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Schwarzenegger to Chair Host Committee
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has agreed to chair the Breeders’ Cup Host Committee, which will promote the 2008 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, to be held at Santa Anita Park on October 24-25. “The very first Breeders’ Cup was run in California, and so it is a special honor to host the 25th running of horse racing’s most prestigious championship races at Santa Anita during the Oak Tree season,” said Schwarzenegger. “The event will not only showcase one of the world’s most beautiful racetracks but also will generate more than $100 million for the California economy. I am looking forward to working with the other members of the host committee to ensure its success. We are proud of our world class racetracks and, in particular, of the Oak Tree Racing Association, which has been chosen to host the Breeders’ Cup this year and next, an unprecedented achievement.” The Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be held at Santa Anita Park for the fourth time and this year’s running marks the seventh time that the Breeders’ Cup will be held in the Golden State. The 2009 Breeders’ Cup will also be held at Santa Anita Park, marking the first time that a Breeders’ Cup has returned to the same track in consecutive years. The Breeders’ Cup consists of two days of international racing at its best. There are 14 races with purses totaling $25.5 millions. Friday’s program features the first ever all female racing program, highlighted by five Breeders’ Cup races. The action continues Saturday with nine open male Breeders’ Cup races. Each year, the Breeders’ Cup draws the top horses, jockey and trainers from more than a dozen countries around the globe, battling for championship honors. This year’s races will also be televised domestically with an unprecedented nine hours of two-day coverage on ABC and ESPN and in more than 120 countries. “This will be the first Breeders’ Cup conducted on a synthetic surface and free of any steroid use by any participating horse," said Sherwood Chillingworth,” executive vice president of the Oak Tree Racing Association. "It is a series of three firsts in Breeders’ Cup’s twenty-five year history, and Oak Tree is proud to be part of their innovations. The Breeders’ Cup host committee is comprised of civic and business and horse racing industry leaders. The committee will work to increase awareness of the Breeders’ Cup throughout California and oversee the activities of numerous local ceremonies and special events surrounding this year’s event. 2008 Breeders’ Cup host committee Chairman Arnold Schwarzenegger Governor, State of California Anthony Adams California Assemblyman, 59th District Michael Antonovich Los Angeles County Supervisor Madeline Auerbach Vice-Chair, Thoroughbred Owners of California Bill Bogaard Mayor, City of Pasadena Rick Caruso CEO, Caruso Affiliated Ron Charles President, Los Angeles Turf Club Robert Harbicht Mayor, City of Arcadia R. D. Hubbard Thoroughbred Owner Bob Margett California State Senator, 29th District George Nicholaw Commentator Laffit Pincay, Jr. Retired Jockey Anthony Portantino California Assemblyman, 44th District Kathy Schloessmann President, LA Sports & Entertainment Commission John Semcken CEO, Pacific Palms Resort Richard Shapiro Chairman, California Horse Racing Board Samantha Siegel Thoroughbred Owner David Simon President, Los Angeles Sports Council Gary Toebben President & CEO, LA Area Chamber of Commerce Antonio Villaraigosa Mayor of Los Angeles Operations Committee Chairman Sherwood Chillingworth Oak Tree Racing Association Rick Baedeker Breeders’ Cup Ltd. Beth Costanza Arcadia Chamber of Commerce George Fasching Arcadia Resident and Businessman Ruth Gilb Arcadia Resident and Volunteer Allen Gutterman Santa Anita Park George Haines Santa Anita Park Rick Lemmo Caruso Affiliated Nan Marchand Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau Don Penman City of Arcadia Mickey Segal Arcadia Resident and Volunteer Pete Siberell Santa Anita Park |
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