2014 Breeders' Cup

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The 2014 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, the 31st edition, were held October 31 and November 1 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It’s considered the end of the North American racing season. Thirty-seven horses qualified through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge, including four of the winners. Notable absences due to injury or illness included American Pharoah (left front hoof bruise), Wise Dan (right foreleg fracture), and Beholder (illness).

Attendance over the two days was 98,319, up 4% from 2013 and the highest total for Santa Anita since the event began two days. Wagering totaled $159.1 million, the fourth highest in Breeders’ Cup history and up 1.1% from 2013. A total of 159 horses started in 13 races, with 26 from overseas.

The Classic produced controversy when Bayern, from the start, bumped Shared Belief, causing interference that also affected Moreno. Bayern led most of the race and won by a nose over Toast of New York, with California Chrome a neck behind in third and Shared Belief finishing fourth. After a 10-minute inquiry, stewards kept the original result, saying the rules in California are subjective about whether the interference changed the outcome—a decision that drew debate.

Other highlights: Main Sequence remained undefeated in North America with a Turf win, his fourth straight Grade I. Karakontie became the first Japanese-bred horse to win the Mile. Bobby’s Kitten won the Juvenile Turf in a late surge from last. Untapable won the Distaff, and jockey Rosie Napravnik announced she would retire after the Saturday card to start a family. In the Juvenile Fillies, Take Charge Brandi upset at 61-1 odds.

In Eclipse Award voting, seven of the eleven flat racing categories went to Breeders’ Cup winners: Take Charge Brandi (Champion Two-Year-Old Filly), Untapable (Champion Three-Year-Old Filly), Main Sequence (Champion Older Male and Champion Male Turf Horse), Work All Week (Champion Male Sprinter), Judy the Beauty (Champion Female Sprinter), and Dayatthespa (Champion Female Turf Horse).