The Breeders' Cup is an annual series held in the United States where the best racehorses from around the world come together to compete for a number of Grade One prizes run over a variety of distances.
Breeders' Cup date
The 2026 Breeders Cup meeting will take place on Friday 30th and Saturday 31st October.
Breeders' Cup venue
The 2026 Breeders' Cup will take place at Keeneland racecourse, Lexington, Kentucky.
Breeders' Cup races and times
Breeders' Cup Friday races
Time | Race | Distance | Age | Purse |
TBC | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint | 5f | 2 | $1m |
TBC | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | 1m1/2f | 2 | $2m |
TBC | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf | 1m | 2 | $1m |
TBC | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | 1m1/2f | 2 | $2m |
TBC | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf | 1m | 2 | $1m |
Breeders' Cup Saturday races
Time | Race | Distance | Age | Purse |
TBC | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint | 7f | 3+ | $1m |
TBC | Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint | 5f | 3+ | $1m |
TBC | Breeders' Cup Sprint | 6f | 3+ | $2m |
TBC | Breeders' Cup Distaff | 1m1f | 3+ | $2m |
TBC | Breeders' Cup Turf | 1m4f | 3+ | $5m |
TBC | Breeders' Cup Classic | 1m2f | 3+ | $7m |
TBC | Breeders' Cup Mile | 1m | 3+ | $2m |
TBC | Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile | 1m | 3+ | $1m |
TBC | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf | 1m3f | 3+ | $2m |
Breeders' Cup history
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 the attention of a national audience.
The inaugural Breeders' Cup took place at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles on 10th November in 1984.
The event underwent a big change in 2006, expanding from one day to two. Before it moved to the two-day format, the Breeders' Cup was considered the richest day in sports.
The only time the Breeders' Cup was held outside of the United States was back in 1996 when it headed to the Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Canada.
Breeders' Cup most successful trainer
Aidan O'Brien became the most successful trainer in Breeders' Cup history after Gstaad won the Juvenile Turf in 2025.
The Master of Ballydoyle secured his 21st winner at the meeting, surpassing the legendary D Wayne Lukas.
Breeders' Cup most successful jockey
Mike Smith is the most decorated jockey at the Breeders Cup, having recorded 27 wins which includes four Classic successes.
The first of those came back in 1997 aboard Skip Away and the latest came in 2016 when he partnered Arrogate to victory for Baffert.
Breeders' Cup famous winners
The 1987 version of the Breeders Cup Classic 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.
Zenyatta, having won the Distaff in 2008 and Classic in 2009 and earning $4,680,000 in prize money from those successes, would be one of the most famous winners in Breeders Cup history.
Tiznow, who won the Breeders Cup Classic in 2000 & 2001 and collected $4,560,400 in prize money as a result, was extremely popular for trainer Jay M. Robbins.
