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  horse Race Breeders' Cup Classic
  location Varies usually in the United States (once in Canada )
  inaugurated 1984
  race Type Thoroughbred
  website Breeders' Cup Classic
  distance 1¼ miles
  track Dirt, Left-handed
  qualification 3-year-olds and up
  weight 4-year-olds and up: 126 Lb (572 kg)<br>Northern Hemisphere 3-year-olds: 122 lb (553 kg)<br>Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds: 117 lb (531 kg)
  purse US$5 million


The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade 1 Weight For Age Thoroughbred Horse Race for 3 years old and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles (2012 m) on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup . The 2006 Race was held at Churchill Downs .

Weights for the race are:
  • 4-year-olds and up: 126 pounds (57.2 kg)

  • Northern Hemisphere 3-year-olds: 122 pounds (55.3 kg)

  • Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds: 117 pounds (53.1 kg)

  • --- The reason for the difference in weight between 3-year-olds is that thoroughbreds foaled in the Northern Hemisphere increase in age for racing purposes on January 1, while Southern Hemisphere thoroughbreds do not increase in age until August 1.


The Classic is considered by many to be the premier thoroughbred horse race of the year, and for 2006 only the Dubai World Cup surpassed its $5 million purse. Often, the winner goes on to win U.S. Horse Of The Year honors, as have the last three winners of the race— Ghostzapper (2004), Saint Liam (2005), and Invasor (2006). Due to the extremely high quality of horses in the event, the race is notoriously hard to predict. One notable example of an underdog winning the Classic is the victory of Arcangues in 1993. This was the biggest upset in Breeders' Cup history and his $269.20 payoff for a $2 wager remains a Breeders' Cup record.


WINNERS OF THE BREEDERS' CUP CLASSIC



SEE ALSO



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