By Jennifer Morrison

One of the biggest events to take place at Woodbine Racetrack since it opened in 1956 was the hosting of the Breeders’ Cup championship races in 1996. On that October afternoon, the world’s best horses and horsepeople came to the Rexdale, Ontario track. Racing fans across Canada, particularly in Ontario, will get that similar feeling for the Breeders’ Cup again this fall when the Win and You’re In Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series lands at Woodbine on three separate racing days.

The Win and You’re In racing series is the most significant change to qualifying to race in the Breeders’ Cup since the event’s inception in 1984. Previously, Breeders’ Cup selection was based on points earned in races throughout the year and via selection made by an international committee of racing experts.

Now, with Win and You’re In, the winners of each of the 52 Challenge stakes around the world (six at Woodbine) will automatically earn a start in the corresponding Breeders’ Cup race without having to go through the field selection process.

The Breeders’ Cup, now a two-day celebration of the world’s best racehorses, is 14 races worth a total of $25-million held on October 24th and 25th. This year’s Cup races, the 25th edition of the world championships, will be held at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

Woodbine is among six tracks in North America along with Ascot racecourse in England involved in the second year of the Win and You’re In Challenge races. Joining up some of its important stakes races –all on the famed E.P. Taylor turf course – in the program has meant a lot of juggling of the stakes schedule for the Woodbine racing department.

The Win and You’re In races at Woodbine this fall are as follows: the $1-million Woodbine Mile on September 7th, the $150,000 Natalma Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on September 14th and the big day for the track is Breeders’ Cup Challenge day, October 4th featuring the $2-million Canadian International, the $1-million E.P. Taylor Stakes plus the Summer Stakes and Nearctic Stakes. “We are trying to get another round of exposure by getting together with the Breeders’ Cup,” said Nick Eaves, Woodbine Entertainment’s President & C.O.O.. “It is a brand name that so many people know. The Breeders’ Cup was one of the most memorable moments in Woodbine history.”

Eaves said another top priority for Woodbine was bolstering the track’s presence in the American simulcast markets not just on Breeders’ Cup Challenge day, but days thereafter. “We are anticipating a positive simulcast outcome,” said Eaves. “We look forward to attracting great horses on those days, in particular on October 4th, not just for the core customers, but for new customers who can see the big names and follow them on to the Breeders’ Cup.”

This year’s Challenge day races will be televised in the United States by ESPN in a two-hour broadcast that will also be aired in Canada by The Score cable channel.

So who can fans look forward to seeing when Win and You’re In comes to town?

Certainly, the Woodbine Mile is one of the most important Grade 1 races at one-mile on the grass in the world and often it has provided the Breeders’ Cup Mile with major contenders.

2007 Breeders’ Cup Winner Kip Deville finishing second in the 2007 Woodbine Mile

Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Kip Deville was second in the Woodbine Mile and that grey colt has Woodbine on his schedule again. Kip Deville won the July 13th Poker Handicap at Belmont Park as his last prep before heading up to Woodbine again for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr.. Other top class grass milers to watch for in the Woodbine Mile include: Out of Control and Daytona, from California and the tractable Einstein from New York.

Woodbine hopefuls for the Mile include the lightly raced grass stars Rahy’s Attorney, winner of the Connaught Cup in May and Charles Fipke’s Society’s Chairman. The Natalma and Summer Stakes are for 2-year-olds, fillies and colts respectively at one mile on the grass and will sort out some contenders for the Juvenile Filly Turf and Juvenile Turf.

The top 2-year-old colt at Woodbine, Southern Exchange, was unbeaten in three races as of July 26th but had yet to attempt the turf. The Nearctic Stakes, at six furlongs, will help set horses up for the first running of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

The Highlander Stakes winner, Hero’s Reward, is an American-based speedball who won the Nearctic Stakes at Woodbine last year and was named Maryland’s 2007 Horse of the Year. He is being pointed to this year’s Nearctic by trainer Dale Romans where he could meet Woodbine Turf Sprint hopefuls - The Great Caruso, Wollemi Pine and Mulmur.

The E.P. Taylor is at 1-1/4 miles on the grass for fillies and mares and in 2008, this division is extremely competitive. Grade 1 winner Diamond Diva, multiple Grade 2 winner Mauralakana plus other graded stakes winners Ventura and Precious Kitten are names to tab for possible trips to Woodbine.

Last year’s E.P. Taylor Stakes was won by Mrs. Lindsay over Canada’s eventual Horse of the Year Sealy Hill. And the biggest event of them all, the Canadian International, is the 1-1/2 mile gem of the Woodbine stakes schedule and could attract some of the favourites for the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

The 2006 Turf winner, Red Rocks, who won this year’s Man o’ War Stakes defeating the great Curlin and 2004 Turf winner Better Talk Now, is as good as ever.

Jambalaya, with Robby Albarado up, wins the 2007 Arlington Million

From Woodbine, locals are hoping to see the return of 2007 Grade 1 winners Jambalaya and champion Sky Conqueror plus this year’s King Edward Breeders’ Cup winner Royal Oath. The average field size for the six Woodbine stakes races mentioned in 2007 was over 10 horses per race.

The average win payoff for those races was over $17.00. That ensures that not only will fans get to see great horses, trainers and jockeys but each race will present a unique handicapping puzzle, good payoffs and some hints as to what is to come when the champions get together for the Breeders’ Cup.