The 2007 Breeders’ Cup will be held at Monmouth Park, and with just two months left to go before the festivities commence, early nominations are already in for one of the most important events on the calendar.

There are eight Grade I races on the card, and each is limited to 14 horses. Should more than 14 horses be nominated, someone has to be turned away at the door. Officials used to rely on a simple plan; the seven horses that had accumulated the most points in United States graded stakes races were automatically approved. The remaining seven were picked by a panel.

Things are a little different this year. The winners of 24 key races (called “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Races”) are now automatically entered into their respective divisions. Then the usual picking process completes the field. There are also three new races for 2007; the Juvenile Turf will have a 12-horse field.