The Breeders’ Cup announced a series of safety and security initiatives extending through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series on June 1.

A prominent element of the program, developed in consultation with tracks participating in the challenge series, will focus on extending the Breeders’ Cup out-of-competition drug testing program. Working in tandem with Mary Scollay, DVM, and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, as well as racing commissions in host jurisdictions, horses nominated to challenge races will be subject to random out of competition testing while winners will be subject to such testing at any time prior to the Breeders’ Cup Championships, taking place at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, Oct. 30-31.

The Breeders’ Cup Challenge program in North America consists of 50 graded stakes events hosted in seven jurisdictions and 10 racetracks. Winners of challenge races earn automatic starting positions into a corresponding race of the World Championships