Released daily during the 30 days prior to the 2013 Breeders' Cup, these stories offer a behind-the-scenes look at this prestigious event and uncover fascinating details about the people and horses that have created history.
I felt the deep satisfaction that comes from knowing a horse is good, from knowing you've witnessed his best moments. The 2012 Mile was proof a great runner can come from anywhere.
The 2010 Classic was the end of a magical run that brought an eerie hush to the crowd at Churchill Downs. Victorious and magnificent Blame walked into the winner's circle in dead silence.
Jerry and Ann Moss' Zenyatta electrified the house at Santa Anita Park with her last-to-first thundering move to win the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic, setting off an emotional display rarely seen at sporting events.
A week or so after the 2005 Breeders' Cup, I returned to my desk at Thoroughbred Times from a break and played back a voicemail from Merv Griffin requesting I call back.
Outstanding females provided many of the thrills during the Breeder's Cup's third decade.
An infographic celebrating the Breeders' Cup 30th Anniversary.
Trinniberg stamped himself as the Genaro family's horse after just missing the 2011 Hopeful Stakes at 68-1. They rooted him all the way through a Breeders' Cup victory and championship in 2012.
Here is the bizarre journey of Rick's Natural Star and owner/trainer Dr. William Livingston...from Artesia, N.M. to the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) at Woodbine in 1996.
The last Breeders' Cup I attended in person was in 2006. It was a profitable day, as I made enough to take my little group out for dinner afterwards. But by far the most memorable race for me was the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens shares his favorite Breeders' Cup memories, talks about the hardest Breeders' Cup races to win, and fills us in on his roster of runners as he returns from a seven-year absence.
Ouija Board is one of only a dozen to achieve multiple Breeders' Cup victories. The brilliant mare personifies everything we love about the sport of racing.
No Breeders' Cup race stirred the emotions of Americans quite like the 2001 Classic.
Being a tried-and-true Californian in the vast world of horse racing, Tiznow will always be "our" horse, the champion from central California.
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas became the oldest trainer, at 77, to saddle a winner at the Breeders' Cup when he sent Hightail to an upset victory in the 2012 Juvenile Sprint; at 27, Craig Dollase won the 1998 Sprint with Reraise.
Oddly enough events conspired to prevent me from watching live one of my best Breeders' Cup wagers. Instead, the welcomed news of Anees' victory arrived via a friend's phone call to the Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette news room.
Steve Haskin picks his top 10 Breeders' Cup races from 1994 through 2003.
Trainer Michael Dickinson pulls off a stunner in 1998, winning the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) with Da Hoss, who was making just his second start in two years.
While his riding career was winding down by the time the Breeders' Cup launched in 1984, jockey Bill Shoemaker still managed to stamp the event when he delivered a perfectly timed ride aboard Ferdinand in the 1987 Classic.
The key to making anyone who is unfamiliar with horse racing "get it" -- assuming you can't take them to an actual racetrack -- is showing them a great race.
Sometimes you marvel at a racehorse's performance, sometimes you shake your head, and sometimes you do both.
During the first 29 renewals of the World Championships, the Distaff (aka the Ladies' Classic from 2008-'12) has produced five of the 11 largest margins of victory in Breeders' Cup history.
Reliving the brilliance of champion Gilded Time in the 1992 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I).
A background in foreign pedigrees and careful study of previous weight assignments helped Anne Eberhardt Keogh choose Sheikh Albadou in the 1991 Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I).
The most expensive Breeders' Cup World Championship winners as determined by their auction prices were sold as yearlings.
Personal Ensign, who was seriously injured during her 2-year-old season, came back to win the 1988 Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) and remain undefeated in 13 starts.
The 1989 Breeders' Cup Classic was a West Coast vs. East Coast showdown.
Which Breeders' Cup Distaff was the best? Vote Now!
Steve Haskin's top 10 Breeders' Cup World Championship races by decade.
The inaugural Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) at Hollywood Park Nov. 10, 1984, had more drama than even John Gaines could have envisioned when he conceived the World Championships.
Which Breeders' Cup Classic was the best? Vote Now!
BloodHorse.com introduces a month-long series of Breeders' Cup stories including personal tales, polls, video, and photos in honor of the world championships' 30th anniversary.
