Now I know I can't be the only one here that is extremely happy to hear this news.

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The Breeders' Cup got bigger for the second straight year.

Three races were added to thoroughbred racing's world championships in 2008, increasing the two-day event to 14 races worth $25.5 million in prize money. The next Breeders' Cup will be at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., on Oct. 24-25.

The new races -- added to three others run for the first time at the Breeders' Cup at Monmouth Park two months ago -- boosts the opening day to six races worth more than $5 million. The second day features eight races, including the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic.

Two of the new races carry $1 million purses: the 6 1/2-furlong Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint for 3-year-olds and up and the mile Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf for 2-year-old fillies. The other race is the $500,000 Breeders' Cup Dirt Marathon at 1 1/2 miles for 3-year-olds and up.

At Monmouth Park, the new races were the Filly and Mare Sprint, the Dirt Mile and the Juvenile Turf.

"The establishment of the three new races continues our aggressive expansion of the Breeders' Cup World Championships as a pre-eminent international sports and entertainment property for our fans, sponsors and television viewers around the globe." Breeders' Cup president Greg Avioli said in a statement Monday.

All races on dirt will be run over Santa Anita's synthetic surface Cushion Track.