The Breeders' Cup is back in LA, and people all over Southern California are celebrating.
"To get the Breeders' Cup back here on the West Coast, to get it at Santa Anita and the LA metropolitan area, it's great for all of us," Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said on Thursday.
Villaraigosa said he’s pushed hard to bring the event back to Santa Anita. The last time was 2009 when everyone watched Zenyatta, called the "Queen of Racing," in all her glory.
Now, Santa Anita is set to host this year and next, bringing with it tax money, jobs and booming business.
"That's what this is all about," Villaraigosa said.
There's $25 million in purse money for the winners, but money will also go to a local charity with global impact.
"While we're keeping them off the streets, we're also teaching them about kids in other countries," said Lysa Heslov, Founder of Children Mending Hearts. "We've partnered with Inner City Arts. We've partnered right now with the Boys and Girls Club."
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Those partnerships have connected low-income kids in the LA area to some in even worse conditions abroad, from Haiti to the Congo, kids are helping kids.
With a $75,000 donation from the Breeders' cup, Heslov says her charity will be able to harness its dream, to reach out to more children everywhere.
The Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita starts Friday, Nov. 2.
