Breeders' Cup 2024
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Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club - November 1 & 2
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Breeders' Cup 2024 is scheduled to be held at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on November 1 & 2 as a part of its 11th Bing Crosby Season.
Each racing season ends with just one finish line: the Breeders' Cup World Championships. It's the two-day, 14-race, year-end culmination that every horse, jockey, trainer, and owner across the globe has in their sights.
The 41st Breeders' Cup begins on Friday, Nov. 1 with Future Stars Friday, where the sport's stars of tomorrow compete in five Juvenile (two-year-old) races. The non-stop action continues on Saturday where the Breeders' Cup will crown nine more World Champions across different surfaces and divisions, including the season-defining $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic.
Featuring 14 Grade 1 races and $33 million in purses and awards, the 2024 World Championships will entertain fans from around the globe as the sport's best horses, jockeys, and trainers compete over two days of spectacular racing. Attendees will enjoy outstanding culinary experiences, high fashion, and top entertainment at Del Mar, "Where the turf meets the surf" on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, as the World Championships will be held at the seaside oval for a third time.
Friday's first Breeders' Cup Championship race will be Race #6, which will have a post time of 3 p.m. ET. Post time for the last Breeders' Cup race of the day, Race #10, will be 5:40 p.m. ET.
There will be 12 races on Saturday, Nov. 2, featuring nine Breeders' Cup World Championships races. The day opens with two undercard races, beginning with a first race post time of 10:30 a.m. ET. The first Breeders' Cup Championship race will be Race #3, which will have a post time of 11:50 a.m. ET.
2024 BREEDERS' CUP RACE SCHEDULE
Breeders' Cup Race | Grade | Purse | Date |
---|---|---|---|
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint | I | $1,000,000 | November 1 |
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies | I | $2,000,000 | November 1 |
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | I | $1,000,000 | November 1 |
Breeders' Cup Juvenile | I | $2,000,000 | November 1 |
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | I | $1,000,000 | November 1 |
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | I | $1,000,000 | November 2 |
Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | I | $1,000,000 | November 2 |
Breeders' Cup Distaff | I | $2,000,000 | November 2 |
Breeders' Cup Turf | I | $5,000,000 | November 2 |
Breeders' Cup Classic | I | $7,000,000 | November 2 |
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | I | $2,000,000 | November 2 |
Breeders' Cup Sprint | I | $2,000,000 | November 2 |
Breeders' Cup Mile | I | $2,000,000 | November 2 |
Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile | I | $1,000,000 | November 2 |
BREEDERS' CUP ANNOUNCES $2 MILLION PURSE INCREASE FOR 2024 BREEDERS' CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
March 12 - Breeders' Cup Limited today announced individual $1 million purse increases for two of its marquee races - the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) - demonstrating the organization's longstanding commitment to global excellence and the enrichment of Thoroughbred racing.
Beginning with this year's 41st World Championships at Del Mar, the purse of the 1 1/4-mile Longines Breeders' Cup Classic will increase from $6 million to $7 million, while the purse of the 1 1/2-mile Longines Breeders' Cup Turf will increase from $4 million to $5 million. This raises total purses and awards for the Breeders' Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing's most prestigious two-day event, to more than $33 million. The increases were approved at the March meeting of Breeders' Cup Limited's Board of Directors.
"These purse increases reflect a key mission of the Breeders' Cup World Championships: to attract the best-of-the-best from around the world to compete in a spectacular international showcase," said Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders' Cup Limited. "We are proud that the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic and Longines Breeders' Cup Turf continually rank among the top races in the world and these purse increases demonstrate our Board of Directors' commitment to further enhancing the international stature of the World Championships."
Since its founding in 1982, Breeders' Cup Limited has allocated more than $1 billion in purses and awards to the Thoroughbred industry.
The 2024 Breeders' Cup World Championships, featuring 14 Grade 1 Championship races, will be held Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar.
2024 BREEDERS' CUP CHALLENGE SERIES FEATURES 41 INTERNATIONAL RACES
Breeders' Cup Limited today announced the 2024 Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In schedule of 82 races in 12 countries including 41 international races. Each winner will receive an automatic qualifying position, and fees paid, into a corresponding race in the 2024 Breeders' Cup World Championships.
Horses from around the globe will qualify through the Win and You're In program for the 41st Breeders' Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Grade 1 races, with purses and awards totaling a record $33 million. This year's Championships will be held Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California.
In addition to the United States, the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, now in its 18th year, will be hosted at premier racetracks in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, England, France, Ireland, Japan, Peru, South Africa, and, for the first time, South Korea. The complete schedule can be viewed at BreedersCup.com/races/challenge-series .
New this year are the Korea Cup (G3) and Korea Sprint (G3), both run Sept. 8 at Seoul Racecourse in South Korea. At 1 1/8 miles, the Korea Cup is an automatic qualifier for the $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), while the 6-furlong Korea Sprint provides an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).
The Aug. 21 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes (G3) at York, the Aug. 24 William Hill Prestige Stakes (G3) at Goodwood, and the Oct. 19 QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes (G1) at Ascot are also new to the international schedule for 2024. The 7-furlong Acomb Stakes is an automatic qualifier for the Prevagen Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), while the 7-furlong Prestige Stakes provides an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). The QIPCO British Champion Fillies and Mares Stakes, over 1 1/2 miles at Ascot Racecourse, is Win and You're In event for the $2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).
"International competition is a cornerstone of the Breeders' Cup program, and the Challenge Series continues to be the best way for horsemen the world over to gain an automatic entry into the World Championships," said Dora Delgado, Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer of Breeders' Cup Limited. "We extend our deepest gratitude to the racing authorities and organizations on five continents who are partnering with us this year to support and administer Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races in their respective jurisdictions, and we look forward to another outstanding renewal of the World Championships this November at Del Mar."
Qualifiers on Five Continents
There will be eight automatic berths awarded for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. The 6-year-old Peptide Nile (JPN) became the first horse to qualify this year for the marquee race when he won the Feb. 19 February Stakes (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan. Three more Challenge Series races are scheduled in Japan this year, culminating with the June 23 Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse with a free starting position into the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) on the line.
Two of the five Challenge Series races in South America this year will also be held on June 23: the Gran Premio Pamplona (G1) at Monterrico in Peru will award the winner an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and the winner of the Grande Premio Brasil (G1) at Hipódromo da Gávea in Rio de Janeiro will earn a guaranteed start into the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf.
England will host 13 Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races in 2024, beginning with four Win and You're In races at the Royal Ascot meeting. The July 27 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (G1) at Ascot, which awards the winner an automatic starting position for the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, and the Aug. 21 Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at York the only automatic qualifier in Europe for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic are two other highlighted races in England during this year's series.
There will be five Challenge Series races in Ireland over Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown and at The Curragh, anchored by the Sept. 14 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (G1). In 2023, Auguste Rodin (IRE) won the Irish Champion Stakes and gained a free spot into the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita Park, where he took home the victory.
Canada will be represented by three Challenge Series races at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, featuring the Sept. 14 Woodbine Mile (G1), for a free starting position into the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1). Last year's Breeders' Cup Mile winner, Master of the Seas (IRE), gained a free berth in the race when he won the Woodbine Mile.
The Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) will be the centerpiece of five Challenge Series races Oct. 6 at ParisLongchamp. The Arc winner will receive an automatic berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf.
The international schedule of the 2024 Breeders' Cup Challenge Series concludes Oct. 19 on British Champions Day at Ascot with two races. Along with the British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes, the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) gives the winner an automatic qualifying position into the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf.
As part of the benefits to horsemen, Breeders' Cup has allocated $5,485,000 in free entry fees for this year's Challenge Series and will pay the entry fees and guarantee a starting position in a corresponding Championships race for all Challenge Series race winners. If not already nominated, the Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 21 to receive the rewards.
In addition, Breeders' Cup will provide a $10,000 travel allowance for all starters within North America that are stabled outside of California, and a $40,000 travel allowance to the connections of all Championship starters based outside of North America.
Last year, 42 Breeders' Cup Challenge winners competed in the World Championships at Santa Anita Park and eight won their respective divisional races: White Abarrio, $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1); Auguste Rodin (IRE), $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1); Idiomatic, $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1); Cody's Wish, $2 million Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), Master of the Seas (IRE), $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1); Inspiral (GB), $2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1); Just F Y I, $2 million NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1); and Hard to Justify, $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). Auguste Rodin (IRE), Master of the Seas (IRE), and Inspiral (GB) were European contenders.
Purse increases in 2024 raised the value of the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic to $7 million and the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf to $5 million.
About Breeders' Cup - World Championship Horse Racing Since 1984
Every sport has a definitive year-ending event to crown its champions. In Thoroughbred racing, the Breeders' Cup World Championships is the culmination of the horse racing season worldwide and the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic is the defining event of the international racing season.
The Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships held the first series of its seven races before a crowd of 64,254 horse racing, horse betting, horse wagering, and handicapping fans at Hollywood Park in 1984. Today, purses for the fifteen races of the Breeders’ Cup amount to $26 million. The most important race in the series, the Breeders' Cup Classic, has a total purse of $5 million, with a winner's share of more than $2.5 million.
The Breeders’ Cup traces its roots back to 1982, with a group of Horse racing leaders frontlined by John R. Gaines, founding father of the Breeders’ Cup and former owner of Gainesway Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. The group had envisioned a vehicle to promote the sport, which would not only be a showcase of the sport’s finest elements but also a grand finale to the racing season, with a multimillion dollar total purse. Every one of those visions came true.
The Breeders’ Cup inaugural event was held on November 10, 1984 at glitzy Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California. It was an instant hit. The championship races have since become the cornerstone of a year-round program that has allocated over $380 million to owners and breeders alike. Most divisional champions crowned since 1984 have participated in a Breeders' Cup racing event.
In 1986, a separate $250,000 Breeders' Cup Steeplechase, run two weeks earlier than the series at a different track, was added to the program. That race was discontinued after 1993. A turf race for fillies and mares was added in 1999.
Breeders' Cup Betting - In Thoroughbred racing, the Breeders' Cup is the culmination of the horse racing season worldwide.
After Hollywood Park, the Breeders’ Cup would change venues yearly. Each fall, a different North American track plays host to the prestigious thoroughbred racing event, which have included the richly historical Churchill Downs, the stately Belmont Park, and the panoramic Santa Anita Park in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains.
Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, holds the records for both Breeders' Cup attendance and total horse betting. The renowned racecourse attracted 80,452 spectators in 1998, and when the races came back to Louisville in 2000, over $108 million was wagered.
Since 1984, the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships has continued to grow in popularity owing to its prestige and keen level of competition. Contending horses have not only come from the US but all the way from England, Ireland, France, Japan, and Germany. The races are televised on both NBC and ESPN (pre-championships), and simulcast in 25 countries, with horserace wagering at more than $108 million.
But beyond the foreign players and media sponsors, thoroughbred owners and breeders have served as the Breeders’ Cup’s backbone since the very beginning. They not only supply the race horses competing in the Breeders' Cup events but also pay the nominations from which the organization, Breeder’s Cup Limited, derives its major source of funding.
As an international program, the Breeders’ Cup has instituted a nomination process to breeders around the world. Stallion owners annually pay a nomination fee that is the equivalent of a stallion's advertised stud fee, or a minimum of $1,000. Breeders pay a nomination fee of $500 for each foal. Nominated horses are eligible to compete for millions in both the Breeders’ Cup Stakes program and the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships events. Annual nominations from all over the world have made the Breeders’ Cup a truly global institution.
The Breeders’ Cup has no doubt accomplished what its founders set out to do, and more. Today, after 32 years and running, the Breeders’ Cup remains the definitive test of Horse racing champions, and has become thoroughbred racing’s most recognizable and successful showpiece worldwide.