The Breeders’ Cup World Championships is a series of 14 Grade 1 thoroughbred horse races that run annually, usually beginning in late October and early November.
With the purses of each race ranging between $1 million and $6 million, this event is one of the richest on the racing calendar. It attracts the best horses from around the world, many of which qualify through an extensive challenge series.
The venue for the event changes from year to year. In 2021, The Breeders’ Cup will take place at Del Mar Race Course in California on Nov. 5-6.
This page is a complete guide to the 2021 Breeders’ Cup. Below, you’ll find information on the kind of bets you can place, the individual races, and the history of this event.
The Breeders’ Cup World Championships is a series of 14 Grade 1 thoroughbred horse races that run annually, usually beginning in late October and early November.
With the purses of each race ranging between around R18 million and R127 million, this event is one of the richest on the racing calendar. It attracts the best horses from around the world, many of which qualify through an extensive challenge series.
The venue for the event changes regularly. In 2026, the Breeders’ Cup will take place at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky on Oct. 30-31.
This page is a complete guide to the 2026 Breeders’ Cup. Below, you’ll find information on the kind of bets you can place, the individual races, and the history of this event.
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How to bet on the Breeders’ Cup
There are three ways to place a bet on the annual Breeders’ Cup event:
At the Track: There is nothing like the buzz of attending the Breeders’ Cup. With 14 incredible races over two days, racing fans will get to see quite possibly the best collection of racing talent. While at the track, head to a booth to place your bets, and hopefully, you’ll be revisiting the booth to collect your winnings.
Online Betting Sites: If you’re enjoying the action on TV at home, South African bettors can use licensed online horse racing betting sites where available. These platforms allow eligible players to sign up and place a similar range of bets to those available at the track. Many legal betting sites offer race cards, form guides, live odds, and promotional offers for new and existing customers.
Off Track Betting: Off-track betting (OTB) is precisely what it says. It is any location where you can place a bet away from the track. Many other racetracks or licensed betting venues may offer betting via simulcast. This method allows you to watch the action of the Breeders’ Cup on the big screen, while also allowing you to place bets. As well as racetracks, there are other betting outlets and licensed venues available in different areas. Head to a search engine to find a legal OTB site or licensed betting outlet near you.
Online horse betting: How to sign up and create an account
Signing up and creating a new account to bet on the Breeders’ Cup is simple. The minimum age requirement in South Africa is generally 18 years or older.
Before placing any wager, bettors should make sure they are using a licensed operator and that online horse racing betting is available in their province.
Step 1: Download a horse betting app
Select one of the legal horse betting sites available to South African bettors to bet on the Breeders’ Cup online. Major betting sites usually offer horse betting apps compatible with most Android and Apple devices.
Step 2: Create a new account
You’ll need to complete the registration process before you can bet online. The online racebook or bookmaker will require your first and last name, identity verification details, as well as your date of birth and phone number.
Step 3: Deposit and receive the welcome bonus
Now that you’ve verified your account, you can head to the cashier to make your first deposit. You’ll be able to choose from payment methods such as Visa or Mastercard, EFT, instant bank transfer, prepaid options, or other locally supported banking methods. Many Breeders’ Cup online betting sites offer welcome bonuses and, in some cases, a free bet offer.
How to read the Breeders’ Cup odds
The odds for horse racing bets are usually listed in fractional format.
For example, if you see futures odds of 7-1, you’ll know that a wager of R100 will see a total return of R800 and a profit of R700. If you see morning line odds of 5-2, this is effectively the same as saying 2.5-1, meaning a total return of R350 for a R100 stake, and a profit of R250.
You’ll notice that the win odds for a selection are higher than the place odds, which in turn are higher than the show odds. Obviously, it’s a lot easier to land a show bet than a win one, so you will receive lower payouts.
Some of the biggest wins will come from exotic bets.
The exacta can pay well, especially when you have an outsider in the first two, while the trifecta and superfecta can pay incredible amounts. The size of these prizes can depend on the fate of the favorite. If the favored horse fails to finish in the first three or four, the payouts will be that much higher.
Types of bets at the Breeders’ Cup
All of the bets you place, whether at the track, online, or at an OTB site, will go into the same pari-mutuel pools, with the following range of bets available:
Win: The most straightforward wager of all, you’re simply aiming to pick the winners of the races.
Place: Your selection needs to finish first or second for your bet to be successful.
Show: If your chosen horse finishes first, second or third, you’ve won.
Exacta: Choose the first two in the correct order to win.
Trifecta: Pick the first, second, and third to be successful.
Superfecta: The toughest of them all, as you’ll need to pick first, second, third, and fourth in order.
The exacta, trifecta, and superfecta bets can be “boxed,” meaning that for additional stakes, your selections can finish in any order. Other bets available include Pick 6, where you’ll have to choose a series of winners, and other similar exotic bet types.
Is it legal to bet on the Breeders’ Cup?
Yes, it is legal to bet on the Breeders’ Cup in South Africa when using a licensed bookmaker or totalisator that is authorised to offer horse racing betting. Bettors should always check that the operator is properly licensed before creating an account or depositing funds.
Laws regarding gambling have changed many times over the years, and South Africa has a regulated betting market overseen by national and provincial gambling authorities. Horse racing betting is one of the long-established forms of legal wagering in the country.
Horse racing fans are fortunate because licensed operators can offer betting on local and international races, including major global events such as the Breeders’ Cup, where those markets are made available.
Legal online racebooks and licensed betting operators may welcome online bets from eligible South African customers. Simulcast wagering and off-track betting on races can also be available through approved channels, depending on the operator and provincial rules.
How long does the Breeders’ Cup World Championships run?
The Breeders’ Cup is a two-day festival, always starting on a Friday and ending on a Saturday, with the Breeders’ Cup Classic always the final race on Day Two.
The first day is reserved for the best juveniles and features five races, while the action steps up with nine races on Day Two.
There are two ways in which a horse can qualify for a Breeders’ Cup race. The first is for a trainer to nominate his chosen horse for a race. Then they will compete with other entries to earn enough points in graded races. If they gain enough points, they’ll be in the starting lineup.
The second way is to win one of the ever-growing lists of “win and you’re in” races from the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series detailed below.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge is a series of races run all over the world, with the winner of each race qualifying automatically for one of the 14 races at the two-day festival.
The series began in 2007 with a total of 24 “win and you’re in” races, and this number has grown significantly over the years.
In 2026, there are a total of 95 races in countries such as the United States, Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Brazil and Ireland. Many of the challenge races are domestic, while the international schedule gives the event a global qualifying route.
Breeders’ Cup winners
Here’s a list of the winners of the most prestigious race of all in the event, the Breeders’ Cup Classic:
| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Time | Purse | Track |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Forever Young (JPN) | 4 | Ryusei Sakai | 2:00.19 | R127,000,000 | Del Mar |
| 2024 | Sierra Leone | 3 | Flavien Prat | 2:00.78 | R127,000,000 | Del Mar |
| 2023 | White Abarrio | 4 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 2:02.87 | R109,000,000 | Santa Anita |
| 2022 | Flightline | 4 | Flavien Prat | 2:00.05 | R109,000,000 | Keeneland |
| 2021 | Knicks Go | 5 | Joel Rosario | 1:59.57 | R109,000,000 | Del Mar |
| 2020 | Authentic | 3 | John R. Velazquez | 1:59.60 | R109,000,000 | Keeneland |
| 2019 | Vino Rosso | 4 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 2:02.80 | R109,000,000 | Santa Anita |
| 2018 | Accelerate | 5 | Joel Rosario | 2:02.93 | R109,000,000 | Churchill Downs |
| 2017 | Gun Runner | 4 | Florent Geroux | 2:01.29 | R109,000,000 | Del Mar |
| 2016 | Arrogate | 3 | Mike E. Smith | 2:00.11 | R109,000,000 | Santa Anita |
| 2015 | American Pharoah | 3 | Victor Espinoza | 2:00.07 | R91,000,000 | Keeneland |
| 2014 | Bayern | 3 | Martin Garcia | 1:59.88 | R91,000,000 | Santa Anita |
| 2013 | Mucho Macho Man | 5 | Gary Stevens | 2:00.72 | R91,000,000 | Santa Anita |
| 2012 | Fort Larned | 4 | Brian Hernandez | 2:00.11 | R91,000,000 | Santa Anita |
| 2011 | Drosselmeyer | 4 | Mike E. Smith | 2:04.27 | R91,000,000 | Churchill Downs |
| 2010 | Blame | 4 | Garrett Gomez | 2:02.28 | R91,000,000 | Churchill Downs |
| 2009 | Zenyatta† | 5 | Mike E. Smith | 2:00.62 | R91,000,000 | Santa Anita |
| 2008 | Raven's Pass | 3 | Frankie Dettori | 1:59.27 | R91,000,000 | Santa Anita |
| 2007 | Curlin | 3 | Robby Albarado | 2:00.59 | R91,000,000 | Monmouth Park |
| 2006 | Invasor (ARG) | 4 | Fernando Jara | 2:02.18 | R91,000,000 | Churchill Downs |
| 2005 | Saint Liam | 5 | Jerry Bailey | 2:01.49 | R91,000,000 | Belmont Park |
| 2004 | Ghostzapper | 4 | Javier Castellano | 1:59.02 | R73,000,000 | Lone Star Park |
| 2003 | Pleasantly Perfect | 5 | Alex Solis | 1:59.88 | R73,000,000 | Santa Anita |
| 2002 | Volponi | 4 | Jose Santos | 2:01.39 | R73,000,000 | Arlington Park |
| 2001 | Tiznow | 4 | Chris McCarron | 2:00.62 | R73,000,000 | Belmont Park |
| 2000 | Tiznow | 3 | Chris McCarron | 2:00.75 | R73,000,000 | Churchill Downs |
| 1999 | Cat Thief | 3 | Pat Day | 1:59.52 | R73,000,000 | Gulfstream Park |
| 1998 | Awesome Again (CAN) | 4 | Pat Day | 2:02.16 | R73,000,000 | Churchill Downs |
| 1997 | Skip Away | 4 | Mike E. Smith | 1:59.16 | R80,000,000 | Hollywood Park |
| 1996 | Alphabet Soup | 5 | Chris McCarron | 2:01.00 | R73,000,000 | Woodbine |
| 1995 | Cigar | 5 | Jerry Bailey | 1:59.58 | R54,000,000 | Belmont Park |
| 1994 | Concern | 3 | Jerry Bailey | 2:02.41 | R54,000,000 | Churchill Downs |
| 1993 | Arcangues | 5 | Jerry Bailey | 2:00.83 | R54,000,000 | Santa Anita |
| 1992 | A.P. Indy | 3 | Ed Delahoussaye | 2:00.20 | R54,000,000 | Gulfstream Park |
| 1991 | Black Tie Affair (IRE) | 5 | Jerry Bailey | 2:03.00 | R54,000,000 | Churchill Downs |
| 1990 | Unbridled | 3 | Pat Day | 2:02.20 | R54,000,000 | Belmont Park |
| 1989 | Sunday Silence | 3 | Chris McCarron | 2:00.20 | R54,000,000 | Gulfstream Park |
| 1988 | Alysheba | 4 | Chris McCarron | 2:04.80 | R54,000,000 | Churchill Downs |
| 1987 | Ferdinand | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | 2:01.40 | R54,000,000 | Hollywood Park |
| 1986 | Skywalker | 4 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | 2:00.40 | R54,000,000 | Santa Anita |
| 1985 | Proud Truth | 3 | Jorge Velasquez | 2:00.80 | R54,000,000 | Aqueduct |
| 1984 | Wild Again | 4 | Pat Day | 2:03.40 | R54,000,000 | Hollywood Park |
History of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships
The Breeders’ Cup World Championships began in 1984.
The idea was first proposed two years earlier at an awards luncheon for the Kentucky Derby Festival by John Gaines, who was a leading thoroughbred owner of the era. Despite much skepticism at the time, the event has gone on to be a huge success.
That same year, the event was held at Hollywood Park, featuring seven races and a total prize fund of around R181 million. The Breeders’ Cup generally moves from track to track on an annual basis. In 1996, a meeting at Woodbine in Canada was the only event held outside of the United States.
As of 2026, Santa Anita has hosted the event a record 11 times, ahead of Churchill Downs Racetrack, which has hosted nine times. Keeneland is set to host the World Championships for the fourth time in 2026, following previous editions in 2015, 2020, and 2022.
Up until 2006, the Breeders’ Cup was a single-day event but expanded to two days in 2007. As a sign of the sheer quality of the meeting, several Breeders’ Cup races are regularly ranked among the most important Grade 1 races in the world. In 2026, there will be more than R616 million in prize money and awards up for grabs.
