10 Questions with a Breeders’ Cup® Experiences Sales Representative
The Breeders’ Cup® is one of the world’s most popular Thoroughbred racing events and is likely on any horse racing fanatics’ bucket list. However, many people never attend because they get caught up and overwhelmed with the planning process.
Breeders’ Cup Experiences offers several all-inclusive Official Ticket Packages for an unforgettable Breeders’ Cup that make it easy to experience it all. Our knowledgeable sales representatives are experts in helping clients plan an exceptional weekend.
We sat down with one of our in-house Breeders’ Cup Experiences experts, Loren Hebel-Osborne, to hear about her experience at the event, how she helps clients plan the best Breeders’ Cup weekend and other tips!
1. Tell us about yourself!
Loren Hebel-Osborne with Pat Day
LHO: I am a five-generation Kentuckian and my mother rode American Saddlebred horses with me while I was still in the womb – so I was truly born with horses and I haven’t known a time in my life without horses in it.
I have ridden several disciplines, live on and co-manage Deerfield Farm with my husband of 23 years and Speaker of the KY House of Representatives, David Osborne. I breed, own and race thoroughbreds and my avocation and vocation are uniquely intertwined for decades now.
I’ve worked in almost every area of the sport of Thoroughbred racing including media coverage, sponsorship management, corporate hospitality and now, sales.
While I’ve logged my 10,000 hours, I am still a student of horses and I frequently lecture on physicality handicapping; using techniques to isolate horse body language cues as performance betting strategy.
2. How long have you been a Breeders’ Cup Experiences Sales Representative?
LHO: I was part of the development team during the program’s inception and creation in 2013.
3. How many times have you attended the Breeders’ Cup?
LHO: It’s really easier for me to tell you the ones haven’t attended!
I attended the inaugural running at Hollywood Park in 1984 then missed being there live from 1985-87 as I was in college. But after that, I have attended every Breeders’ Cup except for 2001 at Belmont Park where I happily avoided freezing cold weather that one year.
Please note, though – I have never missed watching nor betting on the Breeders’ Cup!
4. What is your favorite part of Breeders’ Cup weekend? Why?
LHO: That’s easy – the quality of the horses – they are all champions.
They are the best of the best in their division - the top 1 percent of all Thoroughbreds racing. To see that many champion horses in one spot is just fantastic!
5. Do you have a favorite story or memory from the event?
LHO: No doubt, the best was my own horse Majestic Harbor competing in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2014.
The moments in the “Purple Paddock” (paddock wrapped in purple signage emblazoned with Breeders’ Cup logos) before the race were surreal and palpable. Many happy tears of pride - that he was ours and we had this opportunity - were overwhelming.
Our final race placing that year was not great, but the memory is still strong and our spot in the starting gate of Breeders’ Cup history that we earned can never be taken away. That will only be topped by doing it again with another one of my own babies and securing a win – a dream to be sure!
Other than my own horse, the memory of watching American Pharoah win the Grand Slam in the Classic at Keeneland can still evoke a large lump in my throat.
Also, watching Zenyatta do her war dance in the paddock and in the warmup before crushing the Breeders’ Cup Classic male foes at Santa Anita was “UN-BE-lievable” as the famous race call still replays today!
6. How do you help guide clients to choose the right Breeders’ Cup Ticket Package for them?
LHO: Like most things in life, location, location… and price. In my opinion, there are few bad seats at a racetrack as the scale is measured in 1/8ths of a mile – not yards nor feet. Add to that racetracks have tv screens everywhere to enhance your live views.
I was quoted once in USA TODAY re Majestic Harbor racing that “I’d sit in a shoe box in the parking lot to watch my horse run,” so you know what kind of fan I am ..avid?
The best view is still from the back of a horse, so my goal is really for folks to come be there for live sports and battle!
I know our guests will have a great experience no matter where they sit at the track. The horses always put on a great show that never disappoints!
7. What is something that everyone should know before attending the Breeders’ Cup?
LHO: If you’re not a regular race fan, I definitely suggest that customers take a look at the pre-entries and spend a little time on the website getting to know some of the contenders – both humans and horses.
It would be like going to the Academy Awards and not having seen any of the movies! It means more during the ceremony when the winners are revealed if you have a little background about the movie synopsis, reviews and the actors/actresses who are in it. Even if you just know the name of the favorite horses of each division so you can follow them along and put a small wager on them.
The favorites get their titles honestly – especially among so many champions. You will often see some incredible performances in the Breeders’ Cup Championship Series races that lead up to the final championships on Breeders’ Cup weekend.
8. What do you think is the greatest benefit of attending the race with Breeders’ Cup Experiences?
LHO: Having had a horse compete in the Breeders’ Cup myself, I know that our customers are often getting the same or very close to the same experience as a horse owner – believe me, we’ve done that on purpose and we want you to be immersed!
Access to great seating, premium hospitality lounges and special paddock access is all included in a Ticket Package from Breeders’ Cup Experiences. Special memories are created and hopefully seared in as lifelong “story-telling” experiences!
9. What makes Breeders’ Cup different from other horse races?
LHO: The Breeders’ Cup showcases full fields of champion horses in every division. While there are favorites among the champions, any horse can win, and you can get great betting odds on those horses.
Because these are such special horses, every single horse has its own desire to win. They have already amassed a great career, and all established themselves as best of the breed, so you never know who’s “best day” it is going to be!
10. Is there anything else we should know about Breeders’ Cup Experiences?
LHO: Like some other championship sporting events (Super Bowl, Olympics, NBA Finals, etc.), the Breeders’ Cup moves each year to a new prominent track and city/state location.
The most well-known classic races of the Triple Crown – The Kentucky Derby®, Preakness and Belmont Stakes® – all stay at the same track locations. Since the Breeders’ Cup moves locations every year, every track gives fans a unique and different experience.
Racing is always changing with new a crop of horses, owners and jockeys- so the event gets an added freshness every year being held at different tracks.
And, don’t miss this event – it should be on everyone’s bucket list!
Work with a Breeders’ Cup Experiences Representative
Breeders’ Cup Experiences offers Official Ticket Packages including race tickets, hospitality access and exclusive experiences only available to our guests.
Whether you need guidance when choosing a Ticket Package or need help planning your entire weekend, our team is here to help make your Breeders’ Cup experience incredible!
Contact us to start working with a sales representative today.
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