  the breeders' cup world championships is an annual series of grade i thoroughbred horse races, operated by breeders' cup limited, a company formed in 1982. from its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. all sites have been in the united states, except in 1996, when the races were at the woodbine racetrack in canada. the attendance at the breeders' cup ranks fourth or fifth in north america and usually surpasses the attendance of all other stakes races. the attendance of the breeders' cup typically only trails the kentucky derby, the preakness stakes and the kentucky oaks (and in some years, the belmont stakes); for more information see american thoroughbred racing top attended events. with the addition of three new races for 2008, a total of $25.5 million was awarded over the two days, up from $23 million in 2007. each breeders' cup race awards to the winner a garland of flowers draped over the withers of the winning horse and four breeders' cup trophies presented to the connections of the winners. the breeders' cup grand national steeplechase is not operated by breeders' cup limited, but instead by the national steeplechase association, which has a licensing agreement to use the "breeders' cup" name. ==history== ===1980s-1990s: founding, early races=== the event was created as a year-end championship for north american thoroughbred racing, and also attracts top horses from other parts of the world, especially europe. the idea for the breeders' cup was proposed at the 1982 awards luncheon for the kentucky derby festival by pet food heir john r. gaines (1928â2005), a leading thoroughbred owner and breeder who wanted to clean up the sport's image. the races are operated by breeders' cup limited, a company formed in 1982. the first event was in 1984. from its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. all sites have been in the united states, except in 1996, when the races were at the woodbine racetrack in canada. ===2000-09: expansion=== thumb|left|the saddling paddock, decorated for the breeders' cup for the october 2008 world championsh
Breeders\'_Cup Horse_races_in_the_United_States Racing_series_for_horses Recurring_sporting_events_established_in_1984