- Breeders' Cup Marathon
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Grade II race Breeders' Cup Marathon Location United States Inaugurated 2008 Race type Thoroughbred - Flat racing Website Breederscup.com Race information Distance 1¾ miles (14 furlongs) Track Dirt, left-handed Qualification Three-years-old & up Weight Weight for Age Purse $500,000 The Breeders' Cup Marathon is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race established in 2008 as part of the annual Breeders' Cup World Championships. A Weight for Age race open to horses three years old and up, it was contested on dirt at a distance of 1½ miles in its inaugural running. For 2009, the distance was extended to by 2 furlongs to 1¾ miles.[1] The race carries a purse of US$500,000.
The inaugural running took place on the second day of the Breeders' Cup on the Pro-Ride synthetic dirt at the 2008 host track, Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.
Due to technical requirements, the race was not eligible for classification as a graded stakes race in its first two runnings.[2] It received Grade III status effective in 2010.[3] The race was upgraded to Grade II status for 2011.[4]
Contents
Automatic Berths
Beginning in 2007, the Breeders' Cup developed "The Breeders' Cup Challenge", a series of races in each division that alloted automatic qualifying bids to winners of defined races. Each of the fourteen divisions has between three and six of these, "Win and You're In," qualifiers. In the Breeders' Cup Marathon Division there are four automatic berths. In 2009, the Win and You're In races are: the Greenwood Cup Handicap, an ungraded race at Philadelphia Park, the Turfway Park Fall Championship Stakes, a grade three race at Turfway Park, the Cougar II Handicap, an ungraded race at Del Mar and the Diamond Stakes a group three race at Dundalk Racecourse.
Raced at 1½ miles in its debut in 2008, the 2009 edition was changed to a distance of 1¾ miles.
Records
Most wins:
- No horse has won this race more than once.
Most wins by a jockey:
- No jockey has won this race more than once.
Most wins by a trainer:
- No trainer has won this race more than once.
Most wins by an owner:
- No owner has won this race more than once.
Winners of the Breeders' Cup Marathon since 2008
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time Purse Grade 2011 Afleet Again 4 Cornelio Velasquez Robert E. Reid, Jr. Kasey K Racing Stable 3:00.39 $500,000 II 2010 Eldaafer 5 John Velazquez Diane Alvardo IEAH Stables and Mansour Albaroudy 2:59.62 $500,000 III 2009 Man of Iron 3 Johnny Murtagh Aidan O'Brien Derrick Smith/Susan Magnier/Michael Tabor 2:54.11 $500,000 2008 Muhannak 4 Pat Smullen Ralph Beckett Richard Pegum 2:28.24† $500,000 † - Ran at 1½ miles
See also
- Breeders' Cup Marathon "top three finishers" and starters
- Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships
- American Thoroughbred Racing top Attended Events
References
- ^ "Distance Added to Breeders' Cup Marathon". bloodhorse.com. 2009-03-20. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/49761/distance-added-to-breeders-cup-marathon. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
- ^ Graded Stakes Committee releases 2008 changes - Thoroughbred Times
- ^ LaMarra, Tom (2008-12-03). "Arkansas Derby Among Three New Grade I Stakes". BloodHorse.com. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54257/arkansas-derby-among-three-new-grade-i-stakes. Retrieved 2009-12-28.
- ^ Blood Horse: 2011 Graded Stakes: 13 Fewer Than '10
Breeders' Cup Races Classic • Turf • Sprint • Juvenile Turf • Juvenile • Mile • Dirt Mile • Turf Sprint • Marathon • Ladies' Classic • Filly & Mare Turf • Juvenile Sprint • Juvenile Fillies • Juvenile Fillies Turf • Filly & Mare Sprint • Grand National SteeplechaseYears Categories:- Graded stakes races in the United States
- Horse races in the United States
- Breeders' Cup
- Open middle distance horse races
- Recurring sporting events established in 2008
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