Breeders Cup contingency plan.

Breeders' Cup Churchill Downs contingency plan

USA: Kentucky legislators have approved proposals that could enable the Breeders' Cup to make an emergency return to Churchill Downs this year if financial problems besetting host venue Santa Anita's parent company Magna interfere.

The event is due to be held at the California track for the second year in succession on November 6-7.

However, Magna Entertainment is involved in bankruptcy proceedings - hence the Kentucky contingency plan, revealed in the respected US online journal, the Paulick Report.

Breeders' Cup president Greg Avioli is on record saying that Magna's problems should not affect the event but Kentucky Derby venue Churchill Downs, host site in 2010, offers a useful back-up.

Paulick reported that on Friday the Kentucky state senate amended an economic bill passed earlier during its current session "to include several incentives, including a pari-mutuel excise tax credit" submitted by Republican senator Damon Thayer on the basis the Breeders' Cup returns to Kentucky at least twice between 2009 and 2012.

Churchill Downs has hosted the Breeders' Cup six times - more than any other track - while nearby Keeneland, in Lexington, is also looking at expanding its facility to become a potential Cup venue.

That would please Barry Irwin, I imagine! And probably a bunch of other folks, too.