[1] Breeders’ Cup announced its $500K Pay Day promotion on Wednesday, October 19. The promotion is offered through 17 participating racetracks across the country offering simulcast wagering on the Breeders’ Cup. The Breeders’ Cup will be held November 4 and 5 at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
Beginning Wednesday, October 19, through Wednesday, November 2, race fans can register [3] to receive a mystery voucher worth at least $2, with some vouchers worth amounts from $5 to $500. One registered contestant will receive a voucher worth $500,000. Registered contestants will receive their digital voucher via email and must take the voucher to their participating track on Saturday, November 5, to learn the voucher’s value and collect (or wager) their prize.
“We’re excited to work with our track partners to offer racing fans across the country another reason to head out to their local track on Breeders’ Cup Saturday,” said Peter Rotondo, Breeders’ Cup Vice President of Media & Entertainment. “Additionally, by introducing a digital program we’re able to reach more fans through modern marketing platforms, such as social media, and at the same time help our partner tracks increase their online offerings.”
The 17 participating tracks are Aqueduct Racetrack (NY), Belmont Park (NY), Canterbury Park (MN), Charles Town Races (WV), Emerald Downs (WA), Gulfstream Park (FL), Hollywood Park (CA), Keeneland (KY), Laurel Park (MD), Meadowlands Racetrack (NJ), Monmouth Park (NJ), Penn National (PA), Pimlico Race Course (MD), Santa Anita (CA), Saratoga Raceway (NY), Suffolk Downs (MA) and Sunland Park (NM).
You may have noticed that Churchill Downs is not one of the 17 participating racetracks. According to Breeders’ Cup spokesman Jim Gluckson, the intent of the promotion is to bring race fans, that are outside of Louisville and cannot make it to the Breeders’ Cup Championships at Churchill Downs, to their local tracks to watch and wager on the Breeders’ Cup. This promotion is aimed at simulcast wagering on the Breeders’ Cup, not on-track wagering. The promotion encourages all race fans from across the country to participate in the sport’s championships.
Louisville residents need not feel slighted. Louisville is host to horse racing's world championships for the second year in a row. Louisville race fans have the opportunity to see the top horses currently in racing right in their backyard for a lot less money out-of-pocket that you'd pay for a general admission ticket to the Kentucky Derby.
For as little as $10 [4], you can come out to Churchill Downs on Friday, November 4 for a host of Breeders’ Cup promotions held on-track. In addition to 10 races (six of which are Breeders’ Cup Championships), Friday’s events include: the "Fascinator and Fedora" Fashion Event presented by the Voice Tribune in which the two fans judged to have the most fashionable fedora or fascinator will win $5,000; the $10,000 Fan Friday Sweepstakes presented by WHAS11 in which fans can enter to win the opportunity to place a $10,000 win wager on the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic; and the Championship Friday Free Ride Sweepstakes in which any college student in attendance has the chance to win a $10,000 college scholarship to their school.
If you’re still feeling slighted, register for a Saturday voucher and head over to Lexington to cash it at Keeneland. Reserved seats [5] in Keeneland’s dining rooms on Breeders’ Cup weekend are still available.
Photo: Courtesy Breeders’ Cup