2009 Breeders’ Cup Could Move To Churchill Downs, Home of The Kentucky Derby 2009

The Breeders’ Cup released a statement regarding the 2009 Breeders’ Cup World Championships scheduled for November 6-7 in Santa Anita Park:

Our current intention is to stage the 2009 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita during the Oak Tree meeting. We are working with Santa Anita and Oak Tree management and our legal counsel to obtain the necessary protections so that the event can take place as planned. We have made a great deal of progress in the last few weeks working with Oak Tree and Magna and remain confident that we will obtain the necessary approvals from the bankruptcy court in the immediate future, and the 2009 event will be at Oak Tree as originally planned.

The Daily Racing Form (DRF) reported that Breeders’ Cup Ltd. set an April 30 deadline for Magna Entertainment regarding its bankruptcy or else will move the 2009 Breeders’ Cup to Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby 2009 and also the host for the 2010 Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

Churchill Downs has been the host of 6 Breeders’ Cup events. According to president of Breeders’ Cup Ltd. Greg Avioli, a clause in the contract for the 2010 event designates Churchill Downs as the backup site for the 2009 Breeders’ Cup.

Magna Entertainment filed for bankruptcy on March 5 and is currently seeking approval from a Delaware bankruptcy court to auction off its properties, including Santa Anita Park.