The Breeders' Cup is getting set for its third installment at Keeneland Race Course, and the previous two have been among the most memorable in the event's history.
In 2015, the Keeneland crowd saw Triple Crown winner American Pharoah cap off his career with a dominant victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic. In 2020, a much smaller Keeneland crowd watched Authentic clinch Horse of the Year honors in the Classic under COVID-19 restrictions.
Ahead of this year's Breeders' Cup, we asked a few industry members for the memories that have stuck with them from those two events at Keeneland.
Bret Jones, Airdrie Stud
“My greatest memory from Keeneland is just that first year, 2015. Having spent some time on the board at the Breeders' Cup, and seeing all of that come to fruition. There are so many people that didn't think Keeneland was capable of pulling off what they being asked to do, and they not only pulled it off, but it was one of the most feel-good days of racing you've ever seen, punctuated by American Pharoah winning the way he did in one of those 'where were you' kind of moments.”
Catherine Parke, Valkyre Stud
“Standing on the finish line watching American Pharoah go by, and his mechanics, his movement. I never got to see him live like that before, and to get to see him that close at the finish line, and watching his mechanics live, for real, was just overwhelming.”
Liz Crow, BSW/Crow Bloodstock
“In 2020, we won two Breeders' Cups. I was pregnant, and Brad Cox won four Breeders' Cups, and we were involved in two of them (Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Aunt Pearl and Distaff winner Monomoy Girl). There were no people there, and I just remember how weird it was to be able to hear the horses' feet hit the ground, because the crowd was so thinned-out from COVID. It'll be a lot more fun to have a crowd out there this year. I couldn't really drink any champagne afterward, so this year will be a lot different.”
Walker Hancock, Claiborne Farm
“Just the awesome buildup leading up to it, because the Breeders' Cup had never been in Lexington before, it's the center of the Thoroughbred world, and the excitement of it finally being there after 30-plus years. It almost felt like the Breeders' Cup finally was coming home for the first time, and it was really cool to have all those good horses all in one place in your backyard.”
Harris Auerbach, M. Auerbach LLC
“Obviously, American Pharoah winning the Grand Slam, and just the way he did it. That he got to do it at Keeneland was pretty special.”
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