The countdown is on as the horses approach the paddock with a few final days of prep until the top Thoroughbreds move into the starting gate for the 41st Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Record wagering is expected at the southern California race track in Del Mar, just 20 miles North of San Diego. Del Mar hosts the Breeders’ Cup for a third time, and again next year in 2025.
The beautiful horses are the main attraction at the Breeders’ Cup, from the future stars on Friday as juveniles, to the fantastic fillies, magnificent mares and classic colts that produce a lifetime of enjoyment for their connections and fans.
Seeing these beautiful animals up close is just part of the special experience of watching the world’s greatest races horses at the Breeders’ Cup. The fans expressions and reactions before, during and after the races is exciting beyond just the watch and wager action.
Del Mar racetrack tweet Oct 29 CB Eclips
A total of 179 horses were entered in the World Championships, a California record, including three previous Champions: Big Evs (IRE), Rebel’s Romance (IRE) and Fierceness, who won the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and this year’s Travers Stakes, and was the race favorite in the Kentucky Derby. Fierceness is the second-betting favorite in this year’s $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.
There are 67 international contenders, also a record for the World Championships. Nine countries are represented: Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Ireland, Japan, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States, from a record five continents – Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America.
I will be at Del Mar with live racing coverage for my sixth Breeders’ Cup since 2016. FanDuel, the official wagering partner of the Breeders’ Cup with coverage on FanDuel TV and online at FanDuel Racing, provides fans with more watch and wager opportunities.
The Breeders’ Cup will be televised live domestically on NBC, Peacock, USA Network and FanDuel TV. The NBC coverage includes a network window from 3:30-6 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 2. The $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) will be the centerpiece of the Championships Saturday program with a post time of 2:41 p.m. PT / 5:41 p.m. ET. There will be four Championship races before and four Championship races after the Classic, centering the marquee race as the end of the middle Pick 5 and the start of the late Pick 5 on the wagering menu.
“Future Stars Friday” features five Breeders’ Cup races for 2-year-olds on the 10 race card Nov. 1.
Then on Saturday, Nov. 2, nine Breeders’ Cup races are part of the 12 race card. The $7 million Breeders Cup Classic headlines the biggest day of horse racing. For the second straight year, the Longines BC Classic will be the middle race of the nine Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup races – a move that aligns it with NBC’s college football coverage of Wisconsin at Iowa at 4:30 p.m. PT
How to Bet on Horse Racing
Opening parimutuel odds will change on race day as bets are placed. Leading favorites and contenders listed below and full race fields, odds and jockeys in FanDuel Research and horse racing link.
Friday, Nov. 1
Five Breeders’ Cup races for juveniles on Future Stars Friday. All times local, p.m. Pacific.
Race 6 at 2:45: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint
Race 7 at 3:25: NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
Race 8 at 4:05: John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
Race 9 at 4:45: FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Race 10 at 5:25: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
Sat., Nov. 2
Race 4 at 12:00: PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
Race 5 at 12:41: Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint
Race 6 at 1:21: Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff
Race 7 at 2:01: Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf
Race 8 at 2:41: Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic
Race 9 at 3:25: Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare
Race 10 at 4:05: Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint
Race 11 at 4:45: FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile
Race 12 at 5:25: Big Ass Fand Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile
Check back for additional Breeders’ Cup coverage, odds, picks and information you can bet on from Del Mar – Where the Turf meets the Surf and it’s Cool as Ever.
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