Churchill Downs gets 2018 Breeders’ Cup

The Breeders’ Cup will return to Churchill Downs in 2018, marking the first time in seven years that the Louisville, Ky., race track will host the two-day series of races.

The Breeders’ Cup will be held Nov. 2 and Nov. 3, 2018, at Churchill Downs, officials announced Monday at a news conference.

Officials said that Churchill Downs will then be tied with Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif, for hosting the most Breeders’ Cups.

Santa Anita Park — which hosted the event for three consecutive years between 2012 and 2014 — will host a record ninth Breeders’ Cup this year. Del Mar in San Diego County, Calif., will host the Breeders’ Cup in 2017.

“We are thrilled to announce our return to Louisville,” said Craig Fravel, Breeders’ Cup President and CEO. “Churchill Downs’ ongoing, significant investment in their facility to enhance the experience for participants and fans aligns perfectly with our desire to conduct one of the best racing events in the world, and we’re looking forward to another landmark event in 2018.”

Churchill Downs last hosted the Breeders’ Cup in 2011.

A year earlier, Churchill Downs hosted the Breeders’ Cup, when it posted a record-breaking two-day attendance figure of more than 114,000 for the Breeders’ Cup. Zenyatta — who was undefeated –was in the running for her 20th consecutive win in her second Breeders’ Cup Classic. She came up just short to Blame in her final race before being retired.
Another Kentucky race track, Keeneland, hosted the event last year.