2023 Breeders’ Cup Betting Guide – Best Sites, Markets & Tips

This is our expert guide to the best Breeders’ Cup betting sites and Racebooks on the World Championships in horse racing. Check out where to bet on the Breeders’ Cup online and what happens during this mega meet of thoroughbred racehorses.

In This Guide

Breeders’ Cup 2022 Key Info

  • 🏇 Races: 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships
  • 📅 Date: Friday, November 4 & Saturday, November 5, 2022
  • ⏰ Time: From 3 p.m. ET & 11 a.m. ET
  • 🏟️ Location: Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky
  • 📺 TV Channel: NBC Sports
  • 🎲 Number of Races: 14
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Best Breeders’ Cup Betting Sites 2023

You can see from the list above what the best Breeders’ Cup sportsbooks and Racebooks are. Here are more details on our top 10 offshore betting sites that let you wager on the World Championships:

  1. Bovada – Bet on loads of Breeders’ Cup races
  2. BetOnline – Up to 9% rebate on the World Championships
  3. BetUS – Money back on selected Breeders’ Cup races
  4. MyBookie – 8% rebate on Breeders’ Cup online betting
  5. XBet – Max 7% cashback when you bet on Breeders’ Cup online
  6. SportsBetting.ag – Free play and 9% rebate on the World Championships
  7. BUSR – $150 Racebook bonus and 8% rebate for Breeders’ Cup picks
  8. Everygame – Pari-mutuel betting on all Breeders’ Cup entries
  9. Betanysports – Cashback & Racebook+ for the World Championships
  10. Jazz Sports – Bet the Breeders’ Cup on multiple races

How to Sign up to Breeders’ Cup Betting Sites

Signing up to a Breeders’ Cup online betting platform is a piece of cake. If you don’t know how to do it, just follow these five simple steps:

1. Visit Breeders’ Cup Sportsbooks & Racebooks to Join Them

Click join on Breeders' Cup betting sites

We’re using BetOnline as an example, so hit either of the green “Join” buttons on the homepage to begin the sign-up process.

2. Create Your Account & Enter Personal Details

BetOnline Registration Process for Preakness Stakes

This brings up the registration form, on which you must enter personal details like name, date of birth, home address, zip code and email address. You also need to create a password for your betting account.

3. Deposit so You Have Funds to Bet with

BetOnline Deposit Options

Now make a deposit, either from traditional banking methods such as credit card or bank transfer, or cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. You must fund your account on Breeders’ Cup betting sites before you can wager anything.

4. Visit Racebook or Futures Betting on the Breeders’ Cup

Breeders' Cup betting sites

Most Breeders’ Cup sportsbooks will have a futures betting section for horse racing. This is where you can make long-term wagers ahead of time on the World Championships. If you’re looking to bet the Breeders’ Cup on the day, then check out the Racebook with pari-mutuel betting markets on all events.

5. Place Wagers on Breeders’ Cup Races

All the remains now is getting your wagers on the World Championships through Breeders’ Cup betting sites. Add you picks to the betslip, then enter a stake – how much you want to gamble – and confirm.

Breeders’ Cup Odds & Betting Markets

If you want to bet on Breeders’ Cup online, then there are plenty of wagers bettors can make. There are two types on horse racing betting sites in the USA. Straight bets and Exotic wagers.

The best Breeders’ Cup betting sites provide both through their Racebooks. Learn more about the bet types below:

Straight Bets

Bettors who want to keep it simple should stick with Straight Breeders’ Cup bets and there are four different kinds:

Win

A Win wager is the most popular option. If your Breeders’ Cup picks finish first in the race, then the bet pays out.

Example: Flightline to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic @ -140

Place

Place betting covers a horse to finish first or second in the race. The Breeders’ Cup odds in this pari-mutuel market will be shorter than a simple Win.

Example: Epicenter to place in the Breeders’ Cup Classic @ +290

Show

A Show wager is for a horse to finish first, second or third. This Breeders’ Cup bet factors that into the odds offered, so they will be shorter than the Win and Place markets.

Example: Taiba to show in the Breeders’ Cup Classic @ +300

Across the Board

All the top Breeders’ Cup betting sites also offer the Across the Board wager. This is Win, Place and Show wagers all on the same betslip. It’s similar to each way betting on British sportsbooks.

Example: Yibir Across the Board in the Breeders’ Cup Turf

Exotic Wagers

With the Exotics, these Breeders’ Cup bets involve backing multiple horses in the same or other races together in one wager. Here are the most popular:

Exacta

An Exacta bet involves betting two Breeders’ Cup horses in the same race to finish first or second in a specific order. Your two picks must be the first two for this bet to payout.

Example: Flightline to win and Epicenter to be second in a Breeders’ Cup Classic Exacta

Quinella

The Quinella wager is a bet like an Exacta but without a set finishing order. Both permutations are covered, so the unit stake on Breeders’ Cup betting sites doubles.

Example: Nest and Malathaat in a Breeders’ Cup Distaff Quinella

Trifecta

With the Trifecta bet, you wager on three (or more) horses in the same race to finish first, second and third in a particular order. You can “box” or “wheel” Trifectas to increase your chances of winning this Exotic Breeders’ Cup bet, but the outlay increases with more permutations.

Example: Jackie’s Warrior, Jack Christopher and Laurel River in a Breeders’ Cup Sprint Trifecta

Superfecta

More complex and difficult to pull off still, is the Superfecta. Here, you bet four (or more) horses in the same race to finish first, second, third and fourth in a set order.

Example: Highfield Princess, Golden Pal, Campanelle and Casa Creed in a Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Superfecta

Super Hi-Five

The toughest Breeders’ Cup bet of all, the Super Hi-Five is a wager with five (or more) horses in the same race to finish first, second, third, fourth and five in a particular order. If bettors pull this off, you’ll win megabucks on the World Championships.

Example: Flightline, Epicenter, Life Is Good, Mo Donegal and Taiba

Daily Double

The Daily Double is popular on Breeders’ Cup betting sites as they specify two races you must find the winner of. If you pick them right, then the odds get multiplied together giving a bigger payout than individual bets.

Example: Modern Games (Breeders’ Cup Mile) and Flightline (Breeders’ Cup Classic) in a Daily Double

Multis

Just think of Multis as horse racing’s equivalent of Parlays in US team sports. You bet three (Triples) or more picks in different races. Like the Daily Double, odds from each leg of a Multi are multiplied together creating big payouts from small stakes.

Example: Highfield Princess (Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint), Modern Games (Breeders’ Cup Mile), Jackie’s Warrior (Breeders’ Cup Sprint) and Flightline (Breeders’ Cup Classic) in a Multi

Breeders’ Cup Sportsbooks & Racebooks Promos

To be considered among the best Breeders’ Cup betting sites out there, they need to offer you great deals. This applies to both new and existing customers. There are three main types of sportsbook and Racebook promos available:

Sign-Up Offers

Welcome bonuses are how established and new betting sites alike attract new players. These are typically a first deposit bonus matching the amount you open your account with.

The best sign-up offers are 100% of any deposit value or more. A higher percentage bonus means more to play with for your Breeders’ Cup bets.

Free Bets

What’s great about horse racing free bets is you don’t risk your cash balance with wagers on the World Championships. These deals can be quite difference.

Some are risk-free bets, refunding losing stakes on big events like those on the Breeders’ Cup schedule. Others are bet and get deals where a qualifying wager gives you free bets for your next horse racing pick.

Be warned, though, rollover requirements can and will apply. You may need to playthrough the value of bonuses several times in order free funds to your cash balance and make them withdrawable.

Horse Racing Rebates

It’s clear that top Breeders’ Cup betting sites must include rebates on the World Championships. These refund a small percentage of Racebook losses, between 7% and 10% on Exotics usually, every day or each week.

While the rebate on Straight bets is smaller at 4% or 5%, every little helps. On races as competitive as the ones part of the Breeders’ Cup program, you won’t pick the winner every time. Rebates help soften the disappointment of losing.

What is the Breeders’ Cup?

The Breeders’ Cup World Championships are a two-day event held in the USA each fall. Inaugurated in 1984, the idea behind the meet was to have horse racing on both dirt and turf that would attract the best thoroughbreds to compete in America for major prize purses.

There are a wide range of Breeders’ Cup races, 14 in all, with different entry requirements. Each event at the World Championships has at least $1,000,000 in prize money on offer. The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series sees horses competing across the globe chances to qualify for races at the meet.

When is the Breeders’ Cup?

There’s a fixed spot in the annual horse racing calendar for the World Championships. All Breeders’ Cup betting sites know that the meet takes place on the first Friday and Saturday in November. This is the perfect time during fall as events act as the end-of-year championships.

Where is the Breeders’ Cup Held in 2023?

One thing that makes the World Championships so special is the host venue changes every year. With no fixed venue, unlike other major races in America, past Breeders’ Cup results don’t have as much importance.

In recent years, the meet has alternated between two US states where horse racing is very popular, California and Kentucky. In 2023, Keeneland in the Blue Grass State hosts the World Championships for a third time. Come next year, however, Breeders’ Cup horses head to Santa Anita Park.

Complete List of Breeders’ Cup Locations

Since it began in 1984, 12 different racetracks – 11 across seven US states and once in Canada – have been home to the World Championships. Here are all past, present and future Breeders’ Cup locations and their whereabouts in America:

  • Santa Anita Park (Arcadia, California) – 11 times (1986, 1993,  2003, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2023)
  • Churchill Downs (Louisville, Kentucky) – 9 times (1988, 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2018)
  • Belmont Park (Elmont, New York) – 4 times (1990, 1995, 2001, 2005)
  • Hollywood Park (Inglewood, California) –  3 times (1984, 1987, 1997)
  • Gulfstream Park (Hallandale Beach, Florida) – 3 times (1989, 1992, 1999)
  • Keeneland (Lexington, Kentucky) – 3 times (2015, 2020, 2022)
  • Del Mar Thoroughbred Club (Del Mar, California) – twice (2017, 2021)
  • Aqueduct (Queens, New York City, New York) – once (1985)
  • Woodbine (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) – once (1996)
  • Arlington Park (Arlington Heights, Chicago, Illinois) – once (2002)
  • Lone Star Park (Grand Prairie, Texas) – once (2004)
  • Monmouth Park (Oceanport, New Jersey) – once (2007)

All Breeders’ Cup Races

Through Breeders’ Cup betting sites, you can wager on 14 different races during the World Championships across both days of the meet. These cover a range of distances, genders and ages of horses across dirt and turf surfaces. Let’s learn about those Breeders’ Cup races in more detail:

  • Juvenile Turf Sprint
  • NetJets Juvenile Fillies
  • Juvenile Fillies Turf
  • FanDuel Juvenile
  • Juvenile Turf
  • Filly & Mare Sprint
  • Turf Sprint
  • Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile
  • Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf
  • Qatar Racing Sprint
  • FanDuel Mile
  • Longines Distaff
  • Longines Turf
  • Longines Classic

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Races

The Friday meet of the the Breeders’ Cup World Championships is all about the juvenile races. These events are all restricted to two-year-old thoroughbreds. There are five Breeders’ Cup races in all on this day:

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

  • 📈 Distance: 5½ furlongs
  • 🏇 Horses: 2yos
  • 📅 Inaugurated: 2018
  • 🌎 Surface: Turf
  • 💰 Total Prize Purse: $1,000,000
  • 🎲 Favorite: TBD

The newest of Breeders’ Cup races, Keeneland trainer Wesley Ward has dominated the Juvenile Turf Sprint since its introduction. This event is all about speedy young horses scorching the turf. Five automatic qualifying spots comes with invites to the World Championships for the winners of:

  • Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot (UK) in June
  • Prix Morny at Deauville (France) in August
  • Speakeasy Stakes at Santa Anita in October
  • Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland in October
  • Futurity Stakes at Aqueduct in October

NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies

  • 📈 Distance: 1 mile ½ a furlong
  • 🏇 Horses: 2yo fillies
  • 📅 Inaugurated: 1984
  • 🌎 Surface: Dirt
  • 💰 Total Prize Purse: $2,000,000
  • 🎲 Favorite: TBD

Young fillies feature on Breeders’ Cup betting sites with an extended mile race on dirt. The event for Juvenile Fillies has been part of the World Championships since the start. Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas has saddled the most winners, while Joel Rosario has been the jockey to follow in recent years. There are just three “win and you’re in” races here:

  • Frizette Stakes at Aqueduct in October
  • Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland in October
  • Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita in October

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

  • 📈 Distance: 1 mile
  • 🏇 Horses: 2yo fillies
  • 📅 Inaugurated: 2008
  • 🌎 Surface: Turf
  • 💰 Total Prize Purse: $1,000,000
  • 🎲 Favorite: TBD

Since its introduction in 2008, trainer Chad Brown has farmed the Juvenile Fillies Turf race with five wins. Although not as valuable as its dirt counterpart, there are more Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series events pointed at this with three in Europe and three in North America:

  • Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh (Ireland) in September
  • Natalma Stakes at Woodbine (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) in September
  • Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket (UK) in September
  • Miss Grillo Stakes at Aqueduct in October
  • Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp (France) in October
  • Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland in October

FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile

  • 📈 Distance: 1 mile ½ a furlong
  • 🏇 Horses: 2yo colts and geldings
  • 📅 Inaugurated: 1984
  • 🌎 Surface: Dirt
  • 💰 Total Prize Purse: $2,000,000
  • 🎲 Favorite: Cave Rock

The top two-year-old race on dirt at the World Championships, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile tests young colts and geldings over an extended mile. Bob Baffert has trained five winners of this contest since 2002. These are the qualifying races that Breeders’ Cup betting sites base their markets on:

  • Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct in October
  • American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita in October
  • Breeders’ Futurity Stakes at Keeneland in October

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf

  • 📈 Distance: 1 mile
  • 🏇 Horses: 2yos
  • 📅 Inaugurated: 2007
  • 🌎 Surface: Turf
  • 💰 Total Prize Purse: $1,000,000
  • 🎲 Favorites: Blackbeard / Mysterious Night

British and Irish trainers have won most of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf races since this event was introduced in 2007. Aidan O’Brien has four victories and Charlie Appleby three.

As with the two-year-old fillies, this contest has six “win and you’re in” Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series qualifiers. Again, three are stateside or in Canada and the others across the Atlantic:

  • Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown (Ireland) in September
  • Summer Stakes at Woodbine (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) in September
  • Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket (UK) in September
  • Pilgrim Stakes at Aqueduct in October
  • Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp (France) in October
  • Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland in October

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

  • 📈 Distance: 7 furlongs
  • 🏇 Horses: 3yo+ fillies and mares
  • 📅 Inaugurated: 2007
  • 🌎 Surface: Dirt
  • 💰 Total Prize Purse: $1,000,000
  • 🎲 Favorite: Goodnight Olive

A dedicated dirt sprint for fillies and mares was added to the World Championships in 2007. It’s run over the specialist distance of seven furlongs, so Breeders’ Cup betting sites consider which females go best at that trip. There are three “win and you’re in” races with automatic berths for the Filly & Mare Sprint, which are:

  • Princess Rooney Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream Park in July
  • Ballerina Handicap at Saratoga in August
  • Thoroughbred Club Of America Stakes at Keeneland in October

Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint

  • 📈 Distance: 5½ furlongs
  • 🏇 Horses: 3yo+
  • 📅 Inaugurated: 2008
  • 🌎 Surface: Turf
  • 💰 Total Prize Purse: $1,000,000
  • 🎲 Favorite: Highfield Princess

The Turf Sprint race at the World Championships saw California trainer Peter Miller win it in three consecutive years from 2017 to 2019. With seven Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series qualifiers, there are plenty of chances for speedy European and American thoroughbreds to punch their tickets:

  • Jaipur Stakes at Belmont Park in June
  • King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot (UK) in June
  • Nunthorpe Stakes at York (UK) in August
  • Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar in September
  • FanDuel Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs (Franklin, Kentucky) in September
  • Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh (Ireland) in September
  • Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp (France) in October

Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile

  • 📈 Distance: 1 mile
  • 🏇 Horses: 3yo+
  • 📅 Inaugurated: 2007
  • 🌎 Surface: Dirt
  • 💰 Total Prize Purse: $1,000,000
  • 🎲 Favorite: Jack Christopher

Goldencents made World Championships history with back-to-back wins in the Dirt Mile race in 2013 and 2014. All the top Breeders’ Cup betting sites fear horses repeating victories like this.

Both jockey Irad Ortiz and trainer Todd Pletcher have good recent records in this contest. There are three “win and you’re in” races on the Breeders’ Cup program relating to the Dirt Mile:

  • Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park in June
  • Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar in August
  • Ack Ack Stakes at Churchill Downs in October

Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf

  • 📈 Distance: 1 mile 1½ furlongs
  • 🏇 Horses: 3yo+ fillies and mares
  • 📅 Inaugurated: 1999
  • 🌎 Surface: Turf
  • 💰 Total Prize Purse: $2,000,000
  • 🎲 Favorite: Nashwa

Contested at distances between a mile and a furlong and a mile and three furlongs since becoming part of the World Championships in 1999, the Filly & Mare Turf race owes so much to Ouija Board. Her regaining this crown in 2006 made headlines worldwide.

Chad Brown is the trainer to follow with four Breeders’ Cup winners in this. With qualifiers taking place in several countries around the world, nine in all, the Filly & Mare Turf encourages Southern Hemisphere horses to take part in the World Championships:

  • Paddock Stakes at Kenilworth (South Africa) in January
  • Victoria Mile at Tokyo (Japan) in May
  • Gran Premio Pamlona at Hipodromo de Monterrica (Peru) in June
  • Beverly D. Stakes at Churchill Downs in August
  • Yorkshire Oaks at York (UK) in August
  • Flower Bowl Stakes at Saratoga in September
  • Matron Stakes at Leopardstown (Ireland) in September
  • Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp (France) in October
  • Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita in October

Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint

  • 📈 Distance: 6 furlongs
  • 🏇 Horses: 3yo+
  • 📅 Inaugurated: 1984
  • 🌎 Surface: Dirt
  • 💰 Total Prize Purse: $2,000,000
  • 🎲 Favorite: Jackie’s Warrior

Another of the big dirt races that Breeders’ Cup betting sites have to price up is the Qatar Racing Sprint. A World Championships original, the fastest American thoroughbreds blaze a trail in quick times. There are just the three Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series qualifiers for horses to gain automatic entry:

  • Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar in July
  • Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland in October
  • Vosburgh Stakes at Aqueduct in October

FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile

  • 📈 Distance: 1 mile
  • 🏇 Horses: 3yo+
  • 📅 Inaugurated: 1984
  • 🌎 Surface: Turf
  • 💰 Total Prize Purse: $2,000,000
  • 🎲 Favorite: Modern Games

Made famous by Goldikova’s three consecutive wins between 2008 and 2010, the Breeders’ Cup Mile is one of the main turf events at the World Championships. There are the joint-most qualifying races, 11, taking place around the world in the Challenge Series.

These “win and you’re in” events keep Breeders’ Cup betting sites busy throughout the year. Qualifiers happen the world over as this list shows:

  • Queen’s Plate at Kenilworth (South Africa) in January
  • Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella at Club Hipico (Santiago, Chile) in May
  • Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita in May
  • Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo (Japan) in June
  • Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot (UK) in June
  • Sussex Stakes at Goodwood (UK) in July
  • Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga in August
  • Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville (France) in August
  • Woodbine Mile at Woodbine (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) in September
  • Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland in October
  • Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot (UK) in October

Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff

  • 📈 Distance: 1 mile 1 furlong
  • 🏇 Horses: 3yo+ fillies and mares
  • 📅 Inaugurated: 1984
  • 🌎 Surface: Dirt
  • 💰 Total Prize Purse: $2,000,000
  • 🎲 Favorite: Nest

With a history of multiple two-time winners, the Breeders’ Cup Distaff is the big dirt race for fillies and mares at the meet. While Brad Cox has a good recent record in this, the master at the World Championships in the event is William Mott with five wins. There are four qualifying spots for the Longines Distaff on the Breeders’ Cup schedule now:

  • Gran Premio Criadores at Palermo (Argentina) in May
  • Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park in June
  • Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar in August
  • Spinster Stakes at Keeneland in October

Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf

  • 📈 Distance: 1½ miles
  • 🏇 Horses: 3yo+
  • 📅 Inaugurated: 1984
  • 🌎 Surface: Turf
  • 💰 Total Prize Purse: $4,000,000
  • 🎲 Favorite: Luxembourg

As the feature World Championships race on grass, the Breeders’ Cup Turf is another event dominated by horses making transatlantic voyages. American trainers have found success hard to come by in this.

Top Breeders’ Cup betting sites must keep on top of 11 “win and you’re in” races held in Europe, the Far East and Latin America, plus some closer to home. These are the contests where horses qualify for the Longines Turf:

  • Gran Premio Internacional Carlos Pellegrini at San Isidro (Argentina) in December
  • Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot (UK) in June
  • Grande Premio Brasil at Hipodromo da Gavea (Brazil) in June
  • Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin (Japan) in June
  • King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot (UK) in July
  • Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga in August
  • Del Mar Handicap at Del Mar in September
  • Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown (Ireland) in September
  • Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs in September
  • Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp (France) in October
  • QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot (UK) in October

Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic

  • 📈 Distance: 1¼ miles
  • 🏇 Horses: 3yo+
  • 📅 Inaugurated: 1984
  • 🌎 Surface: Dirt
  • 💰 Total Prize Purse: $6,000,000
  • 🎲 Favorite: Flightline

Let’s not forget the biggest race of all. The jewel in the World Championships’ crown, the Breeders’ Cup Classic is the most valuable event at the meet. Baffert has four recent wins in the centerpiece dirt race, while only one history – Tiznow – has multiple victories.

There are eight Challenge Series events giving automatic spots that Breeders’ Cup betting sites look at, alongside the Triple Crown, when pricing up favored horses for the Longines Classic:

  • February Stakes at Tokyo (Japan) in February
  • Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs in July
  • Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park (Oceanport, New Jersey) in July
  • Whitney Stakes at Saratoga in August
  • Juddmonte International Stakes at York (UK) in August
  • Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga in September
  • Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar in September
  • Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita in October

Recent Breeders’ Cup Classic Winners

With a total prize purse of $6,000,000 on the line, making the show in the Breeders’ Cup Classic certainly pays off. Nobody remembers the horses in the money apart from the winners, though, so here are the last 10:

Year Breeders’ Cup Classic Winners Jockey Trainer Age Breeders’ Cup Odds
2021 Knicks Go Joel Rosario Brad Cox 5 16-5 (3.20)
2020 Authentic John Velazquez Bob Baffert 3 9-2 (5.50)
2019 Vino Rosso Irad Ortiz Todd Pletcher 4 4-1 (5.00)
2018 Accelerate Joel Rosario John Sadler 5 9-2 (5.50)
2017 Gun Runner Florent Geroux Steve Asmussen 4 11-4 (3.75)
2016 Arrogate Mike Smith Bob Baffert 3 7-4 (2.75)
2015 American Pharoah Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert 3 4-6 (1.67) favorite
2014 Bayern Martin Garcia Bob Baffert 3 7-1 (8.00)
2013 Mucho Mucho Man Gary Stevens Katherine Ritvo 5 4-1 (5.00)
2012 Fort Larned Brian Hernandez Ian Wilkes 4 9-1 (10.00)

The takeout for anyone wagering on Breeders’ Cup betting sites here is the fact that only one favorite has won in the last decade. It could pay to look beyond favored runners in the Longines Classic, then. There are other strong Breeders’ Cup contenders in the race after all.

Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series

With more than 80 qualifying races happening across the globe, the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is very busy. Thoroughbred racehorses running in these 11 countries (and five US states) have their chances at earning automatic spots for the World Championships:

  • USA (Aqueduct, Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, Del Mar, Gulfstream Park, Keeneland, Kentucky Downs, Monmouth Park, Santa Anita, Saratoga) – 42 races
  • UK (Ascot, York, Newmarket, Goodwood) – 13 races
  • France (Longchamp, Deauville) – 7 races
  • Ireland (Leopardstown, Curragh) – 5 races
  • Japan (Tokyo, Hanshin) – 4 races
  • Canada (Woodbine) – 3 races
  • South Africa (Kenilworth) – 2 races
  • Argentina (Palermo, San Isidro) – 2 races
  • Brazil (Hipodromo da Gavea) – 1 race
  • Chile (Club Hipicio in Santiago) – 1 race
  • Peru (Hipodromo de Monterrica) – 1 race

Top Tips for Making Breeders’ Cup Picks & Predictions

Before you start wagering on Breeders’ Cup betting sites, it’s worth picking up some expert advice. There is no right or wrong way of picking horses. Follow these tips and you should find some Breeders’ Cup winners on the track:

Look at Breeders’ Cup Post Positions

The gate that horses jump out of can make or break their chances. That applies at the World Championships as much as anywhere. The luck of the draw with Breeders’ Cup post positions could have a hand in which horse wins.

Check out Local Trainers & Barns

As there are different Breeders’ Cup locations every year, that benefits certain barns more than others. If the World Championships are in California, then look at horses trained in the Golden State carefully. Breeders’ Cup contenders from local barns won’t have extensive travel en route.

Handle Past Breeders’ Cup Results with Care

When making Breeders’ Cup predictions and picks, remember that the World Championships move venues each year. That means form from previous editions may not be as valuable as for other races. Deal with past Breeders’ Cup results carefully.

Study Race Terms

Apart from gender restricted two-year-old races, the races at the World Championships aren’t contested off level weights. That means Breeders’ Cup handicapping is very important. Look at race terms to see what older horses give away in weight to the three-year-olds.

Read Breeders’ Cup Expert Picks

As the World Championships are kind of a big deal, you’ll find plenty of experts have their say. These are pros at giving Breeders’ Cup predictions that know all the form and can spot improving horses. They must be at their best to find winners here.

You can use Breeders’ Cup expert picks as a guide alongside your own thinking. There will be good reasons why pro tipsters favor certain horses, besides the Morning Line or futures odds. Tap into what Breeders’ Cup handicapping experts think.

How to Bet the Breeders’ Cup Near Me

It’s not just about offshore Breeders’ Cup betting sites online, as you can wager in person on and off-track too. Look out for OTB facilities in more than 40 states including if you want to bet on horse racing in Kentucky or Louisiana.

As the World Championships switch venues each year, on-track betting applies at different racetracks with each edition. While you can wager at betting windows and OTB facilities, nothing matches the convenience of Breeders’ Cup online betting these days.

More on Horse Racing Betting…

Besides tracking down the top Breeders’ Cup betting sites, we also have expert guides to other hot topics in horse racing:

Our Best Breeders’ Cup Betting Site

We’ve picked Bovada from the best Breeders’ Cup sportsbooks and Racebooks as number one in the USA. They have so much to recommend them to bettors wagering on the World Championships.

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Jamie Clark has worked in the sports betting and related industries for over a decade now. He edited Coral bookmakers' digital platforms for three years prior to its merger with Ladbrokes. An equine expert who grew up in a strong betting environment, he also has a passion for track and field athletics. Jamie has covered all major sporting events with a focus on gambling from World Cups to Ashes Series, Grand Slams and even the Olympics since 2012. Following a successful spell as a freelance tipster and writer for the leading UK betting firms, he rejoined SportsLens in 2021 as horse racing editor after working for the site before when it was SoccerLens. You can also see long form content from Jamie across a range of different sites. He is still finding you winners on all of the day to day and major horse racing events worldwide, covering the UK, Ireland and big races in Australia, France, the USA and beyond. Jamie has written thousands and thousands of articles, features and tips for various markets and audiences. Check out his latest content right here. You just might learn something!