The Breeders’ Cup announced today the launch of its $500K Pay Day promotion that will be conducted in partnership with Aqueduct Racetrack, the Belmont Café Simulcast Center, and sixteen other racetracks across the country and culminating on Breeders’ Cup Saturday, November 5.

The new digital initiative provides all registered fans with a mystery “voucher” worth at least $2, with some worth as much as $5 to $500, and one lucky fan randomly assigned a $500,000 voucher. Contestants will receive their digital voucher via email after registering online and must take the voucher to Aqueduct Racetrack or the Belmont Café on November 5 to find out what it is worth.

Registration for the promotion will start today, Wednesday, October 19, and remain open for the next two weeks, closing Wednesday, November 2 at 11:59 p.m. ET, allowing all fans near Aqueduct Racetrack and the Belmont Café the opportunity to sign up online. Fans can register at http://nyra.breederscup.com/?src=BEL001

“We’re excited to work with our track partners to offer racing fans across the country another reason to head out to their local track on Breeders’ Cup Saturday,” said Peter Rotondo, Breeders’ Cup Vice President of Media & Entertainment. “Additionally, by introducing a digital program we’re able to reach more fans through modern marketing platforms, such as social media, and at the same time help our partner tracks increase their online offerings.”

The sixteen other participating tracks are: Canterbury Park (MN), Charles Town Races (WV), Emerald Downs (WA), Gulfstream Park (FL), Hollywood Park (CA), Keeneland (KY), Laurel Park (MD), Meadowlands Racetrack (NJ), Monmouth Park (NJ), Penn National (PA), Pimlico Race Course (MD), Santa Anita (CA), Saratoga Raceway (NY), Suffolk Downs (MA) and Sunland Park (NM).

“We are thrilled to partner with the Breeders’ Cup to offer this exciting promotion at Aqueduct and the Belmont Café,” said NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward. “In addition to simulcast wagering on the tremendous Breeders’ Cup Saturday card and live wagering on Aqueduct’s races, providing our on-track registered customers a guaranteed $2 voucher and the chance to win $500,000 will make for an incredible day of racing.”

For more information, please visit: http://nyra.breederscup.com/?src=BEL001

About The New York Racing Association, Inc.

Founded in 1955, and franchised to run thoroughbred racing at New York’s three major tracks through 2033, NYRA boasts a lineage that actually stretches back almost 150 years. NYRA tracks are the cornerstone of the state’s thoroughbred business which contributes more than $2 billion annually to New York State’s urban, suburban and rural economy. In 2009, more than 1.6 million people attended the live races at NYRA tracks. Factoring nationwide off-track wagering, the average daily betting handle on NYRA races alone totals more than $9.3 million every race day. NYRA has a vast network of websites, including www.nyra.com, www.belmontstakes.com, and www.nyragroupsales.com. You can also follow NYRA on social media platforms Facebook, Flickr, Tumblr, Twitter, and YouTube.

About Breeders’ Cup
The Breeders’ Cup administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships.  The Breeders’ Cup also administers the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. Total purses for this year’s two-day event at Churchill Downs, Nov. 4-5, are $26 million. The 2010 Breeders’ Cup delivered nearly $140 million in winning wagers to fans at betting locations around the globe. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup Web site, www.breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media platforms, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.