The Breeders’ Cup World Championships bring together horses from around the world to compete in one final major weekend of the season. For many, the Breeders’ Cup is the Olympics of horse racing and securing a coveted spot is an honor for connections.
There are several ways for horses to advance to the Breeders’ Cup.
All thoroughbred foals can be nominated before October 15 of the year they are born. A $400 fee guarantees the colt will be eligible for the Breeders’ Cup when he reaches racing age. If a racehorse is not nominated within one year of birth, its owner can add it to the race by paying a fee based on its age and whether its sire was nominated.
However, just because a horse is nominated does not mean it will compete in the Breeders’ Cup.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re in” is a series of Breeders’ Cup qualifying races that gives the winner automatic entry into the applicable Breeders’ Cup race. The Breeders’ Cup also provides a $40,000 travel allowance for connections of all championship starters outside of North America and a $10,000 travel allowance for starters within North America who are hosted outside of Kentucky. There have been 80 Challenge Series races held in 2024 in 11 countries around the world.
Horses that have not competed in a Challenge Series race accumulate points throughout the season by completing money-placed races, and the horses with the most points at the end of the season will fill the remaining spots . The final places in each race will be allocated via selection by a panel of experts.
Don’t miss the 2024 Breeders’ Cup with coverage beginning Friday, November 1 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET on USA Network and resuming Saturday, November 2 at 2:00 p.m. ET on USA Network before moving to NBC and Peacock until 6 p.m. h. pm ET and ends in the United States until 8 p.m. ET.
