Since its formation in 1984, the Breeders’ Cup has become the highest-class thoroughbred exhibition in the world. With a total purse of $34 million offered over two days of top-class racing, the Breeders’ Cup is an International spectacle not only for the most ardent of race fans but also for novices who come to experience the sheer level of excitement and unpredictability.
Here, we examine the fourteen races that will be contested on November 1st and 2nd, 2024, at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic
Run over 1 ¼ miles, the Breeders’ Cup Classic Grade 1 event is the season-ending event to crown racing’s champion. Open to horses three years old and above, the race is limited to 14 starters – seven of this year’s starters gain automatic entry via the “Win & You’re In” Series. The purse for this blue ribbon event is $7,000,000.
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
A race typically dominated by European competitors, the Juvenile Turf is restricted to male two-year-olds and offers $1,000,000 to the winner.
Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile
Run on the dirt course, competitors ages 3 and older will cover 1 mile of the Del Mar track. Goldencents, trained by Doug O’Neill, became the first horse to win this race back-to-back in 2013 and 2014. The winner will collect a cool $1 million this year.
John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
One of the Breeders’ Cup's newer races, the Juvenile Fillies Turf was first run in 2008 and offers $1,000,000. The race is open to the best North American and overseas two-year-old female horses. Since its inception, the race has always been limited to twelve starters.
Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff
Open to fillies and mares three and older, this race saw the coronation of a superstar in 2008 (then known as the Ladies’ Classic) when the mercurial queen of the Breeders’ Cup, Zenyatta, romped to victory under Mike Smith. Runners go toe-to-toe over nine furlongs (1 1/8 miles) for a purse of $2 million.
NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
A mainstay of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships since its first event in 1984, the Juvenile Fillies is open strictly to two-year-old fillies for a prize fund of $2 million. The distance (1 1/16 miles) roughly equates to just over the full circumference of the track.
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint
With an inaugural run in 2018, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint has become a fan favorite. The grass course hosts 12 male and female two-year-olds competing for the 1 million dollar purse.
Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint
Blink and you’ll miss it – this race is built for horses poised with speed and agility. Open to thoroughbreds three years old and above, this Grade 1 event usually last about a minute with international competitors covering the 5 furlongs.
PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
Run around one turn at seven furlongs, this $1 million race is designed for the fastest females three and older. Groupie Doll, the Champion American Female Sprinter, won this race in consecutive years in 2012 and 2013.
Maker's Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
The best female grass horses three and above race in this Grade 1 over 3/8 miles for a prize fund of $2 million. Stephanie’s Kitten became the first horse since Zenyatta to win different Breeders’ Cup races by claiming victory in this race.
Breeders’ Cup Sprint
Run over 6 furlongs, male and female horses three and above will reach top speeds of 40 mph as the world’s fastest thoroughbreds compete in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
Fanduel Breeders’ Cup Mile
Arguably the Breeders’ Cup World Championships' most-anticipated race, the Mile, open to the world’s best grass milers, has seen a slew of superstars claim this crown in recent years; Wise Dan’s back-to-back in 2012 and 2013, to the wonder mare Goldikova’s three-peat (2008–2010), few will look past Tepin to return to the winners’ circle after success in 2015.
Fanduel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Contested by two-year-old geldings, this too has been a mainstay of the Breeders’ Cup since it came to fruition in 1984. Over the years, this race has been a preview of the following year’s Triple Crown™ contenders and offers a purse of $2,000,000.
Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf
Second only to the Classic in prize money ($5 million), this is another race where European runners have flourished. Run at 1 ½ miles on the grass course at Santa Anita Park, European jockeys Ryan Moore and Frankie Dettori have both won the race four times.
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The world will stop to take notice of the Breeders’ Cup when it kicks off on November 1st. The unprecedented level of racing on display sets its festival of racing apart. From the highest quality of international thoroughbreds to the best of the home-grown talent, the Breeders’ Cup gives race fans an unmatched experience as the drama and unpredictability of two race days unfold!
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