“We are happy to once again offer our lucrative Dirt Dozen program,” said Dora Delgado, Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer of Breeders' Cup Limited. “Each year $525,000 is offered in awards, and many horsemen benefit from the credits offered towards entry fees for our Championship dirt races. We look forward to extending this incentive once again to connections preparing for a dirt division race at Del Mar this November.”

The Dirt Dozen program will again award bonus credits funded by the Breeders' Cup for first through third finishes in the 12-race schedule. Horsemen may use those credits toward entry fees for one of six Breeders' Cup World Championships dirt races: the $2 million GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff, $2 million GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, $2 million GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile, $2 million GI NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, $1 million GI PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, and the $1 million GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

In Dirt Dozen races in the $2 million Breeders' Cup race divisions, the bonus tier is allocated at $30,000 for first, $15,000 for second, and $7,500 for third. In Dirt Dozen races in the $1 million Breeders' Cup race divisions, the bonus tier will award $15,000 for first, $7,500 for second, and $3,750 for third. Horses may bankroll multiple awards earned and apply toward their Championship entry fees.

For more information, click here.

2024 DIRT DOZEN SCHEDULE BY DIVISION
DIRT MILE – GII San Diego H. July 27, GIII Philip H. Iselin S. Aug. 17

DISTAFF – GII Fleur de Lis S. June 29, GII Zenyatta S. Sept. 29

FILLY & MARE SPRINT – GI Derby City Distaff May 4, GIII Rancho Bernardo H. Aug. 25

JUVENILE – GI Del Mar Futurity Sept. 8, GIII Iroquois S. Sept. 14

JUVENILE FILLIES – GI Spinaway S. Aug. 31, GIII Pocahontas S. Sept. 14

SPRINT – GIII Maryland Sprint S. May 18, GII Santa Anita Championship Sept. 28.

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In Dirt Dozen races in the $2-million Breeders' Cup race divisions–which includes the GI Longines Distaff, GI Qatar Racing Sprint, GI FanDuel Juvenile and GI NetJets Juvenile Fillies–the bonus tier is allocated at $30,000 for first, $15,000 for second, and $7,500 for third.

In Dirt Dozen races in the $1-million Breeders' Cup race divisions–the GI PNC F/M Sprint and the GI Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile–the bonus tier will award $15,000 for first, $7,500 for second, and $3,750 for third.

The Dirt Dozen program begins May 6 with the GI Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs. The first three finishers in the race will earn credits toward entry fees for a potential start in the F/M Sprint. The program concludes Oct. 1 with the GI Zenyatta S. at Santa Anita, where the first three finishers in the race will earn credits toward entry fees for a potential start in the Distaff.

“After a successful launch in 2022, we are happy to again present our innovative Dirt Dozen program,” said Dora Delgado, Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer of Breeders' Cup Limited. “Last year, many horsemen who took advantage of those credits toward entry fees for our dirt races were rewarded at the World Championships, and we look forward to extending the same incentive to connections who are targeting a start at Santa Anita Park in November.”

For a complete list of races in the series, click here.

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As a seed money donor, the Breeders' Cup has been a supporter of the TAA since its inception 10 years ago and the organization will present its Grade II namesake race–formerly the Marathon S.–on Saturday's championship undercard.

“As a founding donor for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, it brings the Breeders' Cup great pride to be able to feature the TAA as the official Aftercare Partner,” said Dora Delgado, Breeders' Cup Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer. “The TAA's growth, both in the number of accredited organizations and in the amount of grant money awarded, has been a tremendous feat, and it seems only fitting to culminate the TAA's 10-year celebration center-stage at the World Championships.”

Racing fans can donate to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance throughout the championship weekend when cashing a winning ticket on an UnitedTote Systems self-service betting terminal. All donations are tax-deductible.

“I can't think of a better place to close out our 10-year celebration than the Breeders' Cup World Championships,” said TAA President, Jeffrey Bloom. “Breeders' Cup's ongoing recognition and support has been instrumental in the TAA's growth, which is necessary to further our mission to help fund retired racehorses. We're honored to ring in another year as the Official Aftercare Partner at the World Championships of horse racing.”

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Tickets can be purchased at www.WomeninRacingSummit.com. Sales will be limited in order to maximize the experience for all participants.

“Our planning committee is small but mighty and has been working intently to provide an impactful experience,” said Stephanie Hronis, HRWS chair. “We are awestruck by the outpouring of support and enthusiasm from generous sponsors, compelling speakers, and individuals ready to volunteer. The HRWS is designed for women (and men) from all facets of the industry and we look forward to engaging in a meaningful way in September and at follow up events in the future.”

Thursday kicks off with a keynote address from Susan Packard, author, speaker, former board member of Churchill Downs, Inc., and media entrepreneur. The day
will continue with three panels addressing current events and offering meaningful takeaways for attendees. Each panel will end with a Q&A session allowing for audience engagement.

Friday morning, which also is the opening day of Santa Anita's 2022 Autumn meeting, attendees are invited to a handicapping seminar with TVG's Christina Blacker and will also have the opportunity to attend the charitable Safety Net Foundation's Fashionable Fillies luncheon event in the Chandelier Room (discounted luncheon tickets available for HRWS attendees).

Additionally, HRWS attendees will have access to a reserved section of box seats for the opening weekend of racing at Santa Anita, featuring two Breeders' Cup Win and You're In races.

“I am immensely grateful to be included in the Inaugural Horse Racing Women's Summit taking place this September,” said Dora Delgado, Executive Vice President, Chief Racing Officer, Breeders' Cup Limited and HRWS panelist. “Being able to connect and share experiences among women of all facets of horse racing will not only empower those attending but will serve as a model going forward for fostering engagement, building networks and inspiring others to reach their goals.”

View the full schedule and purchase tickets at www.WomeninRacingSummit.com.

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The bonus tier within the $2-million Breeders' Cup divisions is paid out $30,000 for first, $15,000 for second and $7,500 for third. In the $1-million race division, the bonus tier is $15,000 for first, $7,500 for second and $3,750 for third.

The GI Derby City Distaff was the first of the 'Dirt Dozen' races to be contested this year. The series continues July 2 with the GII Fleur de Lis S. at Churchill and the GIII Smile H. at Gulfstream Park.

“In our continuing efforts to support horsemen, the new 'Dirt Dozen' program is an innovative way to provide credits which can be put toward entry fees for runners to compete in the dirt races of the World Championships,” said Dora Delgado, Breeders' Cup Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer. “We look forward to connections taking advantage of the incentives of the Dirt Dozen program and seeing them at Keeneland this November.”

Click here for further information and for the races that make up the 'Dirt Dozen.'

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The John Deere Award, presented by Breeders' Cup Limited and NTRA Advantage, emphasizes the contributions of breeders to the Breeders' Cup program. The industry's breeders and nominators provide funding for the purses of the World Championships through the annual nominations of foals and stallions.

NTRA Advantage and John Deere will award a John Deere TS Gator Utility Vehicle to Godolphin.

The John Deere Award winner is determined by the breeder who received the highest number of first-place finishes in the 86 Breeders' Cup Challenge Series stakes races held in 10 countries, and in the 14 Breeders' Cup World Championships races (13 Grade 1 races and 1 Grade 2 race), which was held on Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, Calif. Each Grade/Group 1 win was worth 10 points; Grade/Group 2 wins were worth six points; Grade/Group 3 wins were worth four points; and listed stakes wins were worth two points.

Godolphin-bred runners earned 68 points by breeding winners of three Breeders' Cup World Championships races and five Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races. Northern Farm, from Japan, finished second in the competition with 40 points, and St. George Stables finished third with 36 points.

In accumulating its 68 points, Godolphin's three Breeders' Cup Champions, all sired by Dubawi (IRE), led the way with Modern Games winning the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), Space Blues capturing the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF (G1), and Yibir taking the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). Prior to the World Championships, Godolphin began its march to the 2021 John Deere Award in June with a string of five Breeders' Cup Challenge Series victories. First, Maxfield won the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, and one month later at Ascot, Adayar (IRE) won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (G1). In September, Godolphin garnered three Breeders' Cup Challenge races on one weekend. On Sept. 18 at Belmont Park, Yibir earned an automatic berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf when he won the listed Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes. The following day at Woodbine, Godolphin collared two more “Win and You're In” races, taking the Natalma Stakes (G1) for 2-year-old fillies with Wild Beauty (GB) and the Summer Stakes (G1) for 2-year-olds with Albahr (GB).

“We congratulate Godolphin on their extraordinary group of progeny which led them to their fourth consecutive John Deere Award, and a record three wins by homebreds at the World Championships,” said Dora Delgado, Breeders' Cup Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer. “Godolphin's success is emblematic of their longtime commitment to international breeding and racing. We thank them and all participating breeders for their enormous support, which has been vital to the sustained growth of the Breeders' Cup program over the past 38 years.”

“We also thank John Deere and NTRA Advantage for joining us in placing the breeding community in the spotlight by sponsoring this award,” added Delgado.

“Godolphin is delighted to once again be the recipient of the Breeders' Cup/John Deere breeder award,” said Michael Banahan, Godolphin Director of Farm Operations. “The industry is indebted to John Deere for the sponsorship of the Breeders' Cup for many years and so grateful for their continued support. This award goes to all the Godolphin personnel that work incredibly hard behind the scenes to achieve the fantastic results we have had with our homebreds on the track this year.”

“On behalf of John Deere, congratulations to Godolphin as 'Outstanding Breeder of the Year' for the fourth consecutive year at the Breeders' Cup World Championships,” said Auston Till, Manager Partner Sales, John Deere Ag & Turf. “Like John Deere, Godolphin epitomizes excellence. Nowhere was that more apparent than at this year's World Championships, where Godolphin won three races on Thoroughbred racing's biggest stage! As we traditionally do each year, we are thrilled to award Godolphin a John Deere Gator Utility Vehicle for this outstanding accomplishment.”

Finishing second in the John Deere Award competition, Northern Farm led Japan's breakthrough at the 2021 Breeders' Cup with its progeny winning two races: Loves Only You (JPN) captured the $2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) and Marche Lorraine (JPN) won the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). Northern Farm also bred Breeders' Cup Challenge Series winners Gran Alegria (JPN), who claimed the Victoria Mile (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse and Chrono Genesis (JPN), who won the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin.

The outstanding 5-year-old mare Letruska accounted for all 36 points accumulated by third-place finisher St. George Stables. Letruska won four Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races, taking in succession the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park, the Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, and the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.

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The agreement is the latest notch in the belt of a company that launched its system just three years ago, but has already amassed an impressive list of clients including the Thoroughbred Owners of California, Irish Veterinary and Welfare Commission, Irish Harness Racing Association, Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and the Arabian Racing Organization. EMR first provided their system to the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., last year. With the event moving to California's Del Mar Racecourse and falling under the supervision of the California Horse Racing Board,  EMR has developed a new system to comply with this year's rules and regulations pertaining to equine welfare and anti-doping protocols.

EMR sells and maintains a revolutionary software platform that allows for the full veterinary history of the horse to be recorded securely, ensuring the best possible horse welfare as well as aiding with crucial anti-doping procedures. The new system EMR has developed for the Breeders' Cup World Championships will automatically inform trainers from across the world of the safety and integrity regulations that need to be followed and what documents need to be submitted through the system to allow horses to run in the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar. The Breeders' Cup has been a leader in adopting and creating stringent regulations to ensure the welfare and safety of the human and equine athletes competing at its event.

EMR already boasts a number of endorsements from key stakeholders in the U.S., including the Executive Director of the California Horse Racing Board, Scott Chaney and Dr. William Farmer, the Equine Medical Director of Churchill Downs. “The Equine MediRecord system is a major breakthrough in providing the latest and most comprehensive medical and testing records for all participants in this year's World Championships,” said Dora Delgado, Breeders' Cup Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer, “We are proud to partner with EMR again for this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar.”

Once records are entered into the system, they cannot be altered, providing integrity and transparency for all concerned. With strict requirements in place for the competition at the Breeders' Cup, such a tool is needed to ensure the integrity of the records while also allowing them to be digitally submitted to regulators like the California Horse Racing Board and Breeders' Cup officials. This procedure also eliminates passing around paperwork to various partners who are following COVID-19 protocols.

Equine MediRecord CEO, Pierce Dargan said: “It was an amazing privilege to work with the Breeders' Cup for the first time last year and we are of course extremely happy to work with them for the World Championships at Del Mar this year. Given it is in a different regulatory jurisdiction this year, California instead of Kentucky, changes had to be made to ensure it complied with the state rules. We believe our system has a role to play in the movement to help ensure that our children will be able to enjoy horse racing the way we have for generations – to be a part of that work is an honor and highly rewarding.”

The Breeders' Cup has always been a leader when it comes to adopting best welfare and anti-doping protocols. With the sport and its integrity in the spotlight, the Irish innovation is sure to be adopted by more top racing organizations that are looking to ensure thevbest possible welfare and anti-doping practices for the horses in their care.

For more information, click here.

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During the World Championships, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will present its Grade 2 namesake race, formerly the Marathon Stakes. In addition, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance has partnered with TVG to be a part of the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1), the feature race on Future Stars Friday Nov. 5.

“We are delighted that the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance has joined with us again as our official aftercare partner of the World Championships, and by continuing their sponsorship of the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes,” said Dora Delgado, Breeders' Cup Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer. “As a foundation supporter, Breeders' Cup salutes the exemplary work of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance in approving aftercare organizations in the retraining and rehoming of Thoroughbreds following their racing careers.”

“It's a privilege to have the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance partnered with the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile again,” said Andrew Moore, Vice President Racing TVG/FanDuel Group. “The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance does tremendous work and racehorse aftercare is a very important cause to the TVG team and all our viewers.”

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will have a presence on-site at Del Mar alongside CARMA. CARMA works with all 11 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited organizations in the state of California to safely transition horses from California racetracks into the next phase of their lives.

“Hosting the Breeders' Cup in Del Mar provides the perfect opportunity to highlight the strength of California Thoroughbred aftercare nonprofits,” said Lucinda Lovitt, Executive Director of CARMA. “CARMA is excited to partner with the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at yet another Breeders' Cup World Championships.”

As a seed money donor, the Breeders' Cup has been a supporter of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance since inception.

“We are once again thrilled to be the Official Aftercare Partner of the Breeders' Cup, who was a founding member,” said Vice President Jeff Bloom. “The Breeders' Cup World Championships is our industry's premier showcase and an enormous opportunity for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance to highlight the importance of Thoroughbred aftercare and the financial support we provide to the more than 81 accredited organizations throughout the country.”

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Both FedEx charters will be making direct trips to San Diego International Airport. The first charter flight will leave Newark International Airport in New Jersey on Sunday, Oct. 31. The second charter will leave from Indianapolis International Airport in Indiana on Monday, Nov. 1. Each flight will carry up to a maximum of 33 horses.

Breeders' Cup will pay the round-trip cost for all horses competing in the World Championships whose connections use FedEx to ship their runners, whether on the charter planes or on a separately scheduled FedEx flight in lieu of the owner's standard shipping allowance of $10,000. Horsemen shipping Championship runners into California through other shipping companies will still receive the standard stipend.

Tex Sutton Equine Transportation will manage the bookings of these flights, along with the loading and unloading procedures. Horsemen's stable grooms will not be allowed on the flights with these horses, but there will be three Tex Sutton professional grooms attending to the horses on board. Each trainer starting horses in the Breeders' Cup will need to make separate arrangements for their stable workers to fly to California via commercial aircraft.

Tex Sutton has also reserved regularly scheduled FedEx aircraft that fly from both locations to Los Angeles International Airport.

The horses arriving on the charters will join horses already stabled at Del Mar, and those arriving from overseas, for the World Championships.

“Due to the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the availability of equine charters this year, our Board of Directors unanimously approved covering the cost of the FedEx flights for the horses competing in the World Championships,” said Dora Delgado, Breeders' Cup Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer. “We are very pleased to work closely with the management and staff of Mersant International, FedEx and Tex Sutton to ensure a safe, smooth and efficient transportation program for the horses transported to Del Mar.”

Mersant International, the Breeders' Cup official international shipping company, was instrumental in securing the domestic FedEx charters for the World Championships.  Breeders' Cup will again be utilizing Mersant International to coordinate and manage the transportation of European-based horses competing this year.

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Delgado was named last month to the Sports Business Journal's Game Changers list, which recognizes women with senior leadership roles in sports. Making the Game Changers list was a pleasant surprise for Delgado, who has worked for Breeders' Cup for 38 years.

“That was really unexpected,” she said. “It's rare that I'm at the forefront of things at Breeders' Cup and I prefer that. I prefer to be in the background, working on logistics and operations. I like to pick things apart and put them back together. I haven't really been front and center … so to get recognized by a publication like the Sports Business Journal was a thrill.”

In a way, inclusion on the list was the outside world recognizing Delgado for innovations she had led quietly within racing with relatively little fanfare.

Her formal title at Breeders' Cup is Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer, and if those sound like catch-all roles, it's because she juggles a wide range of tasks to make the event happen each year. Delgado's duties at Breeders' Cup include event logistics, operational set-up, coordinating with commissions and federal authorities, managing equine security, recruiting international competitors, promoting foal and stallion nominations, and overseeing the organization's Veterinary Panel and Field Selection Panel. Though many people may not realize it, it was Delgado who administers the Win and You're In Challenge Series which has become the dominant schedule-maker for summer racing.

All of this, from what was supposed to be a temporary job in 1983, the first year of Breeders' Cup. Delgado remembers taking on a role as administrative assistant for the organization when it was still housed in a few cramped rooms in the basement of the old Blood-Horse building in Lexington, Ky. The whole staff was just a handful of people then, and everybody did a bit of everything. She recalls sitting at the table in the kitchenette, helping D.G. Van Clief Jr., decide what to call the various divisions.

“We had a little bit of freedom because what we were doing was wholly original,” she said. “It was something that had never been done before, so it did give you a little bit of room to be inventive and creative and think outside the box.”

Still, Delgado admits few of them probably dreamed the event would grow in all the ways it did.

“We had really high hopes,” she said. “We knew it was a really good idea and so needed – a year-end championship to say, 'Here's the season-ending game.' The Super Bowl, the World Series, the Olympics all rolled into one … what we didn't anticipate, I don't think, was the long-lasting effect it would have on the racing schedules and racing calendars.”

Delgado's grandfather had been a trainer, and the family often traveled to wherever he was on the circuit, so she knew the racing life. When she took the job with Breeders' Cup, she had just graduated from high school and was looking for summer employment. She had done clerical work at the local Thoroughbred auctions, but hadn't thought of racing as a career option – nor had she decided what she wanted to do. As Breeders' Cup grew, so did her position, providing her the chance to travel as she helped stimulate interest in the races from international contenders. At some point, the temporary role became her career path and she expanded it whenever she could.

“I'm a doer,” she said. “I've always been one to roll up my sleeves and get it done. The more responsibilities I take on, I like to have my hands in it.

“I think it's been critical to my success, my attitude along the way of taking more and more. Let me take that from you, I'll handle that, I'll do that. I say that to people all the time who come to me for advice and mentorship – don't stay in your corner. Go outside the lines. Take on more skills, learn to do other things. Be the person who volunteers each time. Not only does it give you a wide variety of skills, but it shows you're such a team player and you're helping everybody rise.”

While there are more women at the top in American racing than there used to be, it's not yet commonplace to see them in C-suite roles at major racing organizations or tracks. In the modern era, Delgado does believe women are treated differently than men, though she isn't sure there are many men in hiring positions who would consciously exclude a woman from advancing specifically or solely because of her gender. Delgado sees the ongoing gender disparity as coming from a different drive.

“Would it have taken a man 40 years to go from administrative assistant to chief racing officer? Probably not,” she said. “But there's a dirty little secret in all businesses that if you do a job especially well and you prove yourself invaluable in that position, there is a certain reluctance to move you out of that position because then who are they going to get to do that work.”

“I think it's probably a slower trajectory for women in this business, because she's so good at her job and what are we going to do if we don't have her there? I was really fortunate though, at Breeders' Cup. Pam Blatz-Murff, before she passed away, was a tremendous mentor to me and really gave me a lot of opportunities. Every president we've had has given me chances to advance. You've just got to be willing to take the leap and show you can do the job.”

That willingness to leap in at every opportunity does require Delgado to keep a lot of plates spinning at once. She jokes that she doesn't work 24/7, but 18/7 may be an accurate description – although she stresses those long hours are matched by a dedicated team.

Racing, alongside many other industries, is now having to face the fact that many people don't necessarily want 18/7 schedules. Delgado admits that it has come with sacrifices – time away from family being a big one. If anything, she hopes that the push toward remote work hastened by the COVID-19 pandemic will make it easier for new employees to commit to the weekend-heavy schedule that is working on a major stakes festival in racing. It has become more accepted now for people to catch up on weekend race results using smartphones while spending time with kids or spouses, or pursuing their own hobbies.

Delgado has her eye to the future. She is hopeful that more major events and tracks will begin using Breeders' Cup safety and integrity protocols as a base for their own best practices – something that has already begun happening. Also, at the age of 56, she is keenly aware that she needs to begin passing on her knowledge and perspective to the next round of industry professionals. That means making sure that people find a career at the Breeders' Cup as exciting as she did years ago when she realized that was her path.

“I know there's a lot of conversation in the industry about recycling people, that we just rehash the same ones over and over again,” she said. “There needs to be opportunities to learn from people, but there's also got to be equal opportunities to promote from within. You've got to prepare the way. You can't keep it at a certain age or a certain gender. If you don't keep expanding the ranks you won't have anybody left to try to take these jobs.

“It's very important that we create an environment that we're fostering younger minds and people that are going to take this over. It can't all rest in my head, it's got to be something that my racing staff and nominations staff and the whole company takes pride of ownership in.”

Delgado is hopeful the implementation of the Horseracing Safety and Integrity Authority (HISA) and continued efforts by racing stakeholders at improving diversity, equity, and inclusion can make people already in the sport feel good about trying to recruit young people to make their careers in it, too.

“I've been a little discouraged by the number of breeding families whose younger generations don't show a lot of interest in pursuing the sport and keeping it going,” she said. “We've got to keep building on the legacy those farms have created. If their younger families don't want to, we need to bring more people in. I love Thoroughbred racing. I don't want it to wither and die on the vine. It can't come down to two or three racetracks and three or four max trainers …

I think we're on the cusp of really revolutionizing Thoroughbred racing in a good way.”

It won't be the first revolution she has seen.

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