Bet the Breeders' Cup online with OffTrackBetting.com - US Legal Online Wagering

2 Days - 14 Races - $31 Million in Purses and Awards

With 86 Breeders' Cup Challenge races in the rearview mirror, the 38th Breeders' Cup World Championship is in full focus, as Del Mar beckons on November 5-6 for the second time, some four years after a rousing success in 2017.

All told, 14 championship races worth $31 million in purses and awards will take place over two days, with the grand finale, the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at 1 ¼ miles, headlined by the Brad Cox-trained stablemates KNICKS GO and ESSENTIAL QUALITY in a field brimming with talent, and the Horse of the Year title on the line.

OCT 27 - Led by Knicks Go and Essential Quality, the multiple Grade 1-winning favorites for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1); $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) favorite Letruska; and defending Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) winner Tarnawa (IRE), 196 horses, including 56 from overseas, and eight returning champions, have been pre-entered for the 2021 Breeders' Cup World Championships.

The 56 international horses are a record number of international pre-entries for the Breeders' Cup and span seven countries: Great Britain (26), Ireland (17), Japan (8), France (2), Argentina (1), Peru (1) and South Africa (1).

The 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing's most prestigious two-day global event, consisting of 14 races with purses and awards totaling more than $31 million, will be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Friday, Nov. 5 and Saturday, Nov. 6. On "Future Stars Friday," there will be five World Championships races exclusively for 2-year-olds. There will be nine Breeders' Cup races on the Saturday program.

The Breeders' Cup will be televised live on NBC, NBCSN and TVG. Coverage begins on Nov. 5 on NBCSN and TVG from 5-9 p.m. ET and continues on Nov. 6 on NBCSN and TVG from 2:30- 8 p.m. The World Championships conclude live and in prime time on NBC from 8-9 p.m. The eight returning champions for this year's Breeders' Cup are Knicks Go, Essential Quality, Tarnawa, Audarya (FR), Order of Australia (IRE), Gamine, Glass Slippers (GB) and Golden Pal.

In addition, 46 pre-entered horses earned automatic starting positions into the World Championships races through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

"We are very proud of the magnificent array of talent of Group and Graded Stakes winners from around the world who have been pre-entered for this year's World Championships," said Drew Fleming, Breeders' Cup President and CEO. "International competition at its highest level is the hallmark of the Breeders' Cup, and we thank the horsemen and women who prepare these outstanding equine athletes for the biggest races in their careers for their participation. We also thank our breeders and nominators, whose support of our $31 million in purses and awards is a true testament to their commitment to the Championships."

2021 BREEDERS' CUP RACE SCHEDULE

$6 million Breeders' Cup Classic

The $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), the climactic event of the Championships, will be run on the main track at 1 ¼ miles with a first-place owner's prize of $3.1 million. On 14 occasions, the winner of the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic also has been named Horse of the Year, and this year's Classic will once again have ramifications on the coveted year-end title. Five of the Top 15 Longines World's Best Racehorses are pre-entered in the Classic.

Trainer Brad Cox, who tied the record for most victories in a World Championships with four at Keeneland last year, trains the standout older horse and top 3-year-old coming into this year's Breeders' Cup. Korea Racing Authority's 5-year-old Knicks Go, who won last year's Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), has won four of six starts this year, punctuated by front-running victories in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park, the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga - in which he gained an automatic starting position into the Classic - and the Lukas Classic (G3) at Churchill Downs in his most recent start on Oct. 2.

Essential Quality was voted 2-year-old champion last year on the basis of his win in the $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1), and like his stablemate, he's been hard to defeat, winning 5-of-6 starts, and leads all North American runners in earnings with $2.88 million. The son of Tapit has lost just one race, when he was fourth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) but rebounded to win the Belmont (G1) in June and Saratoga's Aug. 28 Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) in his most recent start. Essential Quality finished four votes ahead of Knicks Go in the final Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings.

Two other 3-year-old could prove prominent in the Classic picture. Roadrunner Racing, William Strauss, Boat Racing, and Gainesway Stable's Hot Rod Charlie finished second to Essential Quality in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile at 94-1. This year, Hot Rod Charlie, trained by Doug O'Neill, was a hard-fought second to Essential Quality in the Belmont Stakes, then crossed the wire first in the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1), but was disqualified and placed seventh for interference. He came back on Sept. 25 to take the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx.

Zedan Racing Stables' Medina Spirit, who finished first in the Kentucky Derby, came back this summer to notch victories in the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 29 and then gained a free starting position into the Classic when he captured Santa Anita's Awesome Again Stakes (G1) for trainer Bob Baffert.

Among the older horses who have won at Del Mar this year, Hronis Racing's Tripoli, trained by John Sadler, took the "Win and You're In" TVG Pacific Classic (G1) and C R K Stable's Express Train won the San Diego Handicap (G2). Also, representing the California contingent is Calvin Nguyen's Santa Anita Handicap (G1) winner Idol, and Steve Moger's Stilleto Boy, who won the Iowa Derby in July and was second in the Awesome Again Stakes.

Trainer Steve Asmussen saddled Breeders' Cup Classic winners and subsequent Horses of the Year with Curlin in 2007 and a determined Gun Runner in 2017 at Del Mar. This year, Asmussen has pre-entered George E. Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbred Corp.'s Max Player, who won two Breeders' Cup Challenge races in the Classic division, taking the Suburban Stakes (G2) at Belmont in July and The Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga in September. Also making a big statement in New York was Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector, who has won his last three starts, including a gate-to-wire triumph in the Woodward Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park on Oct. 2 for trainer Bill Mott.

Letruska Imposing Favorite in Longines Distaff

As powerful as Knicks Go has been in the Classic division, St. George Stable's homebred Letruska has been the dominant older female of 2021, and headlines the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at 1 1/8 miles. Trained by Fausto Gutierrez, the 5-year-old mare has won six of seven starts this year, four of those being Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races, taking the Ogden Phipps (G1) at Belmont Park, the Fleur de Lis (G2) at Churchill Downs, the Personal Ensign (G1) at Saratoga, and the Juddmonte Spinster (G1) Keeneland on Oct. 10. Back in April, Letruska signaled great things to come when she defeated two-time Distaff winner Monomoy Girl in the Apple Blossom (G1) at Oaklawn.

Among the challengers to Letruska is Shadwell Stable's Malathaat. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Malathaat has been the top 3-year-old filly this year, taking the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs and the Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 21, which was her most recent start. Qatar Racing Limited, Flurry Racing Stables, and Big Aut Farms' Shedaresthedevil earned her free berth into the Distaff by taking the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar in August for trainer Brad Cox. Baoma Corporation's Private Mission has won all three of her starts this year, and grabbed a free entry into the race when she won the Zenyatta Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita for trainer Bob Baffert. W.S. Farish's Royal Flag, trained by Chad Brown, finished third to Letruska in the Personal Ensign, but came back to win the Beldame Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park by 4 ¼ lengths on Oct. 10.

Among the international challengers pre-entered for the Distaff are Pozo De Luna's Blue Stripe (ARG), who took the "Win and You're In" Gran Premio Criadores (G1) at Palermo in Argentina, and U Carrot Farm's Marche Lorraine (JPN), who won four races in Japan this year, including the Breeders' Gold Cup at Mombetsu in August for trainer Yoshito Yahagi.

Tarnawa Slated to Defend her Title in the Breeders' Cup Turf

H.H. Aga Khan Studs Tarnawa (IRE) completed an undefeated season last year when she scored a 1-length victory in the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) at Keeneland, providing trainer Dermot Weld with his first Breeders' Cup win. This year, the 5-year-old daughter of Shamardal made her seasonal debut August when she won the Ballyroan Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown, and has since been second in two Group 1 "Win and You're In" races in Leopardstown's Irish Champion Stakes in September and the Oct. 3 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1).

Trainer Aidan O'Brien has won the Breeders' Cup Turf a record six times. In June he saddled Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs. John Magnier's 4-year-old filly Love (IRE) to victory in Royal Ascot's Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) and she earned a "Win and You're In" for the Turf.

The Americans counter with Klaravich Stables' Domestic Spending (GB), a two-time Grade 1 winner in 2021 for trainer Chad Brown. In May, the 4-year-old son of Kingman (GB) dead-heated for the win in the Churchill Downs Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic and then won Belmont Park's Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes in June. Domestic Spending, 6-for-8 lifetime, finished second by a neck in the Mr. D. Stakes (G1) at Arlington Park in August in his most recent start.

In California, LNJ Foxwood's 5-year-old gelding United will be running in his third consecutive Breeders' Cup Turf, finishing just a head behind Bricks and Mortar in 2019 and a disappointing eighth last year. Trained by Richard Mandella, United has three wins this year, including a last out score in the John Henry Turf Championship (G2) at Santa Anita. John O'Connor's Astronaut earned a "Win and You're In" to the Breeders' Cup Turf when he scored a 24-1 upset in the Aug. 21 Del Mar Handicap Presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2) for trainer John Shirreffs.

$2 million Breeders' Cup Mile

A total of 24 horses have been pre-entered for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF (G1) on turf, the largest of all the pre-entered fields this year. In the 2020 Breeders' Cup Mile, Derek Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Anne Marie O'Brien's Order of Australia (IRE) came off the also-eligible list for trainer Aidan O'Brien and swept to victory at 73-1.

This year, Order of Australia has just one win in six starts, taking the Grade 2 Romanised Minstrel Stakes at The Curragh in July. O'Brien has also pre-entered 3-year-old filly Mother Earth (IRE), who won the Prix Rothschild (G1) at Deauville in August. Godolphin's Space Blues (IRE) is a 10-time winner, which includes a 2-length win on Oct. 3 in the Qatar Prix de la Foret (G1) at ParisLongchamp.

Three American "Win and You're In" automatic qualifiers have been pre-entered. Spendthrift Farm and MyRacehorse's Got Stormy, second in the 2019 Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita, earned her way back into this year's race with a win over males in Saratoga's Fourstardave (G1) in August for trainer Mark Casse, while Bonne Chance Farm and Stud R D I's In Love (BRZ) won the Oct. 9 Keeneland Turf Mile (G1) for trainer Paulo Lobo.

Cannon Thoroughbreds' homebred Smooth Like Strait gained his invitation by winning the Santa Anita's Shoemaker Mile (G1) in May for trainer Michael McCarthy. Also in California,Bardy Farm and OG Boss' Mo Forza has back-to-back wins in the Del Mar Mile Stakes (G2) and then the Oct. 2 City of Hope (G2) at Santa Anita for trainer Peter Miller.

Audarya is back for Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf

$2 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf

The $2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at 1 3/8 miles is shaping up as a wide-open affair among the 14 championship races. Mrs. A.M. Swinburn's Audarya (FR) defends her title. Trained by James Fanshawe, Audarya has not won in four starts this year, with her best performances being a second-place finish to Love in the Prince of Wales's Stakes and another runner-up finish in the Prix Jean Romanet (G1) in August at Deauville.

Audarya finished fourth in the "Win and You're In" Prix de l'Opera (G1) behind Le Haras De La Gousserie's Rougir (FR), who scored her first win of the year for trainer Cedric Rossi. On June 26 at Hipodromo De Monterrico in Lima, Peru, Arriba Arequipa's Reina de Mollendo (ARG) won the Gran Premio Pamplona (G1), earning her an automatic spot in the Filly and Mare Turf. She is trained by Kenny McPeek.

In the U.S., George Krikorian's War Like Goddess captured the "Win and You're In" Flower Bowl (G1) on Sept. 4 at Saratoga for trainer Bill Mott and improved her record to 6-for-7 lifetime. Medallion Racing, Abbondanza Racing, and MyRacehorse's Going to Vegas won Santa Anita's Oct. 2 Rodeo Drive (G1) for trainer Richard Baltas to gain a free berth.

Jackie's Warrior and Dr. Schivel lead Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint

$2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint

In the $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at 6 furlongs, J. Kirk and Judy Robison's 3-year-old Jackie's Warrior is the top sprinter from the East, winning four of his last five starts for trainer Steve Asmussen, including the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) at Saratoga and the Gallant Bob (G2) at Parx on Sept. 25. In California, another 3-year-old, Red Baron's Barn, Rancho Temescal, William A. Branch and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Dr. Schivel has dominated the sprinting scene, winning all three of his starts, including two "Win and You're In" races. Trained by Mark Glatt, Dr. Schivel captured the 6-furlong Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) over the Del Mar strip on July 31 and came back on Oct. 2 to take the Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (G2) by 3 ¼ lengths. Tom Kagele, Gary Barber, Altamira Racing Stable, and Madaket Stables' C Z Rocket finished second in last year's Sprint at Keeneland. This year he has won two of six starts, and finished third behind Dr. Schivel in both the Bing Crosby and the Santa Anita Sprint Championship for trainer Peter Miller. Mr. Amore Stable's Firenze Fire is set for a record-tying fifth Breeders' Cup start. Third in last year's Sprint, Firenze Fire, trained by Kelly Breen, won the True North (G2) at Belmont in June.

$1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

In the $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at 1 mile, WinStar Farm and CHC Inc's Life Is Good, who was a Kentucky Derby favorite before being sidelined by injury in the spring, returned this summer and finished second by a neck to Jackie's Warrior in the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1) at Saratoga for trainer Todd Pletcher. In his next start, Life Is Good returned to the winner's circle, taking the Kelso Handicap (G2) at Belmont Park on Sept. 25. Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing's Silver State, trained by Steve Asmussen, won his first four starts of the year, including a "Win and You're In" berth for this race when he captured the Hill `N' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park in June. Slam Dunk Racing, Richard Baltas, Jerry McClanahan, and Michael Nentwig's Ginobili earned a free berth into the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile when he took the Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar on Aug. 28.

$1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

In the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at 7 furlongs, Michael Lund Petersen's Gamine is the defending champion. The 4-year-old filly, trained by Bob Baffert, has won all four of her starts this year, including Grade 1 scores in the Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs and the Kettle One Ballerina at Saratoga. Bo Hirsch's Ce Ce, fifth in last year's Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), gained a "Win and You're In" for the Filly & Mare Sprint when she won Gulfstream Park's Princess Rooney (G2) in July. Hronis Racing's Edgeway, trained by John Sadler, won the Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) at Del Mar in August.

$1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint

In the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at 5 furlongs, Bearstone Stud Limited's 5-year-old mare Glass Slippers (GB) won last year's Turf Sprint at Keeneland. Trained by Kevin Ryan, Glass Slippers has a trio of third-place finishes this year, including one last time out in the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longines (G1), which was won by Gary Devlin's A Case of You (IRE), who gained a free berth into the Turf Sprint. Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Westerberg's 3-year-old Golden Pal was victorious in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2). Trained by Wesley Ward, Golden Pal comes into the race off a 2 ¼-length win in the Woodford Stakes presented by TVG (G2) at Keeneland.

Futures Stars Friday Brings Stellar Juvenile Race Lineup

$1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

The $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) at 5 furlongs begins "Future Stars Friday." Trainer Wesley Ward, seeking his third consecutive win in this race, has pre-entered Hat Creek Racing's 2-year-old filly Averly Jane, who is undefeated in four starts and comes to Del Mar following a 3-length victory in Keeneland's "Win and You're In" Indian Summer Stakes on Oct. 10. Patricia's Hope Stable and Richard Ravin's unbeaten One Timer earned a free berth into this race by winning the Speakeasy Stakes at Santa Anita for trainer Larry Rivelli. Al Shaqab Racing's Armor (GB), trained by Richard Hannon, won the Markel Molecomb Stakes (G3) at Goodwood in July, and was recently third in the Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (G1) at Newmarket.

$2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies

Four Breeders' Cup Challenge winners are among those pre-entered $2 million NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at 1 1/16 miles. L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds' Echo Zulu has dominated East Coast 2-year-old fillies with runaway Grade 1 victories in the Spinaway at Saratoga and the Frizette at Belmont Park for trainer Steve Asmussen. Joey Platts, Old Bones Racing Stable, and Michael Lombardi's Ain't Easy made light work of Santa Anita's Chandelier Stakes (G2), winning it on Oct. 1 by 4 ¾ lengths. From Kentucky, Hidden Brook Farm and Black Type Thoroughbreds' Hidden Connection, trained by Bret Calhoun, gained an automatic starting position by winning the Pocahontas Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs in September. Albaugh Family Stables' Juju's Map scored a "Win and You're In" invitation by taking Keeneland's Darley Alcibiades (G1) on Oct. 8 for trainer Brad Cox.

$1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

In the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at 1 mile, Group 1 winner Hello You (IRE) is among the 18 pre-entered. Owned by Amo Racing Limited, Hello You gained an automatic starting position into the Juvenile Fillies Turf when she captured the Unibet Rockfel Stakes (G2) at Newmarket. Chris Walsh's California Angel, trained by George Leonard III, came from last of 12 fillies to win the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes (G2) by a head at Keeneland and gained a free berth into the race. Treadway Racing Stable's Sail By, trained by Leah Gyarmati, was a 1-length winner of Belmont's Miss Grillo Stakes (G2) on Oct. 2.

$2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile

In the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) at 1 1/16 miles, Speedway Stables' Corniche broke his maiden going wire-to-wire at Del Mar on Sept. 4, and then was a front-running 3 ¼-length winner of the "Win and You're In" American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park for trainer Bob Baffert. Rustlewood Farm's Pappacap finished second in the American Pharoah. Trained Mark Casse, Pappacap, a son of 2017 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Gun Runner, won the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar in August. Lucky Seven Stable's Rattle N Roll, trained by Kenny McPeek, also earned a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series victory into the Juvenile when he came from off the pace to score a 4 ¼-length victory in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 9. Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister, Coolmore Stud, and Peter Brant's Jack Christopher, trained by Chad Brown, gained a free berth into the Juvenile by winning the Oct. 2 Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park. Kazuo Kato's Jasper Great, a Kentucky-bred son of the late 2016 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Arrogate, won on debut by 10 lengths on the all-weather surface at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan on Oct. 9 for trainer Hideyuki Mori.

$1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

The $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at 1 mile, the closing race on Future Stars Friday, has an overflow field of 20 pre-entered. Godolphin's Albahr (GB), already a four-time winner for trainer by Charlie Appleby, returns to North America following his 2 ¼-length victory in the "Win and You're In" Summer Stakes (G1) at Woodbine in September. Phoenix Thoroughbreds' Tiz the Bomb made a powerful stretch move to win the Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes (G2) at Keeneland to earn a free starting position into this race. ERJ Racing, Madaket Stables, and Dave Kenney's Mackinnon, trained by Doug O'Neill, won the Del Mar Juvenile Stakes in September, and followed up that score by taking Santa Anita's Zuma Beach Stakes on Oct. 3. D.J. Stable, Chester Broman, Sr., Mary Broman's Coinage captured the With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga on Sept. 1 for trainer Mark Casse. The dam of Coinage is Bar of Gold, who won the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar in 2017.

***

A maximum of 14 starters are allowed in each of the 14 Breeders' Cup World Championships races with the exception of the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, which are each limited to 12 starters. Breeders' Cup Limited has adopted a field selection system to select runners in the event fields are oversubscribed. This system ranks horses in order of preference based on (i) Breeders' Cup Challenge race winners, (ii) a point system, and (iii) the judgment of an international panel of racing experts. The field selection system was implemented following the taking of pre-entries on Monday, Oct. 25, to officially rank the oversubscribed fields. The Racing Secretaries and Directors Panel (the "Panel") ranked all the horses pre-entered in the oversubscribed races as described above. After pre-entry, any vacancies in the fields will be filled by horses in order of Panel preference.

There will be up to four (4) also-eligible horses for each Championship race, except for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, which will each have up to six (6). The also-eligible horses will be designated in accordance with the Panel's order of preference for each Championship race that is oversubscribed at the time of pre-entry. Entry for the 14 Breeders' Cup World Championships races will close at 10 a.m. PT on Monday, Nov. 1, and post positions for the races will be drawn at 2:30 p.m. PT. Scratch time for Friday Championship races will be 8 a.m. PT, Friday, Nov. 5, and scratch time for Saturday's Championship races will be at 8 a.m. PT, Saturday, Nov. 6.

2021 Breeders' Cup Challenge Series Races

Record Nine "Win and You're In" Berths into Longines Breeders' Cup Classic

The 2021 Breeders' Cup Challenge Series schedule consists of 84 automatic qualifying stakes races into the Breeders' Cup World Championships. This year's series, which includes a record nine "Win and You're In" races for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic division, will take place in 10 countries.

Horses from around the globe will be qualifying through the Challenge Series for the 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 5-6, and will be televised live on NBC and NBCSN.

The Challenge Series, now in its 15th year, will be hosted at many of the world's premier racetracks in Argentina, Canada, Chile, England, France, Ireland, Japan, Peru, South Africa and the United States.

There are two new Challenge Series races in 2021: The Suburban Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park on July 3, which grants a berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), and the Calumet Kentucky Cup (G2) at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 11, which offers a spot in the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1).

The first North American Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race of the year will be the Shoemaker Mile (G1) at Santa Anita Park on May 31. The Shoemaker Mile winner will gain a free starting position into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1).

As part of the benefits to horsemen, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees and guarantee a starting position in a corresponding Championships race for all Challenge Series race winners. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of Oct. 25 to receive the rewards.

In addition, Breeders' Cup will provide a $40,000 travel allowance to the connections of all Championship starters from outside of North America and a $10,000 travel allowance for starters within North America that are stabled outside of California.

In support of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA), which was signed into law in the U.S. last December, all Breeders' Cup Challenge races this year will not permit medications to be administered within 24 hours of race day.

"We look forward to the return of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series with horsemen from around the world participating in and taking advantage of the many incentives, such as automatic starting positions and paid entry fees, to qualify for the World Championships," said Breeders' Cup President and CEO Drew Fleming. "We also thank our international and domestic racetrack partners for their important work and dedication to support the Challenge Series."

Some of the highlights of this year's Challenge Series are as follows:

Providing fans with a path to the World Championships, NBC Sports will televise the "Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In Series presented by America's Best Racing," featuring 12 live programs in the U.S. this summer and fall. The full 2021 television schedule will be announced Wednesday, April 21.

There will be a record nine automatic berths awarded for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. The 4-year-old Cafe Pharoah became the first horse to qualify for this year's Longines Breeders' Cup Classic when he won the February Stakes (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan on Feb. 16. The next automatic qualifier in the division will be the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs on June 26; followed by the Suburban Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park on July 3; the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park on July 17; the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 7; the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at York in England on Aug. 18; the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar on Aug. 21; The Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga on Sept. 4; and the Awesome Again Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park on Oct. 2.

In the U.S., there will be six "Win and You're In" races for the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), starting with the Ogden Phipps (G1) on June 5 as part of the Belmont Stakes (G1) day program at Belmont Park. The Ogden Phipps will be followed by the Fleur de Lis (G2) at Churchill Downs on June 26; the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar on Aug. 1; The Personal Ensign (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 28; the Juddmonte Spinster (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 3; and the Zenyatta Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park on Oct. 3.

The European leg of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series will begin with four races at the Royal Ascot meeting in England: The Queen Anne Stakes (G1) on June 15 with an invitation to the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1); the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) on June 16 with an invitation to the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1); the Norfolk Stakes (G2) on June 17 with an invitation to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2); and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1) on June 19 with an invitation to the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1).

Three other prestigious European automatic qualifiers for the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) are also back: The King George VI & Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (G1) at Ascot on July 24; the Irish Champion Stakes (G1) at Leopardstown on Sept. 11; and the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) at ParisLongchamp on Oct. 3, one of five Breeders' Cup Challenge races on the Arc day program.

Canada will be represented by three Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races at Woodbine, led by the Ricoh Woodbine Mile on Sept. 18 with an invitation to the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1), and Natalma Stakes with an invitation to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) and the Summer Stakes with an invitation to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), both on Sept. 19.

The international portion of the series began on Dec. 19 when the 3-year-old Cool Day (ARG) captured the Gran Premio International Carlos Pellegrini (G1) at Hipodromo de San Isidro in Argentina to gain the first automatic starting berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). Three more South American races will be part of the 2021 Challenge Series: the Gran Premio Criadores (G1) from Palermo in Argentina on May 1 with an invitation to the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1); the Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella (G1) at Club Hipico in Chile on May 2 with an invitation to the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1); and the Gran Premio Pamplona (G1) at Hipodromo de Monterrico in Peru on June 26 with an invitation to the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

On Jan. 9 at Kenilworth Racecourse in South Africa, two horses gained "Win and You're In" berths. The 3-year-old Jet Dark (SAF) won the L'Ormarins Queen's Plate (G1) for a free spot in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1), and the 5-year-old mare Queen Supreme (IRE) earned an automatic qualifying position into the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) by winning the Cartier Paddock Stakes (G1). On March 21, Mike de Kock, trainer of Queen Supreme, indicated that she will be pointed to the World Championships this fall.

Last year, five Breeders' Cup Challenge Series winners also won a World Championships race: Authentic (TVG.com Haskell Stakes, G1) winner of the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1); Tarnawa (IRE) (Prix de l'Opera Longines, G1) winner of the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1); Glass Slippers (GB) (Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes, G1) winner of the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1); Essential Quality (Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, G1) winner of the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and Aunt Pearl (IRE) (JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes, G2) winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).

About Breeders' Cup - World Championship Horse Racing Since 1984

Every sport has a definitive year-ending event to crown its champions. In Thoroughbred racing, the Breeders' Cup World Championships is the culmination of the horse racing season worldwide and the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic is the defining event of the international racing season.

The Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships held the first series of its seven races before a crowd of 64,254 horse racing, horse betting, horse wagering, and handicapping fans at Hollywood Park in 1984. Today, purses for the fifteen races of the Breeders’ Cup amount to $26 million. The most important race in the series, the Breeders' Cup Classic, has a total purse of $5 million, with a winner's share of more than $2.5 million.

The Breeders’ Cup traces its roots back to 1982, with a group of Horse racing leaders frontlined by John R. Gaines, founding father of the Breeders’ Cup and former owner of Gainesway Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. The group had envisioned a vehicle to promote the sport, which would not only be a showcase of the sport’s finest elements but also a grand finale to the racing season, with a multimillion dollar total purse. Every one of those visions came true.

The Breeders’ Cup inaugural event was held on November 10, 1984 at glitzy Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California. It was an instant hit. The championship races have since become the cornerstone of a year-round program that has allocated over $380 million to owners and breeders alike. Most divisional champions crowned since 1984 have participated in a Breeders' Cup racing event.

In 1986, a separate $250,000 Breeders' Cup Steeplechase, run two weeks earlier than the series at a different track, was added to the program. That race was discontinued after 1993. A turf race for fillies and mares was added in 1999.

Breeders' Cup Betting - In Thoroughbred racing, the Breeders' Cup is the culmination of the horse racing season worldwide.

After Hollywood Park, the Breeders’ Cup would change venues yearly. Each fall, a different North American track plays host to the prestigious thoroughbred racing event, which have included the richly historical Churchill Downs, the stately Belmont Park, and the panoramic Santa Anita Park in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains.

Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, holds the records for both Breeders' Cup attendance and total horse betting. The renowned racecourse attracted 80,452 spectators in 1998, and when the races came back to Louisville in 2000, over $108 million was wagered.

Since 1984, the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships has continued to grow in popularity owing to its prestige and keen level of competition. Contending horses have not only come from the US but all the way from England, Ireland, France, Japan, and Germany. The races are televised on both NBC and ESPN (pre-championships), and simulcast in 25 countries, with horserace wagering at more than $108 million.

But beyond the foreign players and media sponsors, thoroughbred owners and breeders have served as the Breeders’ Cup’s backbone since the very beginning. They not only supply the race horses competing in the Breeders' Cup events but also pay the nominations from which the organization, Breeder’s Cup Limited, derives its major source of funding.

As an international program, the Breeders’ Cup has instituted a nomination process to breeders around the world. Stallion owners annually pay a nomination fee that is the equivalent of a stallion's advertised stud fee, or a minimum of $1,000. Breeders pay a nomination fee of $500 for each foal. Nominated horses are eligible to compete for millions in both the Breeders’ Cup Stakes program and the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships events. Annual nominations from all over the world have made the Breeders’ Cup a truly global institution.

The Breeders’ Cup has no doubt accomplished what its founders set out to do, and more. Today, after 32 years and running, the Breeders’ Cup remains the definitive test of Horse racing champions, and has become thoroughbred racing’s most recognizable and successful showpiece worldwide.