The countdown to the 2019 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita is well and truly on and we've got all the information you need ahead of the championships.
Contents
1. What is the Breeders' Cup?
2. When is the Breeders' Cup?
3. Breeders' Cup races & times?
4. Breeders' Cup tips & features
5. Breeders' Cup videos
6. Sky Bet Breeders' Cup odds and offers
7. Breeders' Cup Challenge Series
8. Breeders' Cup stats & records
9. Past & future Breeders' Cup sites
1. What is the Breeders' Cup?
The Breeders' Cup is one of the most eagerly-anticipated fixtures of the Flat season and brings together horses from all over the world to compete for more than $30,000,000 in purses over the two days' action.
The meeting was run as a single-day event from its inception in 1984 to 2006 but expanded to two days in 2007 and has maintained that structure ever since.
The Breeders' Cup has been held at different racecourses each year in North America and Canada and for 2019 returns to Santa Anita Park for a record 10th time. Santa Anita last played host in 2016 when Arrogate famously got the better of California Chrome in an epic battle for the Classic title.
Since then the Breeders' Cup has been hosted by Del Mar for the first time in 2017 and then Churchill Downs last November for a ninth time as Enable and Expert Eye starred for Europe on a memorable day.
Last year also saw the introduction of 'Future Stars Friday' with all five races on the first day purely for the two-year-olds, including the new Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.
2. When is the Breeders' Cup?
The two-day 'thoroughbred world championships' is held on Friday November 1 and Saturday November 2, 2019.
The opening day is tagged Future Stars Friday and features five Breeders' Cup races, all of which are for two-year-olds.
The feature races on the card are the TVG Juvenile and the Juvenile Fillies, both run on the dirt surface and both worth $2,000,000 in total prize money.
There are nine top-class contests on Breeders' Cup Saturday, culminating in the $6,000,000 Classic run as the final race of the day.
3. Breeders' Cup races & times
All times GMT...
Friday November 1
20.12 - Juvenile Turf Sprint
20.52 - Juvenile Fillies Turf
21.32 - Juvenile Fillies
22.12 - Juvenile Turf
23.03 - TVG Juvenile
Saturday November 2
18.55 - Filly & Mare Sprint
19.33 - Turf Sprint
20.10 - Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile
20.54 - Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf
21.36 - Sprint
22.20 - TVG Mile
23.00 - Longines Distaff
23.40 - Longines Turf
00.44 - Classic
4. Breeders' Cup tips & features
This is the place for all of our tips and analysis in the build-up to the meeting so keep this page bookmarked and come back at a later date as more features get added...
Breeders' Cup Saturday tips - Matt Brocklebank previews all nine races on the Breeders' Cup programme at Sanita Anita on Saturday.
Breeders' Cup: Euro Stars - There are 32 European contenders in action at the Breeders' Cup this weekend and Matt Brocklebank takes a deep dive into every runner's chance of Santa Anita success.
Breeders' Cup: Aidan O'Brien's Turf template - Matt Brocklebank profiles Aidan O'Brien's past six Breeders' Cup Turf winners and considers whether Anthony Van Dyck fits the bill this time around.
Breeders' Cup Diary -
Breeders' Cup Diary - Our Matt Brocklebank provides the latest news and views after jetting into California for the 36th Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Park.
Breeders' Cup: Santa Anita pointers - Our man in Santa Anita Matt Brocklebank arms you with 10 essential pieces of information about the home team, the course set-up and the local jockeys to note.
Breeders' Cup: What makes it great? - Matt Brocklebank is our man in Santa Anita this week and he kicks off with the five key ingredients that make it such a fantastic occasion.
Breeders' Cup memories - David Ord, Ben Linfoot and Matt Brocklebank take a trip down memory lane and pick out 10 of their favourite Breeders' Cup memories.
Antepost Angle - Our expert Matt Brocklebank pinpoints the best long-range bets at this year's Breeders' Cup in Santa Anita, with America's leading turf horse backed to win the Mile.
Meet the favourites - Matt Brocklebank provides an early look at the long-range favourites for all 14 races.
5. Breeders' Cup videos
6. Sky Bet Breeders' Cup odds and offers
Sky Bet have a wide range of Breeders' Cup odds available and make McKinzie their favourite for the Breeders' Cup Classic which brings the curtain down on the meeting.
The European raiders have done well in the Breeders' Cup Turf in recent seasons - winning nine of the last 11 editions - and Investec Derby-winning colt Anthony Van Dyck features prominently in the big mile and a half race.
Sir Michael Stoute's Expert Eye won the Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs in 2018 and Circus Maximus features among the market leaders for Aidan O'Brien this time around.
Lord Glitters, Space Traveller and Suedois also form a strong hand for Europe but the Chad Brown-trained filly Uni and Mark Casse's Got Stormy look more than capable of holding their own for the home team.
Keep this page bookmarked for all the latest promotions including extra places on the key Breeders' Cup races.
7. Breeders' Cup Challenge Series
The Challenge Series is a series of 87 races run in the build-up to the Breeders' Cup which carry 'win and you're in' status, starting with the Gran Premio International Carlos Pellegrini at San Isidro, Argentina, on December 15 right through to the JP Morgan Chase Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland on October 9.
Major European races that help form part of the series include the Prince of Wales's Stakes (Turf), the Norfolk Stakes (Juvenile Turf Sprint) and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Turf Sprint) at Royal Ascot, plus the Qatar Sussex Stakes (Mile) at Glorious Goodwood as well as the Prix de l'Opera (Filly & Mare Turf) and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Turf).
For a full rundown of the Challenge Series and the horses to have qualified visit breederscup.com.
8. Breeders' Cup stats & records
Most wins and earnings
Breeders' Cup Wins – Jockey:
Mike Smith - 26
John R. Velazquez - 16
Jerry Bailey – 15
Frankie Dettori - 14
Garrett K. Gomez - 13
Breeders' Cup Wins – Trainer:
D. Wayne Lukas – 20
Bob Baffert – 15
Aidan O'Brien and Chad Brown – 12 each
William I. Mott and Todd A. Pletcher - 10 each
Richard Mandella and Shug McGaughey – 9 each
Breeders' Cup Earnings – Owner:
Juddmonte Farms - $16,815,820
Godolphin - $15,061,735
Magnier, Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael and Smith, Derrick - $13,355,725
Stronach Stables - $8,492,400
Allen E. Paulson - $6,670,000
Breeders' Cup Earnings – Breeder:
Adena Springs - $10,112,400
Juddmonte Farms - $7,973,820
Allen E. Paulson - $7,854,800
Wertheimer et Frère - $6,117,545
H. H. The Aga Khan - $5,380,400
Breeders' Cup Earnings – Horse:
Zenyatta – $4,680,000
Tiznow – $4,560,400
Mucho Macho Man - $3,650,000
Goldikova (IRE) – $3,508,200
Gun Runner – $3,470,000
Breeders' Cup Earnings - Sire:
Galileo (IRE) – $12,236,287
Unbridled's Song – $10,922,400
Storm Cat - $8,866,300
Smart Strike – $8,800,160
Street Cry (IRE) – $7,528,000
Breeders' Cup Earnings - Dam:
Cee's Song – $5,360,400
Vertigineux – $4,680,000
Leslie's Lady – $4,010,000
Born Gold - $3,868,200
Ponche de Leona – $3,650,000
Largest margins of victory:
13.5 lengths - Inside Information, 1995 Distaff
10 lengths - Street Sense, 2006 Juvenile
9. Past & future Breeders' Cup sites
- 2021 − Del Mar Thoroughbred Club
- 2020 − Keeneland
- 2019 – Santa Anita Park
- 2018 – Churchill Downs
- 2017 − Del Mar
- 2016 − Santa Anita Park
- 2015 − Keeneland
- 2014 – Santa Anita Park
- 2013 – Santa Anita Park
- 2012 – Santa Anita Park
- 2011 – Churchill Downs
- 2010 – Churchill Downs
- 2009 – Santa Anita Park
- 2008 – Santa Anita Park
- 2007 – Monmouth Park
- 2006 – Churchill Downs
- 2005 – Belmont Park
- 2004 – Lone Star Park
- 2003 – Santa Anita Park
- 2002 – Arlington Park
- 2001 – Belmont Park
- 2000 – Churchill Downs
- 1999 – Gulfstream Park
- 1998 – Churchill Downs
- 1997 – Hollywood Park
- 1996 – Woodbine
- 1995 – Belmont Park
- 1994 – Churchill Downs
- 1993 – Santa Anita Park
- 1992 – Gulfstream Park
- 1991 – Churchill Downs
- 1990 – Belmont Park
- 1989 – Gulfstream Park
- 1988 – Churchill Downs
- 1987 – Hollywood Park
- 1986 – Santa Anita Park
- 1985 – Aqueduct
- 1984 – Hollywood Park
