THE Breeders’ Cup and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, which promotes Ireland as a leading source for the production and sale of quality thoroughbreds worldwide, have been named as official partners for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

The Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 13 Grade 1 races with prize money and awards totalling more than US$28 million, will be held for the first time, at the Del Mar racetrack near San Diego, California, on November 3rd-4th.

As part of the agreement, Irish Thoroughbred Marketing will have the presenting rights to the Horsemen’s Enclosure at this year’s Breeders’ Cup. The Horsemen’s Enclosure will be a private lounge adjacent to the walking ring where horsemen and guests from around the world gather before the World Championships races.

Irish Thoroughbred Marketing will also be granted signage, branding and digital promotional opportunities at this year’s meeting, and will have access to unique Breeders’ Cup content, such as Breeders’ Cup footage, marks and images for advertising and promotional use.

“We are very pleased to enter this first-time partnership with Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, representing a nation that has been so prominent and successful in the Breeders’ Cup since our inception,” said Craig Fravel, Breeders’ Cup President and CEO. “One of the core principles of the Breeders’ Cup, which we share with Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, is to expand the global reach in the promotion and excellence of international racing. We are excited to begin a partnership with Irish Thoroughbred Marketing to further expand and enhance those goals.”

Horses based in Ireland have made a total of 275 starts in the Breeders’ Cup, which has resulted in 28 Breeders’ Cup winners, the most of any nation outside the United States.

“Irish bred, Irish owned and Irish trained horses have had a long and very successful involvement in the Breeders’ Cup, one of the greatest racing festivals in the world,” said Charles O’Neill, CEO of Irish Thoroughbred Marketing. “Most recently, at last year’s championship, Highland Reel in the Breeders’ Cup Turf and Obviously in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint flew the flag for the Irish thoroughbred. This partnership between Irish Thoroughbred Marketing and the Breeders’ Cup will give ITM a unique opportunity to thank the many international owners and trainers who have supported the Irish thoroughbred industry for so long and with so much success, and enable us to promote our industry to a worldwide, captive audience.”