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What you should know about the 2024 Breeders’ Cup World Championships

What you should know about the 2024 Breeders’ Cup World Championships

The world of horse racing caps off an exciting year with the 41st edition of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in Del Mar, covered exclusively on NBC, USA Network and NBCSports.com and peacock.

What is the Breeders’ Cup World Championship?

The Breeders’ Cup is Horse racingis the last major event of the season. Horses from around the world will compete in 14 races over two days, with the Breeders’ Cup Classic taking center stage over the weekend.

The Breeders’ Cup originated in 1984 as a year-end championship for North American thoroughbred horses and their breeders. The idea of ​​the deceased John Gainesthe former owner of Gainesway Farm, the Breeders’ Cup was founded by thoroughbred breeders for thoroughbred breeders.

In 2007, the Breeders’ Cup was expanded from one day to two days. Now the first day of the weekend is called “Future Stars Friday,” with many of racing’s most promising colts and fillies running both in the field and on the turf. On championship Saturday, more than $23 million in prize money will be awarded across nine races, including the $7 million Classic.

Related: TKTKTK

When will the Breeders’ Cup 2024 take place?

The Breeders’ Cup takes place November 1-2. Friday’s coverage runs from 4 to 8 p.m. ET on USA Network. Saturday’s coverage begins at 2 p.m. ET on USA Network before moving to NBC peacock to 6:00 p.m. ET (when the Breeders’ Cup Classic ends) and ends on USA Network until 8:00 p.m. ET.

Where will the Breeders’ Cup 2024 take place?

The Breeders’ Cup changes tracks each year, with Del Mar Racing hosting for the first consecutive year. Del Mar Racing, based in Del Mar, California, has hosted a number of historic races, including Gun Runner winning the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic and Knicks Go’s historic 2021 Breeders’ Cup Classic victory.

Here’s how to watch the Breeders’ Cup:

Friday

  • Date: November 1, 2024
  • Time: 4:00 p.m. ET to 8:00 p.m. ET
  • TV channel: USA
  • Streaming info: peacockNBCSports.com, NBC Sports app

Saturday

USA Network, Part 1

  • Date: November 2, 2024
  • Time: 2:00 p.m. ET to 3:00 p.m. ET
  • TV channel: USA
  • Streaming info: peacockNBCSports.com, NBC Sports app

NBC

  • Date: November 2, 2024
  • Time: 3:30 p.m. ET to 6:00 p.m. ET
  • TV channel: NBC
  • Streaming info: peacockNBCSports.com, NBC Sports app

USA Network, Part 2

  • Date: November 2, 2024
  • Time: 6:00 p.m. ET to 8:00 p.m. ET
  • TV channel: USA
  • Streaming info: peacockNBCSports.com, NBC Sports app

How are horses selected for the Breeders’ Cup?

There have to be horses nominated for the race at every Breeders’ Cup event. Nominated stud stallions then pass this nomination on to their foals, meaning that any offspring of a nominated stallion is eligible to compete in a Breeders’ Cup race. Each year the stallion’s nomination costs as much as his advertised breeding fee and covers up to 50 foals the stallion produces that year before the fee is increased. Foals can also be nominated individually for $400 each, but stallions standing abroad are also eligible. These funds go into the Breeders’ Cup coffers and flow back into the host area.

However, just because a horse is nominated does not mean that it will compete in the Breeders’ Cup.

The “Win and you’re in” Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is a series of Breeders’ Cup qualifying races in which the winner automatically takes part in the corresponding Breeders’ Cup race (upon payment of the entry fee).

Horses that fail in a Challenge Series race earn points throughout the season by finishing ranked races in prize money, and the horses with the most points at the end of the season fill the remaining spots. The final places in each race are filled through selection by a jury of experts.

Related: From Experiment to History: The Story of the Breeders’ Cup

What is the full Breeders’ Cup schedule?

The Breeders’ Cup includes a total of 14 races held over two days on the first weekend in November.

Schedule for Friday, November 1st

  • Youth turf sprint (Publication time: 5:45 p.m. ET) – $1 million purse
  • Juvenile fillies (Publish time: 6:25 p.m. ET) – $2 million purse
  • Young filly turf (Publication time: 7:05 p.m. ET) – $1 million purse
  • teenager (Publication time: 7:45 p.m. ET) – $2 million purse
  • teenager Race (Publication time: 8:25 p.m. ET) – $1 million purse

Schedule for Saturday, November 2nd

  • dirt mile (Publication time: 3:00 p.m. ET) – $1 million purse
  • Lawn sprint (Publication time: 3:41 p.m. ET) – $1 million purse
  • Distaff (Publication time: 4:21 p.m. ET) – $2 million purse
  • Race (Publication time: 5:01 p.m. ET) – $5 million purse
  • classic (Publication time: 5:41 p.m. ET) – $7 million purse
  • Filly and Mare Turf (Publish time: 6:25 p.m. ET) – $2 million purse
  • Filly and Mare Sprint (Publication time: 7:05 p.m. ET) – $1 million purse
  • mile (Publication time: 7:45 p.m. ET) – $2 million purse
  • sprint (Publication time: 8:25 p.m. ET) – $2 million purse

What is the Breeders’ Cup Classic?

The $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic is the weekend’s main event. At 1 1/4 miles long, the Classic features a field of up to 14 horses that must be at least 3 years old. Breeders’ Cup Classic winners have won the Horse of the Year title several times in the past, including airline (2022) Curtsy go (2021), Authentic (2020), Curlin (2007) and cigar (1995)

The last time the Breeders’ Cup was held at Del Mar, Brad Cox Knicks Go won the Breeders’ Cup Classic by 2 3/4 lengths and defeated Bob Bafferts Controversial colt Medina Spirit, who crossed the finish line first in the 2022 Kentucky Derby but was disqualified after a positive drug test.

Which horses should you watch out for in the Breeders’ Cup Classic?

John Sadler’s undefeated airline goes into the race as the expected big favorite to win. The 4-year-old stallion started 2022 with a win in the Met Mile by 6 lengths. This success was followed by a dominant performance at the Pacific Classic in Del Mar, where he won the race by an astonishing 19.5 lengths.

While many expect Flightline to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic, he has some interesting potential challengers. Taibatrained by Bob Baffert, could have the best chance of defeating Flightline after a convincing three-length win against the likes of Flightline Cyberknife, Zandon And Skippy long stocking in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby.

Another expected threat to victory could be a consistent runner epicenter. The Steve AsmussenThe stallion he trained scored an impressive victory in the Travers Stakes, beating a strong field of 2022 Triple Crown winners by five and a half lengths.

Speaking of Triple Crown winners: 2022 Kentucky Derby winner Rich strike is expected to be in the field and put in a strong performance at the Lukas Classic. The winner of the Lukas Classic, Hot Rod Charlieis also expected to be in the field looking to avenge his fourth-place finish in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Big Event Weekend on NBC and Peacock – November 2nd and 3rd

It’s a weekend full of must-watch events on NBC and Peacock. Watch the Breeders’ Cup on Saturday, November 2nd at 3:30 p.m. ET, followed by Big Ten Football at 7:00 p.m. ET. The action continues on Sunday, November 3rd with figure skating at the Grand Prix de France starting at noon ET, the penultimate race of the NASCAR Cup Series championship at 1:30 p.m. and the Jaguars taking on the Eagles on Sunday Night Football 7 p.m. continues. all on NBC and Peacock.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. The full list of supported devices can be found here.