Breeders' Cup Signs Deal with Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi

In a partnership between two popular entities in their own fields, the Breeders’ Cup has signed Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi to help promote the annual racing series to the poker world and beyond.

Outside of the Triple Crown races, the Breeders’ Cup is likely the most recognizable and prestigious horse racing series in the world. In 2011, the two-day series of races for elite horses will take place from November 4-5 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky – known to many as the home of the Kentucky Derby.

“We believe that there is a strong cross-over between poker and horse racing, which has not yet been realized”, Peter Rotondo, VP of media and entertainment for the Breeders’ Cup, told BloodHorse.com. “We’re thrilled to have a relationship with ‘The Grinder’ which will allow for one of poker’s superstars to reach out to the poker world and educate them about the Breeders’ Cup.”

There are few professional poker players who have better resumes than that of Michael Mizrachi. His biggest accomplishment came in 2010, when Mizrachi first won the $50,000 buy-in Poker Players’ Championship at the World Series of Poker, before finishing 5^th in the Main Event during the same year. In total, Mizrachi has 25 WSOP cashes, as well as two World Poker Tour championships and 13 WPT cashes. In total, Mizrachi has won well over $11 million in live tournament play, and is among the ten winningest tournament poker players of all-time.

It is unclear exactly how the sponsorship agreement will operate, though at least one promotional opportunity has already been announced for fans. A sweepstakes is planned that will allow the winner to watch the Breeders’ Cup live with Mizrachi this November.

The Breeders’ Cup World Championships have been held each year since 1984 to showcase the best thoroughbred horses in the world. The venue for the series changes each year, and individual races can have purses of up to $5 million.