The Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships are horse racing's biggest day of the year. Here are some books and videos to help you relive the past runnings or get ready for this year's running.
1. Thoroughbred Racing's Greatest Day
Toronto Sun sportswriter Perry Lefko's first book about the Breeders' Cup, "The Greatest Show on Turf" (see below), was released in 1996 and covered up through the 1995 running. Seven years later he is back with this update, featuring many more exciting stories about the new-dubbed World Thoroughbred Championships. If you are looking for a book with stories and info, this is the one you want.
2. Breeders' Cup: Thoroughbred Racing's Championship
A great history book by Jay Privman that is loaded with gorgeous large format photos from past runnings of the Breeders' Cup. Although it came out in 2000, it is still the best book for Breeders' Cup photos out there. If you are looking more for photos than stories, this is the book you want.
3. The Greatest Show on Turf
A History of the Breeders' Cup by Perry Lefko. This book came out in 1996 so is in bad need of updating, but is still a useful history of the first 12 years of the Breeders' Cup. Out of print but still available if you try.4. 2004 Breeders' Cup Preview DVD
This is a compilation of 80 key prep races leading up to the 2004 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. If you want to get an edge on handicapping the races, this will let you examine each race and competitor in detail.5. Best of the Breeders' Cup Video
This video has footage from the first 10 runnings of the Breeders' Cup including such champions as Personal Ensign and Sunday Silence. Contains the most exciting moments from all 70 races from 1984 to 1993.
6. Crushing the Cup
The Handicapper's Guide to Breeders' Cup by Jim Mazur and Peter Mallett. An essential tool for anyone trying to handicap the Breeders' Cup races. Also a good way for newer horseplayers to learn more about the use of angles and biases when handicapping a race. This is updated every year for each running with stats for that particular host track.7. Using Impact Values To Select Breeders' Cup Winners
American Turf Monthly columnist Stanley Caris presents this convenient volume on how to apply impact values to the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. Bettors looking for an added edge at Lone Star Park on September 30th can use Caris' angles to find hidden gems and possible longshot scores. Also updated anually, it comes with a worksheet to help you handicap the races and Caris' selections emailed to you right before the races.8. Cigar: America's Horse
Another nice book by Jay Privman with a history of the great champion Cigar who won consecutive 15 races in 1994-1996, including the Breeders' Cup Classic in 1995.9. Personal Ensign
A nice biography by Bill Heller of the undefeated champion filly who won the Breeders' Cup Distaff in 1988.10. Sunday Silence
A biography of the 1989 Breeders' Cup Classic winner by Ray Paulick. He is best known for his rivalry with Easy Goer where he came out the winner in 3 of their 4 meetings. He later went on to become the top sire in Japan before he passed away.