The Breeders’ Cup World Championships is the biggest event in global horse racing: if the Triple Crown is the equine equivalent of the College Football Playoff National Championship, then the Breeders’ Cup is the Super Bowl. This year marks the 41st anniversary of the event, which was first held at Hollywood Park. If this is your first time tuning into the Breeders’ Cup, then we have everything you need to know is breeders cup race cards and more info below.
Who: The best Thoroughbred racehorses on the planet
The Breeders’ Cup is two days of elite horse racing that attracts the biggest names in the sport from all over the globe. In past years, horses from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Venezuela, and, of course, the United States, competed in the event. That’s representation from six continents!
Within the U.S., horses nationwide participate in the World Championships: Thoroughbreds hailing from Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia have all run in the Breeders’ Cup.
What: Horse racing’s World Championships
The Breeders’ Cup is the end game for horse owners and trainers: in addition to the purse money, a win in one of these races can ensure a year-end award, a horse’s increased value when it’s time to breed, and some serious bragging rights. Because of this, there are multiple races for horses depending on age, sex, the distance they like to run as well as whether a horse prefers to run on grass or dirt.
The World Championships take place over two days, and there are 14 races in total. Future Stars Friday focuses on 2-year-old Thoroughbreds and offers the $2 million NetJets Juvenile Fillies, the $1 million John Deere Juvenile Fillies Turf, the $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint, the $1 million Juvenile Turf, and the $2 million FanDuel Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.
When: November 1-2
This year, the Breeders’ Cup will take place over two days on Nov. 1-2; the World Championships typically take place over the first weekend of November, which gives Thoroughbreds plenty of time to qualify to run over the course of the spring, summer, and fall.
Why: To see who’s the best of the best
Long time ago, a group of prominent Thoroughbred breeders from Kentucky led by John Gaines coordinated to create an event that would draw the very best horses in the world to find out once and for all who is the best Thoroughbred on the globe. Two years later, the very first Breeders’ Cup World Championships was held at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif., on Nov. 10, with seven races on offer: the Juvenile, Juvenile Fillies, Sprint, Mile, Distaff, Turf, and Classic.
Since then, horse racing’s World Championships have grown to a two-day racing festival with 14 races, and the spirit of the Breeders’ Cup remains strong with the best of the best competing annually on an international stage.
How: Nominations and winning designated races
There are a few ways for Thoroughbreds to arrive at the Breeders’ Cup: all Thoroughbred foals (baby horses) are eligible to be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup before Oct. 15 of the year they’re born; it’s a $400 fee that ensures that foal will be eligible to the Breeders’ Cup when he or she is of racing age. If a racehorse isn’t nominated to the Breeders’ Cup within the year of birth, their owner can supplement them into the race by paying a fee on a sliding scale based on their age and whether their sire (father) is also nominated.
Horses can earn spots in the Breeders’ Cup in designated “Win and You’re In” races. These Challenge Series races are a big deal: the Breeders’ Cup pays the entry fees and guarantees a starting position in a corresponding Championships race for all Challenge Series race winners as long as the winner is nominated to the Breeders’ Cup by Oct. 21. In addition, the Breeders’ Cup will provide a $40,000 travel allowance to the connections of all Championship starters from outside of North America and a $10,000 travel allowance for starters within North America that are stabled outside of California. These Challenge Series races are held in 12 countries across the world, so there are plenty of opportunities for horses to qualify no matter where they’re from.
What to Expect
Del Mar, one of the most popular racetracks in North America, capped attendance for its recent Breeders’ Cup as it expanded deluxe offerings for fans craving a VIP-level experience while still offering plenty of general admission tickets. The track will do the same, but many tickets and packages are still available. Visit the Breeders’ Cup site to find your tickets today.
Planning to watch from home? Coverage of horse racing’s World Championships will be on NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and FanDuel TV; Breeders’ Cup in the UK and Ireland can be found on ITV4, Sky Sports, and Racing TV; and racing fans in Japan can follow the action on Green Channel. You can also download the Breeders’ Cup apps for iPhone and Android for an in-depth, second-screen experiences, virtual AR filters, and more. Also, be sure to keep an eye on our social media channels, since we’ll have a wealth of livestreams leading up to the World Championships to keep you informed and ready for the biggest weekend in horse racing!
A tradition of traditions
The Breeders’ Cup has several traditions that are inherent to the World Championships: each horse who wins dons a signature purple and gold flower garland comprised of Beauty Asters, Golden Asters, Cremons, and Catteleya Orchids, which are grown exclusively for the Breeders’ Cup.
Another tradition of the Breeders’ Cup are the trophies awarded after each race. The trophies are an authentic bronze reproduction of the original Torrie horse that was created in Florence by Giovanni da Bologna in the late 1580s, and the history behind the sculpture is fascinating. Additionally, a larger version of the sculpture moves to the Breeders’ Cup host track every year to help racing fans celebrate the upcoming World Championships.
Cheers to the Breeders’ Cup signature cocktails
You probably know that the signature drink of the Kentucky Derby is the Mint Julep; the Preakness Stakes raises a glass with a Black-Eyed Susan, and the Belmont Stakes toasts with a Belmont Jewel. The Breeders’ Cup has not one but two signature cocktails: the Torrie Cup and the Garland.
The Torrie Cup is 1½ parts Maker’s Mark Bourbon, three-quarter part sweet vermouth, 1½ parts orange juice, and two parts lemonade. The Garland is comprised of one part vodka, one part triple sec , one part honey-green tea, and a half-part fresh lemon juice. Cheers!
More about the horses
Racehorses come in many different sizes, ranging from about 900 to 1,400 pounds, and colors, including Bay, Black, Chestnut, Dark Bay or Brown, or Gray or Roan. There also has been in recent years an increase in White Thoroughbreds. Many racehorses stand out because of markings, like a white blaze or star on their heads or one or more white legs or feet.