The Breeders’ Cup Challenge is a series of national and international stakes races that allow a horse to qualify for a Breeder Cup entry. It is as simple as winning, and they’re in, meaning the horses receive an automatic free entry and fees paid into the Breeders’ Cup World Championship, which is scheduled to be held this year on November 3rd & 4th at Santa Anita Park.
The Challenge Series, now in its 16th 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.
Each Breeders’ Cup race presents four trophies to the connections of the winner and a garland of flowers draped over the withers of the winning horse. Many Breeders’ Cup winners will go on to win the Eclipse Award in their respective divisions.
A maximum of 14 starters are allowed in each of the Breeders’ Cup Championships races (depending on track dimensions, some races such as the Turf Sprint or Dirt Mile may be limited to 12 starters). Breeders’ Cup Limited has adopted a field selection system to select runners in the event fields are oversubscribed. Winners of the “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races automatically qualify.
Other pre-entries are ranked by a point system for graded stakes performance during the year and the judgment of a panel of racing experts. After pre-entries are taken approximately two weeks before the Breeders’ Cup, the ranking determines eligibility in oversubscribed races. After pre-entry, any vacancies in the fields are filled by horses in order of panel preference.
Check all the details about the BC Challenge series, races, winners, tracks, and more!
Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Races
U.S and International
Track
Date
Race Name
Breeders’ Cup Division
Winner
Video
ARG
San Isidro
Dec 11, 2022
Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini
Longines Turf
The Punisher
Cape Town
Kenilworth
Jan-7th
L’ Ormarins Queen’s Plate
Fan Duel Mile
Al Muthana
Cape Town
Kenilworth
Jan-7th
Cartier Paddock Stakes
Maker’s Mark F&M Turf
Make It Snappy (SAF)
JRA
Tokyo
20-Feb
February Stakes
Longines Classic
Lemon Pop
Argentina
Palermo
01-May
Gran Premio Criadores
Longines Distaff
Belleza de Arteaga
JRA
Tokyo
14- May
Victoria Mile
Maker’s Mark F&M Turf
Songline
Chile
Club Hipico
29- May
Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella
FanDuel Mile
USA
Santa Anita
29-May
Shoemaker Mile
FanDuel Mile
JRA
Tokyo
4-June
Yasuda Kinen
FanDuel Mile
USA
Belmont Park
10-June
Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan
FanDuel Mile
USA
Belmont Park
10-June
Jaipur
Turf Sprint
USA
Belmont Park
10-June
Ogden Phipps
Longines Distaff
Brasil
Hipódromo da Gávea
18-June
Grande Premio Brasil
Longines Turf
UK
Ascot
20-June
King’s Stand S.
Turf Sprint
UK
Ascot
20-June
Queen Anne Stakes
FanDuel Mile
UK
Ascot
21-June
Prince of Wales’s Stakes
Longines Turf
UK
Ascot
22-June
Norfolk Stakes
Juvenile Turf Sprint
JRA
Hanshin Racecourse
25-June
Takarazuka Kinen
Longines Turf
Peru
Hipodromo de Gávea
28-June
Gran Premio Pamplona
Maker’s Mark F&M Turf
USA
Churchill Downs
1-July
Stephen Foster Stakes
Longines Classic
USA
Monmouth Park
22-July
TVG.com Haskell
Longines Classic
USA
Del Mar
29-July
Bing Crosby Stakes
Qatar Racing Sprint
UK
Ascot
29-July
King George VI & Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes
Longines Turf
UK
Goodwood
2-Aug
Qatar Sussex Stakes
FanDuel Mile
USA
Del Mar
5-Aug
Clement L. Hirsch Stakes
Longines Distaff
USA
Saratoga
5-Aug
The Whitney
Longines Classic
USA
Saratoga
12-Aug
The Fourstardave
FanDuel Mile
USA
Colonial Downs
12-Aug
Beverly D. Stakes
Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf
France
France Galop
13-Aug
Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques le Marois
