June 24 - After the U.S. Triple Crown of races, the Breeders' Cup World Championships is arguably the most important horseracing meeting in the United States, and this year's Breeders' Cup will see some changes, namely that 8 local races have been replaced with 8 foreign races in its Win and You're In program.

Races that are a part of the Win and You're In program see winners gain an automatic berth in one of the 14 Breeders' Cup races that this year will take place on November 6 and 7 at Santa Anita Park in California. This means that the total number of Win and You're In races for 2009 is 62, up from 57 last year.

The eight U.S. races that will lose their Win and You're In status this year are the Jockey Club Gold Cup (Gr 1), the Ballerina Stakes (Gr 1), the Sword Dancer Stakes (Gr 1), the A.G. Vanderbilt Handicap (Gr 2), the Diana Stakes (Gr 1), the Go for Wand Handicap (Gr 1), the Whitney Handicap (Gr 1) and the Massachusetts Handicap (Gr 3).

They will be replaced by the Pretty Polly Stakes (Gr 1) at the Curragh, the Irish Champion Stakes(Gr 1) at Leopardstown, the Champion Stakes (Gr 1) at Newmarket, the Moyglare Stud Stakes (Gr 1) at the Curragh, the Diamond Stakes (Gr 3) at Dundalk, the Prix Maurice de Gheest (Gr 1) at Deauville, the Manikato Stakes (Gr 1) at Moonee Valley and the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp (Gr 1).

Launched in 2007, the Breeders' Cup Win and You're In program was designed to generate increased interest in the Breeders' Cup and showcase the best runners from the United States and beyond. Notable races include the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (Gr 1), the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (Gr 1) and the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (Gr 1).

As the feature race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, only three horses will earn guaranteed berths in the Breeders' Cup Classic through the Win and You're In program. They will come from the Washington Park Handicap (Gr 3) at Arlington Park on September 5, the Pacific Classic (Gr 1) at Del Mar on September 6, and the Goodwood Stakes (Gr 1) at Santa Anita Park on October 10.

Said Breeders' Cup Ltd. President Greg Avioli, 'In our continuing efforts to maximize the global popularity and competition of the World Championships, we have expanded this year?s Breeders? Cup Challenge series to more racing venues for our horsemen and fans.'

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2012/04/02 06:44:09 AM