives, whose experience outside of racing proved invaluable to making the event even bigger than Gaines ever imagined.

Though the inaugural event was not held in Lexington, Kentucky, the passion and expertise of Gaines’ and his team was evident when the event commenced on November 10, 1984—nearly 2,100 miles from any Kentucky horse farm at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles, California. With a background in entertainment, Hollywood Park CEO Marje Everett put a star-studded spin on the event. She understood what the enormity of the Breeders’ Cup could be, seeing it as an entertainment vehicle with accompanying parties, dinners and advertising opportunities. 

And so, horse race enthusiasts, owners, trainers, jockeys, and fans gathered inside the infamous horse racing venue. The atmosphere was electric. The excitement, palpable. All eyes were on the seven championship races, which included sprints and longer distance events, and allowed different types of Thoroughbred horses to showcase their abilities across varied distances and surfaces. All-star attendees gathered in the stands including Fred Astaire, Elizabeth Taylor, Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, Linda Evans, Jack Klugman, and John Forsythe (Astaire, Klugman, and Forsythe were also horse owners).

From its first-of-a-kind national NBC telecast to its total purse winnings of $10 million, one of the richest days in horse racing at that time, the Breeders’ Cup truly made history. Prior to the Breeders' Cup, there were certainly prestigious horse races held worldwide, but no event had attempted to consolidate multiple championship races into a single-day program on such a large scale. The Breeders' Cup's innovative approach quickly gained widespread recognition, inspiring the creation of similar international championship events in horse racing, and is now entering its 40th year of horse racing.

Kentucky Horse Farms Connection to The Breeders’ Cup

Lexington is often referred to as the "Horse Capital of the World" due to its central role in the Thoroughbred industry. Over the years, the city has hosted three Breeders' Cup races at Keeneland Race Course, one of the most prestigious tracks in the United States, further solidifying its connection to this premier racing event. Lexington is also home to many prominent Thoroughbred farms, including Mill Ridge Farm, founded by Alice Chandler following the death of her father, Hal Price Headley in 1962. Alice Chandler quickly became a key figure in the Thoroughbred industry, and her farm became well-known for breeding and raising high-quality racehorses. In fact, Mill Ridge has bred, raised, and/or sold eight Breeders’ Cup Winners. Now that’s a legacy! Let’s take a closer look at some of these champions.

The Mill Ridge Breeders’ Cup Horse Racing Legacy 

OSCAR PERFORMANCE, now an 8-year-old stallion, was primarily known for his prowess on the turf. He won the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and retired at Mill Ridge Kentucky horse farm to stand stud in 2019. Oscar Performance’s progeny is already showing great success in races across the country and the world. He is the sire of this Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf entrant ENDLESSLY.

RIA ANTONIA’s win in the 2013 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies was a controversial one, as she wasn’t the first to cross the finish line in the race! In the stretch, SHE’S A TIGER drifted out and bumped RIA ANTONIA, who was rallying on the outside. After reviewing the race footage and taking into account the objection, the stewards concluded that the interference altered the outcome of the race. As a result, RIA ANTONIA moved from second to first place.

LIFE IS SWEET captured the 2009 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (now known as the Breeders' Cup Distaff) After retiring, she became a broodmare, contributing her pedigree and horse racing abilities to the next generation of racehorses.

ROUND POND’s victory in the Breeders' Cup Distaff in 2006 remains a significant highlight in her racing career, showcasing her talent at the highest level of Thoroughbred horse racing.

The list of champions continues, as Mill Ridge’s legacy runs deep. ARTIE SCHILLER, raised and sold by Mill Ridge, won the Breeders' Cup Mile (Grade 1) at Santa Anita Park in 2003, securing his status as a top turf miler in North America.

SWEET CATOMINE’s pedigree and early training experiences were influenced by the expertise and care provided by the team at Mill Ridge Farm. While her major victories, including her Breeders' Cup win in 2004, occurred while she was in someone else’s ownership, the farm played a vital role in her early life and development.

JOHAR (outside) and HGH CHAPPARAL dead heat in the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Turf

JOHAR tied for first in the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Turf. Known as a dead heat, the noses of JOHAR and HIGH CHAPARRAL crossed the finish line simultaneously.  

SPAIN was a longshot winner of the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs. At the time of SPAIN’s retirement, she was the all-time leading female money earner in North America with $3.5 million. 

In addition, the consulting arm of Mill Ridge, Nicoma Bloodstock, had two Breeders’ Cup winners, BRICKS AND MORTAR and STREET SENSE. BRICKS AND MORTAR went on to be the 2019 Horse of the Year. STREET SENSE was named the Champion Two-Year-Old after his Breeders’ Cup win and went on to win the 2007 Kentucky Derby as a three-year-old.

The 2021 Breeders’ Cup Sprint Champion ALOHA WEST is standing stud at Mill Ridge, set to begin his second season in 2024. Get a glimpse of Breeders’ Cup champions OSCAR PERFORMANCE and ALOHA WEST by taking a Kentucky horse farm tour at Mill Ridge.

Take a Tour of a Kentucky Horse Farm

But you don’t just have to read about this winning history—a quick trip to Kentucky horse farm Mill Ridge will get you even closer to the Breeders’ Cup legacy. And what better time to do it than ahead of the 40th Breeders’ Cup on November 3 and 4? This immersive experience is perfect for families, friends, solo travelers, horse racing lovers, and horse enthusiasts. Get a first-hand look at this working farm. Pet and feed the colts and fillies. Take in the rolling landscapes and native bluegrass plants. Talk with knowledgeable Mill Ridge tour guides and walk away with the halo effect of being so close to greatness.

Have you ever fed a carrot to a Thoroughbred broodmare or foal? Here’s your chance! We schedule group tours and private showings through Visit Horse Country. We’d love to see you at Mill Ridge Farm!