At its meeting Thursday, the Breeders’ Cup Board of Directors voted Tom Ludt,
president of the Thoroughbred racing and breeding operation Vinery Ltd., as
Board Chairman and moved toward the elimination of race-day medications in the
Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
Ludt succeeds William S. (Bill) Farish Jr., who stepped down at Thursday’s
meeting after serving a five-year term. Ludt, who has been a director since
2009, will serve a two-year term. Farish will remain on the board as a director.
“Being elected chairman of the Breeders’ Cup is both a great honor and
significant responsibility,” Ludt said. “I believe the innovations of the last
few years, including our expansion to two days and 14 races, and our continued
focus on the international aspects of our competition, will serve the Breeders’
Cup well as we strive to find new ways to strengthen the organization and our
game as a whole.”
“I have enjoyed my five years as chairman,” Farish said, “overseeing a period
of remarkable growth and expansion of the Breeders’ Cup program on a global
scale. It has been a privilege to serve our nominators, whose continued funding
and support have been invaluable to our organization and our industry.”
The Breeders’ Cup, which has the highest standards of security, veterinary
review and pre- and post-race testing in U.S. racing, also endorsed in principle
the recently announced recommendation of the Association of Racing Commissioners
International (RCI) to eliminate the use of race-day medications in North
American racing and decided to appoint a sub-committee with the objective of
developing a plan and a timetable for the elimination of race-day medication in
the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
In other actions, the board extended the provision of the $400 nomination
discount for North American nominators. North American foals by Breeders’ Cup
nominated stallions may be nominated online at the discounted price until
midnight August 1.
The nomination price will be $500 per foal from August 1 through October 15,
and $1,500 for late nominations which will conclude on December 15.