California lottery tied to Cup

A lottery tied to the Breeders' Cup Classic, with a first prize of $50,000, was announced on Tuesday by officials of the Breeders' Cup, the California Lottery, and the Oak Tree Racing Association, which will play host to this year's Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita.

Fans who purchase $5 worth of Hot Spot scratch-off tickets beginning on Oct. 16 and through the day of the Classic, Nov. 7, will receive a quick-pick number that will correspond to a horse entered in the Classic, according to Allen Gutterman, the vice president of marketing at Santa Anita. Gutterman said fans will then go to the lottery's website, , to match their quick-pick number with their horse in the Classic.

All players who have matched the winning horse in the Classic will then be entered in a drawing for $230,000 in prize money. In addition to the $50,000 first prize, five other players will receive $25,000 each. There are smaller prizes down to $50.

Tickets will be available at racetracks and simulcast centers in California, as well as lottery retail outlets, like supermarkets and gas stations.

"The exposure this brings to horse racing and to the Breeders' Cup is just tremendous," Gutterman said. "I think this is going to expose a lot of new people to the sport in a very positive way."

Gutterman said retail outlets selling lottery tickets to the Classic will have Breeders' Cup signage.