The best and brightest in Thoroughbred racing are ready to descend on Del Mar (California) and compete for the sport’s most acclaimed distinction of Breeders’ Cup champion.
Beginning with five future stars matches on Friday, Nov. 1, and continuing with nine more marquee features, including the preeminent Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday, Nov. 2, the Breeders’ Cup has been the pinnacle of international horse racing since its inaugural showing some 40 years ago.
Brought to life in 1984 by renowned businessman and horseman John Gaines, the special event soon evolved into a world-class celebration of the game’s top talents only comparable to that of the FIFA World Cup.
All 14 races on the docket for 2024’s iteration of Breeders’ Cup weekend are Grade 1 Championship tilts and boast a collective purse value of $34 million.
So, to help you saddle in for the momentous occasion, we’ve prepared a one-stop shop for everything Breeders’ Cup.
Jump to each section or continue reading below.
The 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic will be run on Saturday, November 2.
Post time for the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic is 5:41 PM ET.
The 2024 edition of the Breeders’ Cup Classic will be held at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California.
Featuring a purse of $7 million, the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic will be the richest running in the event’s 40-year history.
The previous high of $6 million stood from 2016-2023.
The winner of the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic will receive $3.64 million, with $1.19 million for the runner-up, $630,000 for third, $350,000 for fourth, and $210,000 for fifth.
It is the largest purse of any race run in North America.
The 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic will be broadcast live on NBC and is available for streaming through Peacock.
Television coverage begins at 3:30 PM ET.
Continuous coverage of all Breeders’ Cup World Championship races on Friday and Saturday will stream live on Peacock both days.
Of the 14 Breeders’ Cup events listed on Del Mar’s weekend double feature, five will run on “Future Stars Friday” and nine, including the Breeders’ Cup Classic, will headline the west coast track’s scintillating Saturday program.
Friday, November 1
Race 6 - Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint – 5:45 PM ET
Purse: $1 million
Distance: 5 furlongs
Grade 1
Age: 2
Surface: Turf
Race 7 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies – 6:25 PM ET
Purse: $2 million
Distance: 1 1/16 miles
Grade 1
Age: 2
Surface: Dirt
Race 8 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf – 7:05 PM ET
Purse: $1 million
Distance: 1 mile
Grade 1
Age: 2
Surface: Turf
Race 9 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – 7:45 PM ET
Purse: $2 million
Distance: 1 1/16 miles
Grade 1
Age: 2
Surface: Dirt
Race 10 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf – 8:25 PM ET
Purse: $1 million
Distance: 1 mile
Grade 1
Age: 2
Surface: Turf
Saturday, November 2
Race 4 – Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint – 3:00 PM ET
Purse: $1 million
Distance: 7 furlongs
Grade 1
Age: 3+
Surface: Dirt
Race 5 – Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint – 3:41 PM ET
Purse: $1 million
Distance: 5 furlongs
Grade 1
Age: 3+
Surface: Turf
Race 6 – Breeders’ Cup Distaff – 4:21 PM ET
Purse: $2 million
Distance: 1 1/8 miles
Grade 1
Age: 3+
Surface: Dirt
Race 7 – Breeders’ Cup Turf – 5:01 PM ET
Purse: $5 million
Distance: 1 1/2 miles
Grade 1
Age: 3+
Surface: Turf
Race 8 – Breeders’ Cup Classic – 5:41 PM ET
Purse: $7 million
Distance: 1 1/4 miles
Grade 1
Age: 3+
Surface: Dirt
Race 9 – Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf – 6:25 PM ET
Purse: $2 million
Distance: 1 3/8 miles
Grade 1
Age: 3+
Surface: Turf
Race 10 – Breeders’ Cup Sprint – 7:05 PM ET
Purse: $2 million
Distance: 6 furlongs
Grade 1
Age: 3+
Surface: Dirt
Race 11 – Breeders’ Cup Mile – 7:45 PM ET
Purse: $2 million
Distance: 1 mile
Grade 1
Age: 3+
Surface: Turf
Race 12 – Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile – 8:25 PM ET
Purse: $1 million
Distance: 1 mile
Grade 1
Age: 3+
Surface: Dirt
First run on November 10, 1984, at the now defunct Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California, the race billed as one of, if not the most prestigious races on the international Thoroughbred racing calendar, started out with a bang.
Under Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day, 31-1 dart throw Wild Again claimed the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Classic in stunning fashion.
At the time, the $3 million purse made the Classic the world’s richest horse race. The first-ever Breeders’ Cup card contained seven races, which together combined for a total purse value of $10 million.
In 2007, the Breeders’ Cup World Championship expanded to a two-day event. With that, came the addition of the three new races (Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf).
Two years later in 2009, legendary performer Zenyatta became the first female horse to capture the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The 2016 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inductee went on to record the highest earnings total of any horse in Breeders’ Cup history ($4,680,000).
Another all-time great competitor, American Pharoah, etched his name in the history books by becoming the first horse to earn Thoroughbred racing’s Grand Slam. The three-time Eclipse Award winner scored the United States Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont) along with the Breeder’s Cup Classic to complete the epic feat in 2015.
In more recent times, last year’s edition of the history-rich romp was won by multiple Grade 1 winner White Abarrio.
Open to male and female horses three-years old and older, Breeders’ Cup weekend’s crowning achievement is a 1 1/4-mile affair run on the dirt track. It is limited to 14 starters.
Located 20 miles north of San Diego, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club is “Where the Turf Meets the Surf.”
Alongside its iconic slogan, the picturesque racecourse has an emblematic origin story to match.
The 1-mile track was built by a partnership that included famous faces Bing Crosby, Pat O’Brien, Jimmy Durante, Oliver Hardy, and prominent businessman Charles S. Howard.
When Del Mar opened its doors in 1937, Crosby hung around the entrance to personally greet fans.
One year later, on August 12, 1938, the track enhanced its celebrity status even further with the help of horse racing’s most revered runner, Seabiscuit.
That day, Del Mar held a $25,000 winner-take-all match between Howard’s Seabiscuit and Binglin Stable’s Ligaroti. The exhilarating tilt, which generated significant national media attention at the time, ultimately went to Seabiscuit by a nose.
Despite a brief two-year closure (1942-944) during World War II, Del Mar persevered and continued to serve as a premier destination for high-quality racing.
That remains the case today, as the west coast course with the walk to match its talk is set to take centre stage and unite international Thoroughbred racing’s finest for the third time in its 87-year existence.
Del Mar previously hosted the Breeders’ Cup in 2021 and 2017.
2023: White Abarrio – Irad Ortiz Jr. – Richard E. Dutrow Jr.
2022: Flightline – Flavien Prat – John W. Sadler
2021: Knicks Go – Joel Rosario – Brad H. Cox
2020: Authentic – John R. Velazquez – Bob Baffert
2019: Vino Rosso – Irad Ortiz Jr. – Todd A. Pletcher
2018: Accelerate – Joel Rosario – John W. Sadler
2017: Gun Runner – Florent Geroux – Steven M. Asmussen
2016: Arrogate – Mike E. Smith – Bob Baffert
2015: American Pharoah – Victor Espinoza – Bob Baffert
2014: Bayern – Martin Garcia – Bob Baffert
2013: Mucho Macho Man – Gary Stevens – Katherine Ritvo
2012: Fort Larned – Brian Hernandez, Jr. – Ian Wilkes
2011: Drosselmeyer – Mike E. Smith – William Mott
2010: Blame – Garrett Gomez – Albert Stall Jr.
2009: Zenyatta – Mike E. Smith – John Shirreffs
2008: Raven’s Pass – Lanfranco Dettori – John Gosden
2007: Curlin – Robby Albarado – Steven M. Asmussen
2006: Invasor (ARG) – Fernando Jara – Kiaran McLaughlin
2005: Saint Liam – Jerry Bailey – Richard E. Dutrow Jr.
2004: Ghostzapper – Javier Castellano – Robert J. Frankel
2003: Pleasantly Perfect – Alex Solis – Richard Mandella
2002: Volponi – José A. Santos – Philip G. Johnson
2001: Tiznow – Chris McCarron – Jay M. Robbins
2000: Tiznow – Chris McCarron – Jay M. Robbins
1999: Cat Thief – Pat Day – D. Wayne Lukas
1998: Awesome Again – Pat Day – Patrick B. Byrne
1997: Skip Away – Mike E. Smith – Sonny Hine
1996: Alphabet Soup – Chris McCarron – David Hofmans
1995: Cigar – Jerry Bailey – William Mott
1994: Concern – Jerry Bailey – Richard W. Small
1993: Arcangues – Jerry Bailey – André Fabre
1992: A.P. Indy – Ed Delahoussaye – Neil Drysdale
1991: Black Tie Affair (IRE) – Jerry Bailey – Ernie T. Poulos
1990: Unbridled – Pat Day – Carl Nafzger
1989: Sunday Silence – Chris McCarron – Charlie Whittingham
1988: Alysheba – Chris McCarron – Jack Van Berg
1987: Ferdinand – Bill Shoemaker – Charlie Whittingham
1986: Skywalker – Laffit Pincay Jr. – Michael Whittingham
1985: Proud Truth – Jorge Velásquez – John M. Veitch
1984: Wild Again – Pat Day – Vincent Timphony
Most wins: 2 – Tiznow (2000, 2001)
Largest margin of victory: 8 1/4 lengths – Flightline (2022)
Most wins by a jockey: 5 – Chris McCarron (1988, 1989, 1996, 2000, 2001); Jerry Bailey (1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2005)
Most wins by a trainer: 4 – Bob Baffert (2014, 2015, 2016, 2020)
Most wins by a jockey: 27 – Mike Smith
Most wins by a trainer: 20 – D. Wayne Lukas
Highest Earnings total (owner): $17,135,820 – Juddmonte Farms
Highest Earnings total (horse): $4,680,000 – Zenyatta
Post 1 – Forever Young (JPN) (6-1)
Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi
Jockey: Ryusei Sakai
Status – On the shortlist: Don’t let a slow start in the Kentucky Derby fool you (third place), Forever Young is a legitimate threat to take the Classic.
Post 2 – Highland Falls (20-1)
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Luis Saez
Status – Up against it: An impressive 4-length Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) win earned Highland Falls a Classic berth, but the colt will need much more to have a title shot.
Post 3 – City of Troy (5-2)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Status – Clubhouse leader: Winner of six of seven lifetime starts, City of Troy has made serious noise on the UK circuit in 2024. Has the makings of a BC champion.
Post 4 – Mixto (30-1)
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Kyle Frey
Status – Dart throw: After taking the Pacific Classic at 22-1 for his second career win, Mixto is on the outside looking in here.
Post 5 – Senor Buscador (30-1)
Trainer: Todd Fincher
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Status – Savvy veteran: There hasn’t been much to report as of late, but Senor Buscador has performed admirably against elite competition before (second in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup and Saudi Cup champion).
Post 6 – Derma Sotogake (JPN) (20-1)
Trainer: Hidetaka Otonashi
Jockey: Christophe Lemaire
Status – Steep hill to climb: Last year’s Classic runner-up, Derma Sotogake has endured a tough 2024 campaign (0-for-3). Will need a perfect trip this time around.
Post 7 – Ushba Tesoro (JPN) (12-1)
Trainer: Noboru Takagi
Jockey: Yuga Kawada
Status – Not to be overlooked: Possessing an intriguing blend of experience (35 starts) and results (11-4-5 with over $16 million banked), Ushba Tesoro returns to the Classic after finishing fifth in last year’s running.
Post 8 – Pyrenees (30-1)
Trainer: Cherie DeVaux
Jockey: Brian Hernandez, Jr.
Status – Late bloomer: After a quiet rookie season, Pyrenees captured four of his next six starts (10: 4-3-1 overall). The colt enters on the upswing, recording consecutive seconds in the Stephen Foster (G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1).
Post 9 – Fierceness (3-1)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez
Status – Serious contender: Fierceness’ (8: 5-0-1) star is on the rise. The three-time Grade 1 winner appears poised to outdo his previous BC appearance, which saw him claim last year’s BC Juvenile.
Post 10 – Tapit Trice (30-1)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Status – Potential value: If Tapit Trice isn’t victorious, he’s usually within range (12: 6-0-3 lifetime). While no doubt facing his stiffest test to date, the colt makes for an intriguing flier with Ortiz Jr. calling the shots.
Post 11 – Sierra Leone (12-1)
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Status – Streaky play: It’s been a tale of two careers for Sierra Leone, who won three of his first four starts before dropping the next four (8: 3-2-2). Who knows which horse will show up on Saturday?
Post 12 – Arthur’s Ride (15-1)
Trainer: William Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Status – Pace maker: Known for his penchant to jump out to the front, look for Whitney (G1) winner Arthur’s Ride to snag the lead early.
Post 13 – Newgate (20-1)
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Lanfranco Dettori
Status – Possible upside: Conditioned by the Classic’s all-time winningest trainer Bob Baffert, Newgate returned home for the California Crown (G1), finishing third after a ninth in March’s Dubai Cup.
Post 14 – Next (8-1)
Trainer: William D. Cowans
Jockey: Luan Machado
Status – Newbie: Also entered in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, Next will be making just his second-ever start at the Grade 1 level after compiling a lifetime 23: 13-0-1 line.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Woodbine Entertainment Group. Odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.