Every year, the path to the Breeders’ Cup World Championship begins a few months ago. Breeder‘ Cup Challenge Series. The series has expanded over the years, and has always given fans and bettors a preview of the runners competing for the glory of the Breeders’ Cup in the fall. Each winner of the Challenge Series race will receive an automatic qualifying berth that pays for the corresponding Breeders’ Cup race, as described in the series’ popular tagline “Win and You’r In.”
Below are the facts you need to know about the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, which will lead you all the way to 42nd Breeders’ Cup World Championship at Del Mar, Southern California, Friday, October 31st and Saturday, November 1st.
1. This year it’s 19th This year marks the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, which began in 2007. The Breeders’ Cup World Championship dates back to over 20 years when it was first run in 1984.
2. The 2025 Challenge Series actually began in 2024, with the first race of the series being the Grand Premio International Carlos Peregrini Run, held at San Isidro Racecourse in Argentina. That race was a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for Longines Breaders’ Cup Turf, and a horse named Intense won me.
3. The first three domestic “Victory and You Are Participating” races were held at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival on June 4th-8th at the Saratoga Race Course. Dorth Vader I won Ogden Phipps stakes presented by Ford June 7th, Longines Breaders ‘Cup Distaff; A raging torrent I won for $1 million Hill ‘n’Dale Metropolitan Handicap June 8th Qualifications Big Donkey Fan Breeders Cup Dirt Mile;and AG Bullet Best proven in rescheduling Jaipur Stakes Get her path on June 9th PREVAGEN BREIDERS ‘CUP TURF SPRINT.
4. Television coverage of the Challenge series races can be found on a total of seven live broadcasts across NBC, CNBC and Fox throughout the year. The first begins on Saturday, July 19th at 5pm on NBC and features NYRA BETS Haskell Stakes. The Haskell Stakes is the “Victory and You” race of the Rondeine Breeders Cup Classic. NBC and CNBC coverage is streamed on Peacock and NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. Many of this summer and fall races will air on Fan Duel TV, including international races from the prestigious Royal Ascott tournament in June, and international races from Longchamp Racecourse in France in October.
5. The Challenge Series began in 2007 with two “Win and You’re In” races. By 2014 it consisted of 71 races in 13 countries. In 2025, the series will have 93 races held in 15 different countries.
6. As part of the expanded schedule scheduled for 2025, the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series includes qualifying races in Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, increasing the total number of participating countries from 12 in 2024 to 15 this year.
7. Last year, 44 Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series winners raced at the 2024 World Championships at Del Mar, winning their respective division races.
8. The winners of the five Challenge Series races that advanced to the glory of the 2024 Breeders’ Cup were manufacturers Mark Breeders’ Cup Philly and Male Turf’s Moira. Citizen Bull, a boy with a $2 million fan duel breeders cup, presented by TAA. He is immersed in the filling of a boy in the $2 million NetJet Breeders Cup. Lake Victoria in the Million-dollar John Deer Breeders Cup boy Phillies Turf. The angel spirit of the million dollar PNC Bank Breeders Cup Philly & Marless Print.
9. Six “Win and You’r In In In” races from Breaders’ Cup 2024 will be held at Del Mar, the site for this year’s World Championships. Known as “where Turf meets surf,” the picturesque Oceanside Track first hosted the World Championships in 2017 and reappeared in 2021 and 2024. Another “Win and You’re In” race by Del Mar is Bing Crosby Stakes (Cygames Breaders ‘Cup Sprint) on July 26th. Clement L. Hirsch Stakes was announced by the Oak Tree Racing Association (Longines Breaders’ Cup Distaff) on August 2nd. Pat O’Brien Stakes (Big Donkey Fan Breeders Cup Dirt Mile) on August 23rd. The Del Mar handicap was announced by the Japan Racing Association (Longines Breaders ‘Cup Turf) on August 30th. Green Flash Handicap (Prevagen Breaders’ Cup Turf Sprint) on August 30th.
10. Ten automatic berths will be awarded to the Marquee Race of the World Championship, a $7 million Breeders’ Cup classic. The three bids have already been secured by Forever Young, the winner of the February 22nd Saudi Cup. Costa Nova won the stakes in Japan on February 23rd. And then the hit show, which won a classic spot in his victory at the Dubai World Cup on April 5th. The remaining seven qualifiers include the Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 28th, the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 19th, the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on August 2nd, the Judd Monte International Stakes on August 20th, and the Fan Dule Pacific Stakes Santa Anita Park on August 30th.
