United States racing officials are considering reducing the number of races held on one of the sport's flagship days.The lucrative Breeders' Cup program currently boasts 14 races but officials believe the number of lead-up events required for qualification could be making the series too hard to follow.They have requested a strategic plan be drawn up to look at this and other issues."The concern is, how do we lead into 14 different races in 14 different divisions," Greg Avioli, chief executive of
United States racing officials are considering reducing the number of races held on one of the sport's flagship days.
The lucrative Breeders' Cup program currently boasts 14 races but officials believe the number of lead-up events required for qualification could be making the series too hard to follow.
They have requested a strategic plan be drawn up to look at this and other issues.
"The concern is, how do we lead into 14 different races in 14 different divisions," Greg Avioli, chief executive of the Breeders' Cup, told the Daily Racing Form.
"It's very difficult to do with 14 divisions."
Work began on the strategic plan in January and Field said the Breeders' Cup's new mission was to become "the most prestigious and popular competition in world racing."
"The important thing is that the event in November is regarded as the event [horse owners] want to come to and there is nothing more that they would treasure than to win a race there," Field said.
The strategic planning committee has another six months to work on the plan before taking it to the board for approval.
Breeders' Cup officials also said there would be a $6 million deficit this year, raising questions over whether the current prizemoney levels of more than $US30 million ($A38.28 million) could be maintained.