Breeders' Cup to Churchill Downs in 2018

The Breeders' Cup World Championships will return to Churchill Downs in 2018 for the first time since 2011 under a host-site agreement announced April 25 at the Louisville, Ky., racetrack.

It will be the ninth time Churchill, which first held the event in 1988, will serve as host site. The dates are Nov. 2-3, officials said, and the event will be televised by NBC Sports Group.

"We couldn't be more excited to bring the Breeders' Cup to a venue that will continue to elevate the World Championships," Breeders' Cup chairman Bill Farish said. "Having these two exceptional teams working together gives us great confidence that the 2018 Breeders' Cup will be a rousing success."

Since 2011 Churchill has spent about $67 million on capital improvements focused on the customer experience. They include clubhouse renovations, the Winner's Circle Suites, Grandstand Terrace and Rooftop Garden, The Mansion, and the world's largest high-definition "big board" that overlooks the backstretch.

Churchill president Kevin Flanery indicated there could be even more capital improvements before the Cup returns in 2018.

"We're always looking at making improvements," Flanery said. "We really have focused on the customer experience, and have asked if we are providing the right experience. We don't sell tickets, we sell experiences. We will be doing some things, we're just not sure what they are yet."

Churchill has hosted the largest Breeders' Cup crowds, including the record-breaking two-day attendance figure of 114,353 in 2010. That event also set the two-day on-track pari-mutuel handle record of $22.51 million and the two-day total handle record of $173.85 million.

Officials said they believe that by 2018, as interest in the Breeders' Cup grows, records could be set at Churchill.

Breeders' Cup officials last year said the 2015 event, held for the first time at Keeneland in Lexington, was a trendsetter in terms of community involvement and customer service. They said it will serve as a template moving forward at future host sites, including Santa Anita Park this year, Del Mar in 2017, and Churchill in 2018.

"We've been working toward this for years," Louisville mayor Greg Fischer said. "There's no other city in horse racing like Louisville, Ky. I thank Churchill Downs and Breeders' Cup for doing a tremendous job talking the last few years."

Fischer noted that since 2011, Louisville has added 50% more hotel rooms and also has worked to improve the citywide experience.

"People here have waited a long time (for the Breeders' Cup to return)," he said. "I can predict that in 2018 we will set records."

Breeders' Cup and Churchill officials said there is little truth to claims that, since 2011, there has been friction between the two companies, and that in turn kept the World Championships from returning sooner.

"We've had a great relationship with the Breeders' Cup through the years," Flanery said. "We let them know we wanted the World Championships back here. We want everybody to understand our door is always open. Every time Breeders' Cup said it was going out to find the next host track, we have consistently bid, and they've known we are interested."

Churchill last fall tipped its hand when it confirmed it would submit a host-site bid for 2018.

LaMARRA: Churchill Preparing Bid for 2018 Breeders' Cup

The Kentucky General Assembly on a few occasions has passed legislation authorizing tax breaks for Breeders' Cup and the host site, but the latest version of the law expired a few years ago. Breeders' Cup president Craig Fravel said officials will pursue similar legislation well in advance of 2018.

"It will be one of the first steps we take once we get out of (the press conference)," Fravel said.

Though the lobbying will begin, Flanery noted the first opportunity to introduce a bill will be the 2017 legislative session that begins in January.

Breeders' Cup and Churchill signed a one-year deal, and Cup officials said that probably will be the standard moving forward after a period of tracks hosting the event in consecutive years. Fravel said there are now five or six facilities that are "Breeders' Cup-capable," but that doesn't mean a track that hasn't hosted the event wouldn't be considered.

He said The Stronach Group is keeping Breeders' Cup up to speed on continuing major improvements being done at Laurel Park by the company's Maryland Jockey Club. Stronach Group chief operating officer Tim Ritvo has said the company is very interested in bringing the event to Maryland for the first time.

Fravel also said he believes the New York Racing Association will return to the host-site picture when its governance structure is finally decided, and that he hopes to see Keeneland submit another bid to host the World Championships.

Plans call for the 2019 host site to be announced right after this year's Breeders' Cup.