It's cold and gray here today in Toronto, but everything else about this
Canadian city makes you remember that it's a perfect fit for the
Breeders' Cup. You have a big city, a nice, large facility in Woodbine,
enthusiastic racing fans, a more-than-capable management team and a
proven record of success when it comes to hosting racing's year-end
championship.
But it hasn't been here in 15 years and it's a pretty safe bet that it's
never coming back. Nor is it likely to come to Monmouth, Lone Star or
Arlington, three other former hosts. It's become pretty clear what the
Breeders' Cup wants and doesn't want when it picks host sites and
Churchill Downs, Santa Anita and, maybe, Belmont, are the only tracks
that fit their criteria.
Since Monmouth held the Breeders' Cup in 2007, it has been run only at
Santa Anita and Churchill Downs and is scheduled to return to Santa
Anita next year. Belmont is the favorite to get it in 2013. It appears
that the future of the Breeders' Cup includes only those three
racetracks, and Belmont is no cinch to get into the rotation.
Breeders' Cup officials have to choose their words carefully whenever
they keep picking Santa Anita and Churchill so as not to offend any
other racing jurisdictions, but it's still crystal clear what is going
on here. They believe they make more money hosting the event at Santa
Anita and Churchill as opposed to any place else.
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