In the early 20th century, the coalescence of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes into the American Triple Crown changed how we regard 3-year-olds year in and year out. In the 1980s, John Gaines proposed a new event for racing, a one-day, seven-race card that would serve as an end-of-the-year championship. The goal was to attract horses from not just the United States, but Canada, Europe, Japan, and beyond.

During this year’s NBC Breeders’ Cup World Championship coverage, reporter Kenny Rice reminisced about his favorite Breeders’ Cup Classic win in 2013. “Ten years ago, there was a moment that was right out of Hollywood. The trainer was little known. Her name Kathy Ritvo. She was a heart transplant recipient. The jockey was known. He was a Hall of Famer, but he had bad knees and he had been retired for seven years. But Gary Stevens came back and got in the saddle. And the horse? Mucho Macho Man!”