Santa Anita chosen to host 2012 Breeders' Cup

Breeders' Cup Limited announced Wednesday during a press conference at LA

Live that the 2012 Breeders' Cup World Championships will be held at Santa Anita

Park in Arcadia, California, on November 2-3.

Santa Anita has hosted the Breeders' Cup World Championships five times, most

recently back-to-back editions in 2008 and 2009, both of which set records for

attendance and wagering. The decision followed a lengthy review process by the

Breeders' Cup Host Site Selection Committee, which included proposals from

multiple racing venues in North America.

"We are thrilled to bring back the Breeders' Cup to southern California which

is always a strong draw for horseracing fans from around the world and where the

Breeders' Cup has always been embraced by the community," said Craig Fravel,

president & CEO of Breeders' Cup. "Santa Anita Park is a world class racing

venue that will once again provide a spectacular setting for two days of the

best in international racing."

"Hosting the Breeders' Cup is important to the California horseracing

industry and it is an honor for Santa Anita to be chosen as host of the

Breeders' Cup for the sixth time," said Frank Stronach, chairman of The Stronach

Group, which owns Santa Anita. "Our team looks forward to the challenge of

building on the success of 2008 and 2009 with the 2012 Breeders' Cup."

Fravel was joined by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Stronach Group

President Greg Avioli, California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) Chairman Keith

Brackpool and other supporters for the announcement at the JW Marriott at L.A.

Live.

"We are proud and delighted to once again host the Breeders' Cup at Santa

Anita Park and to welcome the legion of loyal racing fans to Southern

California," Villaraigosa said. "This prestigious, international sporting

phenomenon will boost our local economy and generate tens of millions of dollars

in economic impact to the region."

Zenyatta's victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) to become the first

female to win that particular race highlighted the 2009 World Championships at

Santa Anita. In addition to the then record attendance and handle (exceeded only

by the 2010 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs), the 2009

races attracted the most international starters in event history with 34

participants from outside the United States.

The Breeders' Cup generated in excess of $60 million in economic impact in

the Los Angeles area in both 2008 and 2009. Next year's running will mark the

sixth time that Santa Anita will host the Breeders' Cup, after hosting the event

in 1986, 1993, 2003, 2008 and 2009.

The 29th Breeders' Cup will be televised on ABC/ESPN and to more than 130

countries.

This year's Breeders' Cup World Championships will be held on November 4-5 at

Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Fans interested in tickets for either this

year's event or next year's event at Santa Anita, can register for information

by clicking

here.