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The Breeders' Cup Turf is an annual race held at different racecourses in the US or Canada and is currently sponsored by John Deere. Three-year olds and older may enter and the purse is US$3 million. Each Breeders' Cup race is a magnet for the most exceptional horses and riders in the world.
The BC Turf race is 1 and a half miles and obviously run on the turf.
Recently the race has been dominated by European entries and connections, with British jockey Frankie Dettori for example winning the race in 1999, 2001 and 2006.
John R. Gaines, a leading thoroughbred owner and breeder announced the race in 1982, and the concept was immediately successful with widespread support from the racing community. The first race was run in 1984 and is now firmly ingrained in the American racing fraternity with its own traditions and culture.
The Breeders' Cup World Championships is used as the benchmark for the Eclipse Awards voting. The Eclipse Awards pay tribute to the Horse of the Year and other title-holders in the racing world. The awards are voted on each year by delegates from the Daily Racing Form, the National Turf Writers Association as well as The National Thoroughbred Racing Association.
Every Eclipse Award winner in 2006 had participated in the Breeders cup, something that has never happened before.
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