The 2008 Breeders Cup will card all five of its races for female horses on the first day of the 2-day event, Friday, October 24 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. This is the first time a major thoroughbred event in North America has focused an entire day on female horse racing. Purses on Friday amount to $8 million, more than doubling last year’s Breeders Cup Friday purses.

In its 25th running, the Breeders Cup now has a total purse of $25.5 million. There will be nine Breeders Cup races on Saturday, October 25, seven of which are open for both male and female thoroughbreds.

The Breeders Cup also announced that it has renamed the Breeders Cup Distaff to the Breeders Cup Ladies Classic. The Breeders Cup Ladies Classic will be the premier race on the Breeders Cup Friday program.