The Breeders' Cup property joins MDI's other popular sports licenses including the NHL, the NBA, Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, Louisville Slugger, Formula 1 racing legends and six active NASCAR Winston Cup drivers.
Lotteries throughout North America now have a unique opportunity to offer their players themed lottery games and promotions tied to horse racing's biggest event – the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. The games and promotions are available exclusively through MDI Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scientific Games. The agreement with Breeders' Cup Ltd. makes Scientific Games the representative to negotiate license agreements on behalf of government-sponsored lotteries authorizing the use of the name, marks and logos of Breeders' Cup Ltd. This includes the associated race names: the Breeders' Cup Distaff – Presented by Nextel; Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies; NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile; Breeders' Cup Sprint; Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf; Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile; John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf; and the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge. The exclusive agreement extends through June of 2005."This is a powerful new addition to our expanding portfolio of sports-related lottery licenses, which we are proud to make available to lotteries throughout North America," said Lorne Weil, chairman and CEO of Scientific Games. "The Breeders' Cup is known as the 'definitive test of champions' and has consistently been the venue for some of racing's most memorable moments."Testimony to its growing popularity was evident in this year's wagering on the day's races, which broke all previous records with over $120 million wagered from the host track, Santa Anita, and from thousands of betting outlets throughout North America and internationally." The 2004 Breeders' Cup host venue is Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, just outside Dallas. "We're excited about the potential expansion of the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships brand via the state lottery systems," said D.G. Van Clief, Jr., president of Breeders' Cup. "With a strategic ally in Scientific Games, we're optimistic about the launch of Breeders' Cup branded lottery games in 2004."
