Head2Head Wagering Returns; Post Times Released

Head2Head wagering, first introduced at last year's Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, is back on the wagering menu for this year's races that will be hosted by the Oak Tree Racing Association at Santa Anita Park on Oct. 25.

The wagering options announced Monday by Breeders' Cup Limited and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, also include the Breeders' Cup Ultra Pick 6, with a $3 million guaranteed gross pool. The Ultra Pick 6 begins with the NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. I) (race 4) and runs through the Breeders' Cup Classic-Powered by Dodge (gr. I) (race 9).

There will be a total of 12 races on the Breeders' Cup Day program. The eight Breeders' Cup races, televised live by NBC Sports (1:00– 6:00 p.m., ET), will be preceded by one Oak Tree race at 12:40 p.m. ET (9:40 a.m. local time). Post time for the first Breeders' Cup Championship race, the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff-Presented by Nextel, will be 1:20 p.m. ET (10:20 a.m. local time). Post time for the Classic will be at 5:35 p.m. ET (2:35 p.m. local time). There will be three Oak Tree races following the Classic.

The Breeders' Cup Head2Head wager has been expanded and will be offered on all 12 races on the card. When introduced in 2002, Head2Head wagering was offered only on the Breeders' Cup races on the card, and Head2Head betting on one of those had to be cancelled after Sky Mesa was scratched out of the Bessemer Trust Juvenile.

The details of the Head2Head wagering match ups will be announced at the post position draw on Oct. 22. The Classic and the three Oak Tree races which follow it will also be linked in a Pick 4 wager with a guaranteed $400,000 minimum.

Ken Kirchner, senior vice president of product development for the NTRA, said the Head2Head wagering averaged $110,000 in handle for the seven races on which bets were taken and that some new elements may be added this year.

"Since it took in over three-quarters of a million dollars, we thought we would give it another chance and see how the public reacts to it," Kirchner said.

Being considered this year are the possibility of a Head2Head wager in which one horse is paired against two horses or two-against-two rather than just taking Head2Head wagers on individual matchups, Kirchner said.

Kirchner said offering jockey and/or trainer Head2Head wagers are under consideration but would likely not be part of the wagering mix this year.

Each Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championship race will feature a maximum of 14 horses and wagering interests. There will be no coupled entries in any race. In addition to the standard win, place and show betting, there will be exacta, trifecta and superfecta wagering on all 12 races; rolling Pick 3 wagers beginning with Race 1 and continuing through the final Pick 3 starting with Race 10. There will also be rolling daily double wagering on all races.

"We feel that this year's race order and wagering menu will once again prove to be extremely popular with our fans, who will have a wide array of wagers to choose from throughout the day," said Breeders' Cup President D.G. Van Clief, Jr.

2003 BREEDERS' CUP WORLD THOROUGHBRED CHAMPIONSHIPS POST TIMES AND WAGERING MENU

Race No./Race Name/Post Time (ET)/Bet Types
All Breeders' Cup races are grade I

1. Oak Tree Race/12:40 p.m./WPS, Exacta, Trifectam Super, DD, Pick 3 Head2Head

2. Breeders' Cup Distaff-Presented by Nextel/:20 p.m./WPS, Exacta, Trifecta, Super, DD, Pick 3, Head2Head

3. Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies/1:55 p.m./WPS, Exacta, Trifecta, Super, DD, Pick 3, Head2Head

4. NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile/2:35 p.m./WPS, Exacta, Trifecta, Super, DD, Pick 3, Pick 6, Head2Head

5. Breeders' Cup Sprint/3:10 p.m./WPS, Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta, DD, Pick 3 Head2Head

6. Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf/3:45 p.m./WPS, Exacta, Trifecta, Super, DD, Pick 3, Pick 4, Head2Head

7. Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile/4:20 p.m./WPS, Exacta, Trifecta, Super, DD, Pick 3, Head2Head

8. John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf/4:55 p.m./WPS, Exacta, Trifecta, Super, DD, Pick 3, Head2Head

9. Breeders' Cup Classic/5:35 p.m./WPS, Exacta, Trifecta, Super, DD, Head2Head, Pick 4

10. Oak Tree Race/6:15 p.m./WPS, Exacta, Trifecta, Super, DD, Pick 3, Head2Head

11. Oak Tree Race/6:45 p.m./WPS, Exacta, Trifecta, Super, DD, Head2Head

12. Oak Tree Race/7:15 p.m./WPS, Exacta, Trifecta, Super, Head2Head