(October 14, 2004)- Pre-entered fields for all eight Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships races will be announced on Wednesday, October 20, at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas. The 21st Breeders' Cup, with purses and awards totaling a minimum of $14 million, will be run on Saturday, October 30 at Lone Star Park.

Breeders' Cup Pre-Entry is the first stage of a two-stage entry process for all owners intending to run a horse in a Breeders' Cup race. At the Pre-Entry stage, the first payment to compete in the Breeders' Cup is due on Monday, October 18 by 12 p.m. Central Time. The second payment is due on Wednesday, October 27, when entries are taken for all eight Breeders' Cup races. Owners have the option of Pre-Entering a horse in a maximum of two Breeders' Cup races.

"The Pre-Entry stage gives owners an opportunity to see where their horse stands in a particular field," said Pam Blatz-Murff, senior vice president of Breeders' Cup Operations. "There has been a great deal of interest from owners to run in this year's event, and we expect at least three of the races to be oversubscribed. The period after Pre-Entry gives the owners a realistic view of their horse's chances of making the main body of the field by entry time."

Breeders' Cup fields are limited to 14 horses. Should a race have more than 14 horses pre-entered, the race is considered "oversubscribed." The Breeders' Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel - consisting of seven North American and European racing experts - convenes on Tuesday, October 19 to set fields for the oversubscribed races. In such cases, the seven horses who have earned the highest number of Breeders' Cup Points receive an automatic berth in that Breeders' Cup race. Breeders' Cup Points are earned by finishing first, second or third in American graded stakes races held since January 1. The remaining seven horses are selected by the Panel to fill out the rest of the 14-horse field, with consideration given to horses' positions in the World Thoroughbred Rankings. A preference list is then established beginning with the No. 15 rated horse. Prior to the October 27 Entry deadline, horses will fill vacancies, in order of preference, should there be a defection from the main body of the field. (Latest Breeders' Cup Point standings are available at www.ntra.com)

Among the horses expected to be Pre-Entered for the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge are: Diamond A Racing's PLEASANTLY PERFECT, defending Breeders' Cup Classic Champion; Mary Lou Whitney Stable's BIRDSTONE, Belmont and Travers Stakes winner; Stronach Stable's GHOSTZAPPER, winner of the Woodward and Iselin Breeders' Cup; Ken and Sarah Ramsey's ROSES IN MAY, Whitney Handicap and Kentucky Cup Classic winner; Sackatoga Stable's FUNNY CIDE, winner of The Jockey Club Gold Cup and 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes; and Mary and William Reed's PERFECT DRIFT, runner-up in the Whitney Handicap and Pacific Classic.

Allen Paulson Living Trust's six-year-old mare AZERI, the 2002 Horse of the Year and last year's Champion Older Female, may be pre-entered in both the Breeders' Cup Classic and the Breeders' Cup Distaff - Presented by Nextel.