Churchill Preparing Bid to Host 2018 BC

Churchill Downs is in the process of preparing an application to host the Breeders' Cup World Championships in 2018, the next open year in the rotation, an official at the Kentucky racetrack said Oct. 23.

Churchill hosted the Breeders' Cup back to back in 2010 and 2011. The most successful World Championships in terms of pari-mutuel handle, attendance, and revenue for both parties have been held there.

"We very much want to be the host of future Breeders' Cups," said John Asher, vice president of communications for Churchill. "We're working on our application right now for 2018, which is the next available open date. We hope our history with the event works in our favor. We also have a facility that now more than ever suits the Breeders' Cup."

Asher spoke in reference to additional renovations in recent years that focused on creating more upscale areas for patrons after a massive overhaul in 2001.

"There has been public perception of lingering issues between the two parties, but I don't think that has been the case," Asher said. "Breeders' Cup leadership has needed to focus on California and some other big things. We do get a lot of questions about when the Breeders' Cup is coming back. If not for 2018, then we'll try for 2019.

"Our seating numbers now are larger than they've ever been, and it's obvious our market loves (having the Breeders' Cup). We hope 2018 will be the year."

From 2012-14, the event was hosted by Santa Anita Park in California. After this year at Keeneland it will return to the West Coast in 2016 at Santa Anita and 2017 at Del Mar, a first-time host.

"We've always had success at Churchill," Breeders' Cup chief operating officer Bob Elliston said Oct. 24. "It has been financially one of the most beneficial facilities for us and our host track partner. Last year was the first time we named three future host sites (at once), and the hope of that process is that we can always add one each year to the extent that we can. The goal is to always have three years in front of us."

Elliston said when the Breeders' Cup board of directors meets in December, it will discuss when it will be in a position to decide on a 2018 host site.

Legislation that granted Breeders' Cup tax breaks if the World Championships returned to Kentucky every three years as part of a rotation expired. The legislation could be revisited.