Saratoga and Belmont Park, along with Arlington Park, Del Mar, Keeneland, Oak Tree at Santa Anita, and Monmouth Park are partners in the Breeders' Cup Challenge. The winners of 24 Challenge races automatically qualify for the corresponding divisional race in the eight-race, $20-million Breeders' Cup World Championships at Monmouth Park Oct. 27.

On July 28, opening weekend at Saratoga, ABC-TV will televise the $750,000 Whitney Handicap (gr. I), the $250,000 Go for Wand (gr. I), the $500,000 Diana Handicap (gr. IT), and the $200,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt (gr. II). The winners of those races will automatically qualify, respectively, for the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I), Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I), Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT), and TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I).

ESPN will be at Belmont Park Sept. 30 to televise live the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational (gr. I), the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (gr. IT), the $600,000 Beldame (gr. I), and the $400,000 Vosburgh (gr. I). Race victors here will automatically qualify for the Classic, Turf, Distaff, and Sprint.

"NYRA's participation in the newly-created Breeders' Cup Challenge is certain to gain regional and national interest in many of our premier races," said Bill Nader, NYRA senior vice-president and chief operating officer.

"NYRA agreed to provide its support of an industry initiative to strengthen mainstream awareness of the Breeders' Cup World Championships by establishing blockbuster race days on the first Saturday at Saratoga and the final Sunday in September at Belmont Park."

NYRA's biggest races will be run in their customary slots. Aqueduct will host the $750,000 Wood Memorial (gr. I) April 7 and the $300,000 Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile (gr. I) Nov. 24. The traditional local prep for the Wood Memorial, Aqueduct's $200,000 Gotham (gr. III), will be run March 10.

The jewel of Belmont Park's spring/summer meet – the 139th running of the $1 million Belmont Stakes (gr. I) – will be run June 9. The Belmont heads yet another gigantic race day that will also include the Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT), the Acorn (gr. I), and three grade II races: the Woody Stephens Breeders' Cup, the Just A Game Handicap, and the True North Handicap.

Belmont Park's Fall Championship meet will feature the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational (gr. I) Sept. 30, which will be run as an invitational for the first time.

At Saratoga, the 138th running of the $1 million Travers, presented by New York Lottery (gr. I), will be run Aug.25. The $500,000 Woodward (gr. I) was moved from Belmont Park to Saratoga last year and will return to the Spa Sept. 1.