Beginner's Guide to Watching the Breeders' Cup World Championships
By Annise Montplaisir
The Breeders’ Cup World Championships are the year-end international finale to the Thoroughbred horse racing season for many countries. Horses travel from around the globe to compete in various racing divisions depending on their running style, specialty distance, and sex (similar to a track-and-field competition). These divisions vary from short sprint races to longer route races over dirt and turf (grass) racing surfaces. Two-year-old horses only race against horses their own age in divisions designated for juveniles, while horses three years old and upwards race in open company against horses of any age. Female horses can either run against other fillies and mares, or in open divisions against male horses.
Photo Credit: Lauren West
Here are some other questions you might have about how to watch and learn about this event.
Where and when is the Breeders’ Cup held?
The 2023 Breeders’ Cup will take place at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California on Friday, November 3 and Saturday, November 4. The Breeders’ Cup is usually held at a different location each year, but is limited to areas that have comfortable race-going weather in late October or early November, and facilities that can accommodate 30,000-50,000 attendees. Find a list of past host sites and results here.
Where can I watch the Breeders’ Cup?
If you won’t be able to attend the races in person, you’ll still be able to enjoy amazing television and social media coverage! The Breeders’ Cup will be shown live across NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and FanDuel TV on Friday and Saturday.
Day 1: Televised on USA Network and FanDuel TV
USA Network coverage from 4-8 p.m. ET
FanDuel TV coverage beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET
Day 2: Televised on the USA Network, NBC, Peacock, and FanDuel TV
USA Network coverage will take place from 1:30-3:30 p.m. ET
NBC and Peacock from 3:30-7 p.m. ET
FanDuel TV will televise the first two undercard races and eight of the nine Breeders’ Cup World Championships races on Saturday
Where can I follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media?
Instagram stories are one of the best social media routes for going “behind-the-scenes” at Breeders’ Cup. Amplify’s top picks include the Breeders’ Cup channels, along with Santa Anita Park, World Horse Racing, and Thoroughbred Daily News.
What are the races in the Breeders’ Cup?
On big race days such as the Breeders’ Cup, there are headline races (the actual Breeders’ Cup races themselves) and undercard races, referring to the additional races on the schedule. The Breeders’ Cup website has a full list of the headline races including post times (the approximate time each race is scheduled to begin), and where to watch it on television. Breeders’ Cup also provides the official programs for Friday and Saturday for FREE! These programs tell you about the horses running, including their past performances (meaning previous races), and give you the chance to get to know the contenders. Still learning how to read past performances? Watch this Horse Racing Hangout on the subject, or check out Keeneland’s great interactive guide to reading a racing program.
Who are the horses running in the Breeders’ Cup?
Meet the contenders! Breeders’ Cup has detailed profile information about each and every horse running in all of the Breeders’ Cup races. You can filter by race and click on individual horses to learn more. Use Equibase to search individual horse names or to look up jockey, trainer, and owner statistics.
What is done to protect the safety of the horses in the Breeders’ Cup?
From track surface testing to intense equine monitoring, there are many systems and protocols in place to prevent injury to horses and humans during the Breeders’ Cup. As with any fast-paced, high-level sport, there is an element of risk involved, which is why extensive precautions are taken. Learn more about integrity and safety.
Where do I find historical information about past Breeders’ Cups?
If you love fun facts and statistics, check out the Breeders’ Cup Stats page. It has historical information about winning horses from each participating country, event recaps, race records, and more! John Gaines was the original cultivator of the idea for the Breeders’ Cup, which was first held in 1984. Learn more about his story here.
If you’re ready to learn about more prominent names and organizations in the Thoroughbred industry, visit Amplify’s Industry Resources page.