The Breeders’ Cup Board of Directors is expected to nominate a permanent host site for its annual championships.  It will no longer rotate between major racing centres.

Belmont Park, Churchill Downs and Santa Anita Park have held the Breeders’ Cup most often.  Four of the past five editions have been staged at Santa Anita.  Of those three venues, only Santa Anita has had discussions with Breeders’ Cup about becoming a permanent host.

Churchill Downs is slated to host the event for a record seventh time in 2010.  “Breeders’ Cup always does well here,” Churchill Vice President of Communications Liz Harris said.  “I would hope that Churchill would be a part of long-term discussions.”

Belmont Park has played host to the event on four occasions – most recently in 2005 – and is believed to be in the running to stage the 2011 event.

The Breeders’ Cup will also expand the number of Breeders’ Cup eligible horses to ensure more participation from the best horses throughout the world – not just North American and Europe.

The winner of the G1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley is an automatic qualifier for the  US$2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint.  The connections of this year’s winner Danleigh (Mujahid) did not take up the invitation to travel to Santa Anita.

The 2009 BC Sprint winner California Flag (Avenue of Flags) finished fifth in the Hong Kong Sprint behind Sacred Kingdom (Encosta de Lago) on Sunday.