The 2024 Breeders Cup is the World Championship of horse racing. The 2024 schedule takes place on November 1st and 2nd, 2024 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in California. There are 14 races that start with Future Stars Friday. Saturday sees the big action with there being nine World Champions crowned. The events wrap up with the Longines Breeders Cup Classic. The schedule and TV broadcast information are included for you below.
How Do Horses Qualify for the Breeders Cup?
There is a cap of the maximum number of horses that can start each race in the Breeders Cup. Some races limit this to 12, while most are 14. There are a number of “Win and You’re in “Breeder’s Cup Challenge races during the season who automatically qualify to race. Additionally, there is a point system for other horses based on performance during the season. There are pre-entries received two weeks before the race so that everyone knows who got into the races. For those coming from outside of California, there is a travel award for the team. If the horse is from North America they get $10,000 regardless of place. $40,000 is the payout for those coming internationally.
2024 Breeders Cup Schedule
The 2024 Breeders Cup schedule takes place across two days of action-packed racing. It is unique in that we get different racing surfaces than for other major races during the season like the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes. We can also mix the genders of horse racing as well. We have the Breeders Cup race purse size, distance, age of the horses, and more for you below in the schedule. The 2025 Breeders Cup is also going to take place at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
| Date | TWO YEAR OLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACE (OPEN TO BOTH SEXES) | AGE | SEX | DISTANCE | (METERS) | SURFACE | PURSE | STARTERS |
| Nov 1, 2024 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) | 2YO | Open | 5 Furlongs | (1000m) | Turf | $1,000,000 | 12 |
| Date | TWO YEAR OLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACES FOR COLTS & GELDINGS | AGE | SEX | DISTANCE | (METERS) | SURFACE | PURSE | STARTERS |
| Nov 1, 2024 | FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) | 2YO | C&G | 1 1/16 Miles | (1700m) | Dirt | $2,000,000 | 14 |
| Nov 1, 2024 | Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (GI) | 2YO | C&G | 1 Miles | (1600m) | Turf | $1,000,000 | 14 |
| Date | TWO YEAR OLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACES FOR FILLIES | AGE | SEX | DISTANCE | (METERS) | SURFACE | PURSE | STARTERS |
| Nov 1, 2024 | NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) | 2YO | F | 1 1/16 Miles | (1700m) | Dirt | $2,000,000 | 14 |
| Nov 1, 2024 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GI) | 2YO | F | 1 Miles | (1600m) | Turf | $1,000,000 | 14 |
| Date | THREE YEAR OLD & UP CHAMPIONSHIP RACES FOR FILLIES & MARES | AGE | SEX | DISTANCE | (METERS) | SURFACE | PURSE | STARTERS |
| Nov 2, 2024 | PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (GI) | 3YO&UP | F&M | 7 Furlongs | (1400m) | Dirt | $1,000,000 | 14 |
| Nov 2, 2024 | Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI) | 3YO&UP | F&M | 1 3/8 miles | (2200m) | Turf | $2,000,000 | 14 |
| Nov 2, 2024 | Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (GI) | 3YO&UP | F&M | 1 1/8 Miles | (1800m) | Dirt | $2,000,000 | 14 |
| Date | THREE YEAR OLD & UP CHAMPIONSHIP RACES ON THE TURF | AGE | SEX | DISTANCE | (METERS) | SURFACE | PURSE | STARTERS |
| Nov 2, 2024 | Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (GI) | 3YO&UP | Open | 5 Furlongs | (1000m) | Turf | $1,000,000 | 12 |
| Nov 2, 2024 | FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) | 3YO&UP | Open | 1 Mile | (1600m) | Turf | $2,000,000 | 14 |
| Nov 2, 2024 | Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (GI) | 3YO&UP | Open | 1 1/2 Miles | (2400m) | Turf | $5,000,000 | 14 |
| Date | THREE YEAR OLD & UP CHAMPIONSHIP RACES ON THE DIRT | AGE | SEX | DISTANCE | (METERS) | SURFACE | PURSE | STARTERS |
| Nov 2, 2024 | Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) | 3YO&;UP | Open | 6 Furlongs | (1200m) | Dirt | $2,000,000 | 14 |
| Nov 2, 2024 | Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI) | 3YO&UP | Open | 1 Mile | (1600m) | Dirt | $1,000,000 | 14 |
| Nov 2, 2024 | Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) | 3YO&UP | Open | 1 1/4 Miles | (2000m) | Dirt | $7,000,000 | 14 |
2024 Breeders Cup Schedule, Post Times, and TV Coverage
The 2024 Breeders Cup Schedule for November 1st and 2nd gets confirmed in October. The same with the post times and positions for the horses. The Breeders Cup TV schedule is shown on NBC, USA Network, Peacock, and FanDuel TV. We expect to see USA Network and FanDuel TV cover the first day of the World Championships. Saturday’s races will be shown on NBC and streamed on Peacock. The post times and race order are announced on October 23, 2024. We’ll keep you updated once they’re out.
Watch the 2023 Breeders Cup Classic (Full Race)
If you wanted to check out the 2023 Breeders Cup Classic, here’s the full race for you.
