Breeders Cup Classic

The Breeders’ Cup Classic is the richest and most important race of the two-day championship event, with many of the top horses in the world lining up to go 1 ¼ miles.

The race is the richest run in North America, and the second richest race in the world, behind just the $10 million Dubai World Cup.

The race usually decides Horse of the Year honors.

In the first 27 runnings of the race, 15 runners in the Breeders’ Cup Classic have been named Horse of the Year - Ferdinand (1987); Alysheba (1988); Sunday Silence (1989); Black Tie Affair (1991); A.P. Indy (1993); Cigar (1995); Cigar (1996); Skip Away (1998); Tiznow (2000); Ghostzapper (2004); Saint Liam (2005); Invasor (2006); Curlin (2007); Curlin (2008); Zenyatta (2010). Nine of those horses clinched the Horse of the Year with a Classic victory.

We have seen some huge upsets in the marquee event of the Breeders’ Cup, including the shocker pulled off by overseas invader Arcangues in 1993, who returned an amazing $269.20 for a $2 wager.

Jockey Jerry Bailey rode the longshot winner, rallying from far back to win by two lengths over the betting favorite Bertrando.

Bailey is tied with Chris McCarron for most wins in the Classic by a jockey with five each.

Jay Robbins and Charlie Whittingham lead the trainers with two Classic wins each, with the Robbins trained Tiznow the only horse to win the Classic twice (2000, 2001).

2010 Recap: Zenyatta was back to take on the boys again and try to not only win the Classic for the second year in a row, she was attempting to cap off her career with Horse of the Year honors.

She got the latter, but could not run down Blame late, coming up just a head shy at even money.

Blame, under jockey Garrett Gomez got the jump in the stretch and after getting off slowly the mare put in a furious late rally but could not get past the Al Stall runner in deep stretch.

Blame returned $12.40 for the victory, with the $2 exacta paying $33.20.

Despite losing for the first time in 20 starts, Zenyatta’s game effort in the Classic helped her win Horse of the Year honors for 2010.

2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic Video: