The Breeders’ Cup Marathon (G2) is one of the newest races of the championship event, first run in 2008.

The race will be contested this year at 1 ¾ miles over the main track at Churchill Downs, a distance that U.S. based runners rarely ever encounter.

The race was first run in 2008 over the synthetic surface at Santa Anita at 1 ½ miles, won by the Ralph Beckett trained Muhannak.

The race distance was extended to its current 1 ¾ miles the following year, where the overseas shipper Man of Iron won for trainer Aidan O’Brien.

There are several Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” races for the Marathon. A victory in the Classico Belegrano (G2), Greenwood Cup Handicap (G2), and Cougar II Handicap (G3) earns an automatic starting spot in the Marathon.

The race has produced some nice payoffs, with the exacta in the three runnings returning $453.60, $120.20, and $266.20.

2010 Recap: Last year’s running of the Marathon was won by the Diane Alvarado trained Eldaafer, who pulled away to win by 1 ¾ lengths to score the upset, returning $23.20.

The race will be most remembered by a brawl after the race, with jockey Calvin Borel having to be restrained from getting to fellow jockey Javier Castellano.

Castellano, aboard Prince Will I Am, collided with Romp and jockey Martin Garcia, who then hit Borel’s mount A.U. Minor. Both Romp and A.U. Miner had to steady as Prince Will I Am charged down the stretch to eventually finish second to Eldaafer.

After the race Borel tracked down Castellano near the winner’s circle and threw a punch before bystanders quickly moved in to try and separate the two.

Borel was enraged and tried to encounter Castellano again in the jockey’s room.

Prince Will I Am was disqualified by the stewards and moved from second to 12th.

Longshot Gabriel’s Hill was moved up to second, with the $2 exacta paying $453.60.

2010 Breeders’ Cup Marathon Video:

Borel, Castellano Brawl at Breeders’ Cup Video:

Breeders’ Cup Marathon Winners: