Santa Anita Park to host 2012 Breeders' Cup World Championship

LOS ANGELES, CA - Returning to the site of some of the most successful events in its 27-year history, the 2012 Breeders' Cup World Championships will be held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 2 and Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, Breeders' Cup Limited announced today at a press conference at LA Live.

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."

Breeders' Cup World Championship betting at Off Track Betting online racebook.

Fravel was joined by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Stronach Group President Greg Avioli, California Horse Racing Board Chairman Keith Brackpool and other supporters for the announcement today 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," Mayor 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 electrifying performance to become the first female to win the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic 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 US.

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 Breeders' Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing's most prestigious global event, annually attracts the best horses from around the world. It is the richest prize-money event in sports, consisting of 15 races and purses totaling $26 million. The 29th Breeders' Cup will be televised on ABC/ESPN and to more than 130 countries. Over the past five years, the, Breeders' Cup World Championships has experienced unprecedented growth, expanding from eight to 15 races, increasing prize money from $14 million to $26 million and growing total wagering from $140,332,198 to $173,339,131.

This year's 2011 Breeders' Cup World Championships will be held on November 4 & November 5 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. - home of the Kentucky Derby

About Breeders' Cup The Breeders' Cup administers the Breeders' Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing's year-end Championships. The Breeders' Cup also administers the Breeders' Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. Total purses for this year's two-day event at Churchill Downs, Nov. 4-5, are $26 million. The 2010 Breeders' Cup delivered nearly $140 million in winning wagers to fans at betting locations around the globe. Breeders' Cup press releases appear on the Breeders' Cup Web site, www.breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders' Cup on social media platforms, Facebook, Twitter and on YouTube.

About Santa Anita and The Stronach Group Santa Anita Park, located in Arcadia, California, is among the most iconic sports venues in the world and has been the proving ground for some of the greatest racehorses in history from Seabiscuit to Zenyatta. Santa Anita is owned by the Stronach Group, a privately-held consortium that owns and operates a number of leading businesses in a wide range of industries, including: Thoroughbred racing and gaming; Thoroughbred horse breeding; agriculture; electric and hybrid vehicle technologies, medical technologies. The Stronach Group also owns a number of premier development properties and real estate assets in North America and Europe.