As you may have already known, the Breeders’ Cup is considered the year-ending world championship for the horse racing world. It holds one of the most iconic races, and many horse racing fans are set to witness another year of the Breeders’ Cup.
If you plan to bet on this huge event, you’re in for several surprises. Starting with the staggering $27 million purse for the combined races, you can expect a highly competitive set of horses running for each Breeders’ Cup race. Now, if you’re wondering what races to bet on, here is a list of seven Breeders’ Cup Races you should look forward to.
Breeders’ Cup Classic
Most horse racing fans consider the Breeders’ Cup Classic the premier thoroughbred horse race in the US. It may not be as popular as the Triple Crown races, but it’s regarded as the last leg for the Grand Slam of Thoroughbred racing. Also, the Classic used to be the richest race in the world but remains the richest in the country.
So far, only one horse, Tiznow (2000,2001), has made several Classic wins. Considering that many gathered top horses aim for the Classic, it’s worthy of the title to be able to win this race twice in a row.
- Dirt
- 1 ¼ Miles
- 6,000,000 USD
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
The Classic is a race for three-year-old and older horses, and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile is strictly restricted to two-year-old colts and geldings only. It’s also one of the most anticipated Breeders’ Cup races for the youngsters that’ll commence on the first day of the event on November 4 (Friday).
Moreover, selecting your bet for the juvenile can be a challenging task, especially since the Juvenile is usually the meeting place for high-grade colts from different parts of North America. In fact, the winner from this Breeders’ Cup race is usually regarded as one of the early favorites for the following year’s Kentucky Derby.
- Dirt
- 1 1/16 Miles
- 2,000,000 USD
Breeders’ Cup Mile
The first Breeders’ Cup grass field course in this list is the Mile. It’s the famous racecourse where the Queen of Breeders’ Cup, Goldikova, ran. Although the Breeders’ Cup has already produced several names, only Goldikova had made the feat to be a “three-peat,” and she was the first mare that brought Europe their very first success. Since then, no one has ever broken this record, even in the Mile course.
- Turf
- One Mile
- 2,000,000 USD
Breeders’ Cup Distaff
The Breeders’ Cup Distaff was used to be named the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic from 2008 to 2012. This is considered the top-ranked race for fillies and mares in North America. Horses that win this Breeders’ Cup race are usually crowned as the Champion Three-Year-Old and/or Champion Older Filly or Mare.
So far, four horses hold the most wins, namely Bayakoa (1998, 1990), Royal Delta (2011, 2012), Beholder (2013, 2016), and Monomoy Girl (2018, 2020) as the most recent. However, there is one winner, Zenyatta, that won the Distaff in 2008 and then attempted the competitive field of the Breeders’ Cup Classic the following year.
- Dirt
- 1 ⅛ Miles
- 2,000,000 USD
Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
One significant thing about the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Turf is that the course distance often changes, unlike the other races. The distance depends on the turf course configuration at the host track of the Breeders’ Cup event.
This year, it was announced that it would run to 1 3/16 Miles. If you’re a bettor, you should know that many horses coming from around the world start in this particular Breeders’ Cup race, and the winners of the Filly & Mare Turf race are international horses.
- Turf
- 1 3/16 Miles
- 2,000,000 USD
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile
You shouldn’t confuse the Breeders’ Cup Mile with the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. First, this race will be held on a dirt course, unlike the Mile turf course. Although they’re similar in name, the Dirt Mile only has a million-dollar stake in its name. Nevertheless, it’s as competitive as the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Moreover, it’s a relatively new Breeders’ Cup race that only started in 2007 at Monmouth Park Race Track. Since then, there have been minor configurations in the distance, and they served as the middle ground for horses that would like to run longer and are more suited to a shorter distance.
- Dirt
- One Mile
- 1,000,000 USD
Breeders’ Cup Sprint
Horses that prefer to sprint on shorter distances usually take their chance in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. This race mainly focuses on power and incredible speed rather than endurance, usually showcased in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The Sprint is open for both male and female horses as long as they’re three years old and older.
- Dirt
- ¾ Mile (6 Furlongs)
- 2,000,000 USD
Final Thoughts
Regardless of what Breeders’ Cup race you bet on, you’re guaranteed to payout a considerable amount of money if you win your stake. Not only that, but you’ll also be able to witness magnificent horses from different places worldwide. So, as early as now, it would help you if you know what races you’ll be betting on and figure out how you’ll place your stakes to make even more profit.
