The Breeders' Cup will allow two horses to be entered as also-eligibles in its 14 races for the first time this year, the organization announced on Friday.
The Breeders' Cup had previously closed races at the time of entry, typically on the Wednesday prior to the race. Under the new policy, two horses will be designated as also-eligibles at entry time and may move into a race as late as 7 a.m. on the Friday of the two-day event if there are any defections.
Eleven of the 14 Breeders' Cup races are limited to 14 horses. Three races – the Dirt Mile, the Juvenile Fillies Turf, and the Juvenile Turf – are limited to 12 horses.
The Breeders' Cup this year will be held at Santa Anita Park in Southern California on Oct. 24-25. Entries will be taken on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
Preference for also-eligibles will be determined by the prerace rankings established by the Breeders' Cup through a points-based system and the judgment of a panel of racing officials.
The first of three pools of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager begins its three-day run on Friday and the bet's opening scenario is very similar to each of its opening pools since the wager was created in 1999.
It's first time that Classic will be broadcast in primetime on Nov. 3.
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