Cup objects to importing signal

Breeders' Cup Ltd. has raised objections to a California law that will require the organization to import the signal from Bay Meadows Race Course during the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships card on Oct. 25 at Santa Anita.

The law requires the major racetracks in Southern California and northern California to trade each other's live racing card on any day live racing is held. Breeders' Cup, however, has a longstanding policy to prohibit simulcast races at the host site on the championship day.

The California Horse Racing Board is not in a position to provide a waiver to the law, according to a board spokesman, Mike Marten, and Breeders' Cup did not request a change to the law at a meeting of the board on Thursday at Fairplex Park.

Ken Kirchner, the director of simulcasting for Breeders' Cup, said that he hoped to get around the law on a one-time basis, but he acknowledged that Breeders' Cup had few options.

"We do not want to take any signals and, frankly, I'm not happy with having to share the day with Bay Meadows," Kirchner said. "But if that's the case, we'll live with it."