ITV’s Champions – Full Gallop has enthralled viewers and fans of racing this summer, but as the Jumps summer break draws to a close, the action remains subdued and attention is inevitably drawn toward the big Flat events, both in this country and abroad.

In US horse racing, there are arguably two distinct areas of focus. In the spring and early summer, all roads lead to the Kentucky Derby and the two other legs of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. Yet, as the summer draws to a close and autumn draws in, attention switches to the Breeders’ Cup Festival, a spectacular two-day event that acts as a fitting finale to the year’s flat racing action.

Unusually for major racing events, the Breeders’ Cup is held across different venues, including iconic tracks like Churchill Downs and Santa Anita Park. The 2024 event will take place at the Del Mar track in California, so it might not necessarily feel like a winter festival with a bit of luck.

This is undoubtedly one of the great events of the international racing calendar, an argument supplemented by the huge field of international talent, but what do you need to know about it? This guide will brief you on everything important about the Breeders’ Cup.

Breeders Cup overview

The meeting takes place over two days in early November. As mentioned, the venue changes year by year. What is constant, however, is that it features a heavy concentration of great races – no fewer than 14 Grade 1 events squeezed into the two days. Like Royal Ascot and Cheltenham, it features a range of different disciplines and age ranges, as well as different track surfaces. The 2024 event will take place from Friday 1^st to Saturday 2^nd November, and you can expect plenty of European runners.

Breeders Cup broadcasting

If you’re not lucky enough to be heading to California to see the races in person, Sky Sports Racing and Racing TV cover the action in full. Despite being eight hours behind us in California, the race times are pleasant for UK viewers. The first race will start somewhere around 8pm UK time on Friday 1^st November. The last race is the big one – the Breeders’ Cup Classic – and will broadcast around 11.40pm in the UK on Saturday 2^nd November. Just time to return from a fireworks evening for a bout of racing on the telly.

Breeders Cup betting

As you might expect, the Breeders’ Cup is a huge betting event, second only to the Triple Crown races of the summer. There are some differences between betting strategies in the US compared to what you would experience at Ludlow, but if you know the basics of how to bet on horse racing, you’ll be fine.

The 5 Biggest Breeders Cup Races

*GBP approximate values for prize money

Breeders’ Cup Classic: This is the highlight of the festival and one of the richest races in North America, with a purse of £4.7 million. It is run over 1¼ miles on dirt and is open to horses aged three and older.

Breeders’ Cup Turf: Another premier race with a purse of £3.1 million, it is run over 1½ miles on turf and attracts top international turf horses. It often features previous winners of major turf races such as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Enable won this in 2018.

Breeders’ Cup Distaff: This race features the best fillies and mares aged three and older, competing over 1⅛ miles on dirt, with a purse of £1.55 million.

Breeders’ Cup Mile: Run over a mile on turf, this race offers a purse of £1.55 million and is known for its competitive international field.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile: Focused on two-year-olds, this race is run over 1⅛ miles on dirt and has a purse of £1.55 million, serving as a key indicator for future stars. Nyquist, for instance, went on to win the Kentucky Derby the year after his 2015 Breeders Cup Juvenile victory.

Other notable races: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, Breeders’ Cup Sprint, Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

Once upon a time, there used to be a Breeders Cup Chase, held at eastern seaboard venues like Fairhill in Maryland. Morley Street was a memorable winner for Toby Balding, but sadly, the race wasn’t sustainable.

Breeders Cup news

One of the biggest questions on everyone’s lips right now is whether City of Troy – the immaculate winner of the Epsom Derby – will go on to contest the prestigious Breeders’ Cup Classic. City of Troy has been praised as one of Aidan O’Brien’s best-ever horses, and that’s saying something, so the prospect of having the Derby winner go up against America’s best is a delicious prospect.