2009 BC to CD? Possibly...

[Suffolk Shippers]

2009 Breeders' Cup could move to Churchill
By Matt Hegarty

Breeders' Cup Ltd. has placed an April 30 deadline on resolving issues surrounding the bankruptcy of Magna Entertainment or it will move the 2009 event from Magna's Santa Anita Park on Nov. 6-7 to Churchill Downs in Louisville, officials involved in the ongoing process said Monday.

Attorneys representing the Breeders' Cup, Magna, and creditors of Magna have been working on a document for several weeks that would protect the current contract for the 2009 event regardless of any transfer or sale of Santa Anita, the officials said. The attorneys have agreed on the language of the document, the officials said, but the proposal still needs the approval of a Delaware bankruptcy court judge, who is juggling a handful of complex proposals and objections related to Magna's bankruptcy plans.

"Everyone's agreed to it, and no one's opposed to it," said Sherwood Chillingworth, the executive director of the Oak Tree Racing Association, the not-for-profit racing organization that holds the Breeders' Cup contract. "It's hard to believe that if you have every party to an issue on board with it, that it won't get done. But a bankruptcy court is a world unto itself."

Greg Avioli, the president of Breeders' Cup Ltd., said that the organization is confident the document will protect the Breeders' Cup, but he said that if the issue is not settled by the beginning of May, then the event will move to Churchill, which has been the host of six prior Breeders' Cup events and is scheduled to hold the 2010 event. A clause in the contract for the 2010 event designates Churchill as the backup site for 2009, Avioli said.

"It needs to get done in the very near future," Avioli said. "We can't get very far beyond where we are now. We have contracts, hotel rooms, travel plans, a ton of logistics that can't be done until we know for sure."

Magna Entertainment filed for bankruptcy on March 5. The company is currently seeking approval from a Delaware bankruptcy court to auction off its properties, including Santa Anita Park.

Twice in the past 10 years the Breeders' Cup has been relocated from Santa Anita Park, but in both prior cases, the event was moved well in advance of the event. In both cases, Santa Anita pulled out because of ongoing construction projects at the track initiated by Magna.

Ron Charles, the president of Santa Anita, said on Monday that he believes the matter will be resolved by the bankruptcy court on an expedited basis.

"I think we're really close, and I think everyone, including Breeders' Cup, has a comfort level with it," Charles said. "I'm hoping we can put this to bed."

http://www.drf.com/news/article/103108.html

Interesting news, although, not news since CD was always the back up. Wonder if Magna can figure something out by 4/30.

[South Beach Luv]

Arlington would be better

[slotdirt]

I'm sorry, there is someone out there whose name is really "Sherwood Chillingsworth?"

[VOL JACK]

Originally Posted by South Beach Luv

Arlington would be better

Kentucky Downs would be better than SA.
Who needs a dirt course???

[ARyan]

Originally Posted by VOL JACK

Kentucky Downs would be better than SA.
Who needs a dirt course???

I love Kentucky Downs.

[PPerfectfan]

Man, I want it to stay at S.A....for selfish reasons I will admit, but still! If its at S.A. then I get to be on the backside the whole week and may be able to snag me a few choice trinkets the BC gives the barns!!! CD is closer since I am in Louisiana, but I would rather make the trip to Calif and party with Honu!!!!

[Merlinsky]

I'm sure some horses were retired figuring they wouldn't want to contest a BC race on synthetic. Do you think they'd have kept Proud Spell around and just given her time to recuperate? I was trying to think of whose plans that might've affected if they knew for sure it was going to CD. I don't know that it will move though. Sounds like they're really working hard to keep it.

[zippyneedsawin]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

I'm sorry, there is someone out there whose name is really "Sherwood Chillingsworth?"

LOL! Dam.. that was going to be the name of my next kid! Maybe there's noone named Sherman Chillingsworth.