Beginner’s Guide to the Breeders’ Cup

by | Oct 11, 2022 | Blog

4 - Minutes Read Time

What Is the Breeders’ Cup?

One of the biggest international events in horse racing, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships are a series of Grade I Thoroughbred horse races held annually in North America. The Breeders’ Cup Classic, in particular, attracts lots of attention, ranking alongside the Triple Crown races as the pinnacle of Thoroughbred competition. However, all 14 races that make up the 2-day championship are can’t-miss viewing for any racing enthusiast. Learn more about this year’s championship and find the answers to some of the most common questions below in our Beginner’s Guide to the Breeders’ Cup!

 

What Is the Distance of the Breeders’ Cup?

The Breeders’ Cup consists of 14 races, each with its own distance and track conditions.

Race Distance Surface
Classic 1 1/4 Miles Dirt
Turf 1 1/2 Miles Turf
Distaff 1 1/8 Miles Dirt
Mile 1 Mile Turf
Sprint 6 Furlongs Dirt
Filly & Mare Turf 1 3/16 miles Turf
Dirt Mile 1 Mile Dirt
Filly & Mare Sprint 7 Furlongs Dirt
Turf Sprint 5 1/2 Furlongs Turf
Juvenile Turf Sprint 5 1/2 Furlongs Turf
Juvenile Fillies 1 1/16 Miles Dirt
Juvenile 1 1/16 Miles Dirt
Juvenile Turf 1 Miles Turf
Juvenile Fillies Turf 1 Miles Turf

Group of horses at a race with jockeys

Where Is the 2022 Breeders’ Cup?

This year’s Breeders’ Cup will be held at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. The site of the championship changes annually, typically taking place at tracks in the U.S. (The one exception being the 1996 Breeders’ Cup, which took place at Woodbine Racetrack in Canada.)

 

When Is the 2022 Breeders’ Cup?

The 2022 Breeders’ Cup takes place over two days — Friday, November 4, 2022, and Saturday, November 5, 2022.

 

What Is the Post Time of the 2022 Breeders’ Cup?

Here is the schedule of 2022 Breeders’ Cup races and their post times:

Friday, November 4
Post Time Race
3:00 P.M. EST Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint
3:40 P.M. EST Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
4:20 P.M. EST Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
5:00 P.M. EST Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
5:40 P.M. EST Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
Saturday, November 5
Post Time Race
11:50 A.M. EST Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
12:35 P.M. EST Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint
1:10 P.M. EST Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile
1:50 P.M. EST Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
2:30 P.M. EST Breeders’ Cup Sprint
3:10 P.M. EST Breeders’ Cup Mile
3:50 P.M. EST Breeders’ Cup Distaff
4:30 P.M. EST Breeders’ Cup Turf
5:40 P.M. EST Breeders’ Cup Classic

Beginner's Guide to the Breeders' Cup 2

What Qualifies a Horse for the Breeders’ Cup?

Most races in the Breeders’ Cup are capped at 14 horses, with some capped at 12. To qualify for the Breeders’ Cup, a Thoroughbred must be nominated. Any horse that wins a “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series race is automatically selected for the Breeders’ Cup. Selections for the remaining spots are determined based on points earned through Graded Stakes. If there are still open spots, experts may select qualifying horses outside of the Graded Stakes rankings.

Each race is limited to a select age group and sex. See the chart below for details.

Race Age Sex
Classic 3 Years and Up Open
Turf 3 Years and Up Open
Distaff 3 Years and Up Fillies & Mares
Mile 3 Years and Up Open
Sprint 3 Years and Up Open
Filly & Mare Turf 3 Years and Up Fillies & Mares
Dirt Mile 3 Years and Up Open
Filly & Mare Sprint 3 Years and Up Fillies & Mares
Turf Sprint 3 Years and Up Open
Juvenile Turf Sprint 2 Years Old Open
Juvenile Fillies 2 Years Old Fillies
Juvenile 2 Years Old Colts & Geldings
Juvenile Turf 2 Years Old Colts & Geldings
Juvenile Fillies Turf 2 Years Old Fillies

 

What Is the Dress Code for the Breeders’ Cup?

As one of the biggest international racing events of the year, the Breeders’ Cup sees its fair share of fascinators and fedoras. Showing off your race-day best is part of the fun, after all!

Inside the Keeneland Clubhouse, men are required to wear a coat and tie, and women should wear a dress or other race day attire. The general guideline is to dress business casual or more formal — no denim, tennis shoes, flip flops or abbreviated attire, such as shorts, muscle tees or crop tops.

Photo of a Seabiscuit statue wearing the winner's garland at an earlier Breeder's Cup

Famous Breeders’ Cup Winners

Since its inception in 1984, the Breeders’ Cup has hosted dozens of prestigious Thoroughbred racers.

  • In 2015, American Pharoah became the first and only horse to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic after winning that year’s Triple Crown, a feat known as a Grand Slam.
  • Only 15 horses have won the same Breeders’ Cup race twice. In 2000 and 2001, Tiznow became the only horse to win back-to-back Breeders’ Cup Classics, earning him a place in the Racing Hall of Fame.
  • From 2008 – 2010, Goldikova made history by winning the Breeders’ Cup Mile three times in a row.

 

Trust Green Sheet for the Best of Breeders’ Cup Insights

Green Sheet Racing’s tip sheets offer the stats and picks you need to bet on the Breeders’ Cup with confidence. Fun fact: we’ve been around longer than the Breeders’ Cup itself, and our Green Sheets and Finger Sheets have been helping racing enthusiasts win big for decades!

Every expert knows that betting on the Breeders’ Cup is a can’t-miss event. When you combine your own horse racing expertise with the power of professional insights from Green Sheet Racing’s expert handicappers, you can elevate your betting strategy to be best in class.

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