The History of The Breeders' Cup®

With its inaugural race in 1984, the Breeders' Cup® is the youngest of the quartet of high-profile races, also including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. The Breeders' Cup has an illustrious history filled with close finishes and has propelled several steeds into stardom.

With the track rotating year-to-year, the race returns to Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in 2024! But what exactly are the origins of the Breeders' Cup? We're here to help you learn more about the historic sprint:

A Timeline and Highlights

The Breeders' Cup was created to bookend the calendar year for Thoroughbred racing and to attract horses from North America and Europe alike. The competition's inception was from John R. Gaines, a well-known owner and breeder, in an attempt to help boost the sport's image and get it in front of a national audience. 

The inaugural Breeders' Cup took place in front of 64,254 onlookers at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles on November 10, 1984. The competition for the $3 million jackpot was stacked to the brim, highlighted by the favorite, Slew o'Gold, and Preakness winner Gate Dancer. However, the 31-1 long shot Wild Again, jockeyed by Pat Day, stole the show by setting the pace and sprinting past Slew o'Gold and Gate Dancer on the path to victory. The wire-to-wire finish did cause a bit of controversy -- it took over 10 minutes for the stewards to officially declare Wild Again the victor after an official inquiry. 

The 1987 version of the fall sprint saw two Kentucky Derby® winners, Alysheba and Ferdinand, face off for the first time in the event. The race came down to a photo finish, as Ferdinand conquered Alysheba by a nose's length. 

For the fans of a good underdog story, the greatest upset in Breeders' Cup history took place on November 3, 1993, at Santa Anita Park. Practically unknown before the race, it was the French horse Arcangues, who had 133-1 odds, that ended up taking the top crown. The victory provided the biggest payout in Breeders' Cup history at $269.60 for a $2 win bet. 

The race has been predominantly held in the United States. The only time the Breeders' Cup has ventured outside of the United States was in 1996 when the race was held at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Canada. 

The event underwent a monumental change in 2006, expanding from a single day event to a two-day event. Before it moved to the two-day format, the Breeders' Cup was considered the richest day in sports. 

Maybe the most prolific running of the Breeders' Cup occurred in 2015 when Triple Crown™ winner American Pharaoh became the first horse in history to complete the Grand Slam after winning by 6 1/2 lengths. While American Pharaoh is the only horse who's completed the Grand Slam, he's still the only Triple Crown™ winner who's even had the opportunity to. The last Triple Crown™ winner before him was Affirmed in 1978, six years before the first running of the Breeders' Cup. In 2018 Justify won the Triple Crown™ and became the second horse to do so with an undefeated record. But Justify suffered an injury to his left front ankle resulting in him retiring before being able to race in the 2018 Breeders' Cup. 

The Breeders' Cup Trophy

While it's the youngest of the four Grand Slam races, the Breeders' Cup Trophy boasts almost 500 years of history. The trophy is a bronze reproduction of the Torrie horse that Giovanni da Bologna crafted in the 1580s. The Torrie statue is heavily inspired by the recorded works of Leonardo da Vinci. The original statue created by Giovanni da Bologna currently sits in Edinburgh, Scotland, at the Museum of Fine Arts. 

In association with the University of Edinburgh, the Breeders' Cup Trophy was crafted to model Giovanni da Bologna's original creation. There are multiple versions of the trophy, with the largest version staying with the event year-to-year. Replicas of the original trophy are presented to the winners of the winners each year. 

Be a Part of History at the 2024 Breeders' Cup

Breeders’ Cup Experiences is the Official Package Provider for the Breeders' Cup World Championships, offering a variety of Official Ticket Packages with different seating options located around the track at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club! Our one-of-a-kind hospitality venues provide an oasis from the crowds and unparalleled comfort throughout the weekend, regardless of the weather conditions. As November approaches, make sure you secure your Official Ticket Packages while they are still available!

2024 Breeders' Cup Official Ticket Packages