The Breeders' Cup championships on Nov. 4-5 will be held at Keeneland for the third time since 2015 and the second time in three years.
The 2020 Breeders' Cup was conducted during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic with limited attendance and officials were anxious to give the Lexington, Ky., racetrack an opportunity to come back as quickly as possible to put on the kind of show they did in 2015 when Triple Crown winner American Pharoah brought down the curtain on the successful two-day championships with a rousing victory in the Grade 1 Classic.
Drew Fleming, who succeeded Craig Fravel as president and CEO of the Breeders' Cup in November 2019, joins publisher Ray Paulick on this week's edition of the Friday Show. Earlier this year, Fleming became the first horse racing executive to be named to Sports Business Journal's “40 Under 40” roster that recognizes leading young executives in the sports world. Prior to being named CEO, Fleming was chief operating officer for the Breeders' Cup.
The wide-ranging conversation touches on the return of the championships to Keeneland; the event's impact on the local community; the importance of international participation; the health of the organization through its primary revenue streams of nominations, ticketing and sponsorships, and wagering; potential future host sites; the need for greater diversity among Breeders' Cup leadership and throughout the Thoroughbred industry; and Breeders' Cup's longtime focus on safety and integrity and its support of the newly created Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority.
Watch this week's episode of the Friday Show below:
The post The Friday Show Presented By Woodbine: Breeders’ Cup CEO Drew Fleming appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
