2019 Breeders' Cup

A maximum of 14 horses (12 in the Turf Sprint and Juvenile Turf Sprint) are allowed to start in each race. Horses can automatically qualify by winning one of the designated races in the Breeders' Cup Challenge series, which provide "Win and You're In" berths in a specified division of the Breeders' Cup. Other pre-entries are ranked by a points system and the judgement of a panel of experts.[1]

On October 21, pre-entries to the event were submitted for 188 horses, including 47 from overseas. During this stage, the connections of the horses indicated their intention to enter a specific race, and could also list a possible alternate. After assessing the potential competition, the connections made their final decision and paid the necessary entry fees on October 28. At that time, the field for each race was set, barring injury or other unforeseen circumstances.[2][3]

Fifty of the pre-entries qualified automatically via the Breeders' Cup Challenge series. These included the two leading candidates for the Classic, McKinzie (Whitney Handicap) and Code of Honor (Jockey Club Gold Cup). Other highly ranked qualifiers included Bricks and Mortar (Arlington Million) in the Breeders' Cup Turf and Midnight Bisou (Ogden Phipps, Personal Ensign Stakes) in the Distaff, both undefeated in 2019 and considered leading candidates for Horse of the Year.[4]

On August 17, 2018, the Breeders' Cup organization announced that Santa Anita Park would host the event for a record tenth time. The track committed to over $5 million in improvements, including new suites on the upper level of the grandstand.[5] The selection became controversial however when 30 horses died during Santa Anita's 2018-9 winter-spring meeting, raising concerns over the safety of the equine athletes. The management of Santa Anita undertook several changes, including extensive testing of the track surface and changes regarding pre-race medication.[6][7] "It's been an area of concern," said Chad Brown, Eclipse Award-winning trainer. "But ultimately I didn't avoid running any horses in the Breeders' Cup due to this issue. I did have some questions from clients, but I feel confident Santa Anita management will make the track safe, and I agree with all the safeguards their management has put in."[3]

Out-of-competition testing for the event was also extensive, including the use of hair samples for the first time.[8]

Extensive wildfires in California, including the Getty Fire in western Los Angeles, did not affect the Breeders' Cup as they were all downwind from the facility.[8]

Santa Anita took several actions to increase the safety of horses and jockeys, such as closing the downhill turf course after several horses had been injured while crossing over the main track.[9] This meant that the turf sprint races were run at 5 furlongs instead of the normal 6+1⁄2 furlongs. They also increased the number of veterinarians in attendance, which resulted in several scratches before racing began. Despite the precautions, Mongolian Groom was seriously injured during the running of the Classic and had to be euthanized.[10][11]

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. won the Shoemaker Award as the leading jockey during the event. He rode four winners, including Bricks and Mortar in the $4 million Turf and Vino Rosso in the $6 million Classic.[12]

Trainer Chad Brown was the leading trainer of the event with three winners: Bricks and Mortar in the Turf, Uni in the Mile and Structor in the Juvenile Turf. This gave Brown 15 lifetime wins at the Breeders' Cup, tying him for second with Bob Baffert. D. Wayne Lukas has the all-time lead with 20 wins.[11]