Churchill Downs: 2006 hosts could step in if Santa Anita's troubles go on

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker/ racingpostpix.com  

Breeders' Cup could move to Churchill Downs

USA: Breeders' Cup Ltd has given intended 2009 host Santa Anita an ultimatum to either put the bankruptcy issues  surrounding its owner Magna Entertainment Corporation (MEC) behind it by the end of April or it will lose the event to Churchill Downs.

"It needs to get it done in the very near future,"  said Cup president Greg Avioli.

"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."

Santa Anita: under threat

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker 

Santa Anita is actually leased to the Oak Tree Racing Association at the time the Cup events are run and Sherwood Chillingsworth, executive director of Oak Tree, said: "Everyone's agreed to it [the Cup at Oak Tree Santa Anita], and no one's opposed to it.

"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."

The bankruptcy case for MEC is currently in a Delaware court with a judge who is confronted with many complex issues in  the case.

Meanwhile, Breeders' Cup attorneys and creditors of MEC have for some time been working on an agreement that would protect the contract for the 2009 meeting even if ownership of Santa Anita were to be transferred to another partry. If reached the agreement still would require the approval of the Delaware court.

Ron Charles, president of Santa Anita, said of a possible agreement: "I think we're really close and I think everyone  including Breeders' Cup has a comfort level with it. I'm hoping we can put this to bed."

Churchill Downs has hosted the Breeders' Cup events  six times to date and is scheduled to host the event next year as well.