The Breeders' Cup board of directors met Thursday in Lexington to discuss the possibility of dividing its event into two separate race days in November and December, but ultimately the idea was dropped, according to a statement released by the Breeders' Cup Thursday afternoon. According to a Wednesday report in the Daily Racing Form, the suggested concept would have moved four races–including the GI Breeders' Cup Classic–to a card on a later-than-usual date in December.
“The Breeders' Cup Board of Directors met today and among the items under discussion was a 'bifurcation' concept generated by the Company's Innovation Committee,” read the statement issued by Breeders' Cup Limited. “While the Board determined not to proceed with the concept under consideration, we continue to welcome and encourage the consideration of new ideas and affirm that healthy debate on those ideas will be a positive for both the Breeders' Cup and international Thoroughbred racing. Breeders' Cup will have no further comment on this matter.”
In addition to the Classic, the Racing Form reported that the pair of dirt races for juveniles would have joined the Classic on the December card. Previous reports indicated that the Classic would have also become a follow-up race to a possible $3-million “Breeders' Cup Derby” restricted to 3-year-olds.
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