The aim is to attract a US trained horse to the “Race that Stops a Nation”. The San Juan Capistrano Invitational was picked because it is with its 2800 meters the longest race run on turf in the US.

The winner of the San Juan Capistrano Invitational will be exempt from all balloting conditions for the Cup, but it still has to make nomination and acceptance fees.

The cross-border qualification for races seems a growing trend and illustrates the continuous internationalisation of horseracing and betting.