Everything You Need to Know About the Breeders’ Cup

Two days, 13 races, hundreds of the world’s top thoroughbreds, jockeys and trainers all competing on one track with $26 million up for grabs. It’s thoroughbred racing’s grandest stage. It’s champagne and bourbon, work boots and pumps. It’s the cake and the fork. It’s Hall of Famers, new shooters and one hit wonders…and it all goes down this Friday and Saturday from Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, KY.

For many of this year’s contenders it’s a homecoming. The majority of the horses competing were bred within a 30 mile radius of Keeneland, and a good number were purchased on these very grounds as well. Likewise, many will ultimately retire to the surrounding bluegrass once their racing days are done. Hey, we’ve come full circle.

You know an important horse thing is about to go down when they bring in the giant luxury timepieces #BreedersCup pic.twitter.com/iA510On72N

— Horse Collaborative (@HorseCollab) October 27, 2015

Still not sure about this whole deal? Not quite getting what the hell is going on? Keep reading, everything you need to know about the Breeders’ Cup is right here.

Breeders’ Cup by the Numbers

1984: The Breeders’ Cup debuts at the bygone Hollywood Park in Los Angeles. The purpose of the event is to promote the industry worldwide while providing an end of the year championship for horse racing’s various divisions.
 
13: Number of races comprising the Breeders’ Cup, each representing a particular division (based on age, gender, surface, distance, etc.).
 
17: Countries (from 6 continents) that have produced a Breeders’ Cup starter.
 
8: Countries that have produced a Breeders’ Cup champion (US=225, IRE=25, GB=15). There is a bit of home field advantage here of course, but bottom line: American horses own the dirt. European horses control the lawn.

 
20: States that have produced a Breeders’ Cup starter.
 
10: States that have produced a Breeders’ Cup champion (KY=176, FL=26, CA=6).
 
1,893: Number of Breeders’ Cup starters bred in Kentucky, far more than any other (by about a bazillion).
 
$5,000,000: Purse for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the most lucrative race in North America.
 
12: Racetracks that have hosted the Breeders’ Cup. They are: Santa Anita Park (CA), Churchill Downs (KY), Aqueduct (NY), Belmont Park (NY), Arlington Park (Il), Lone Star Park (TX), Woodbine (ON), Gulfstream Park (FL), Monmouth Park (NJ), Hollywood Park (CA), and this year for the first time ever, Keeneland Racecourse (KY).
 
4: Horses that have won both the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic (Ferdinand, Alysheba, Sunday Silence, Unbridled)

 
2: Horses that won both the Derby and Classic in the same year (Unbridled, Sunday Silence)
 
0: Horses that have won horse racing’s “Grand Slam” (Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup Classic).
 
0: Horses that have had a chance at the Grand Slam (American Pharoah will be the first).
 
16: Miles of road between Keeneland and Ashford Stud, where American Pharoah will begin his stallion career after the Breeders’ Cup. Just keep runnin’ ’til you get there, champ.
 
16: Miles of road between Keeneland and Stockplace Farm, where American Pharoah was born.
 
1: Times American Pharoah has raced in Kentucky (KY Derby). Saturday will be his 2nd, and last.
 
21: Career Breeders’ Cup wins for jockey Mike Smith. More than any other rider.

 
52: Age of jockey Gary Stevens, who had knee replacement surgery last year but has not slowed down a bit. Among his many weekend rides is the super superstar, Beholder.
 
$8,866,300: Total Breeders’ Cup earnings of Storm Cat progeny. The most of any stallion in history.
 
0: Breeders’ Cup wins from Storm Cat. (2nd in 1986 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile)
 

 

The 2015 Breeders’ Cup All Name Squad

Because racehorses have the best names.
 
The Pizza Man (Turf): 30 min or less or it’s free.
 
Effinex (Classic): Because break-ups are hard.
 
Limousine Liberal (Sprint): Pullin’ up in my stretch Prius.
 
Runhappy (Sprint): Something we should all strive to do more.
 
Rated R Superstar (Juvenile): Magic Mike already taken?
 
Obviously (Mile): Unfortunate he’s a gelding and can’t sire a foal named Obv.
 
Da Big Hoss (Turf): Dat one or dis one?
 
Dothraki Queen (Juvenile Fillies): Coming to BC 2018, Mother of Dragons?
 

 
Stopchargingmaria (Distaff): When the credit card bill comes…
 
I’m a Chatterbox (Distaff): That’s why I screen your calls.
 
Dressed in Hermes (Juvenile Turf): Do you know Limousine Liberal?
 
Hard Not to Like (Filly & Mare Turf): I’ll be the judge of that.
 
Watsdachances (Filly & Mare Turf): You tell me.
 
My Sweet Addiction (Distaff): Everything.
 
Peace and War (Distaff): Reminds me of my favorite book, The Wrath of Grapes.
 

Horses to Watch

American Pharoah: Clearly. Going for the unprecedented Grand Slam of horse racing. Last dance.

 
Beholder: Freaky fast mare seeking to become the first horse to win 3 different Breeders’ Cup Races when she takes on the boys in the Classic.

 
Golden Horn: The #2 (or #1 depending on which magazine you subscribe) ranked horse in the world behind American Pharoah ships in from across the pond fresh off a win in the high-falutin’ Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, where he bested the magnificent Treve.

Golden Horn stretched his legs over @keeneland‘s training track, as the rain continued to fall @BreedersCup week. pic.twitter.com/km8cpNaSNp — Longines WBRR (@worldsbesthorse) October 28, 2015

Tonalist: Ah yes, the rain on the California Chrome parade is still kickin’ and looks better than ever. He’ll try to spoil the fun once more when he guns for American Pharoah in the Classic.

 
Rachel’s Valentina: The undefeated youngster will try for an achievement her mama Rachel Alexandra never did…a Breeders’ Cup win.
 
Gleneagles: Another classy European shipper and a force on the turf, but will try the dirt for the first time in the Classic.
 
Undrafted: Shocked the world this summer when he became the first USA-bred to win the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. Owned by NFL wide-receiver Wes Welker.
 
Honor Code: This well-bred 4yo colt is just a sight to behold. He can run too. Can he catch the Pharoah?
 

 
The Pizza Man: Popular Illinois bred with an All-American name will try and defeat a stout group of European invaders at their own game in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
 

 

Humans to Watch

Bobby Flay: TV’s Top Chef owns Dame Dorothy, signed on for the Filly and Mare Sprint.
 
Sophie and James Doyle: Big sister Sophie is riding in her first Breeders’ Cup aboard local favorite Fioretti in the Filly and Mare Sprint. Little bro James is set to ride Irish-bred Birchwood in the Juvenile Turf.
 
Maria Borell: The 32-year-old trainer of Sprint favorite Runhappy is not simply making her first Breeders’ Cup appearance, she is looking to saddle a winner for just the 6th time in her young career.

 
Frankie Dettori: Considered one of, if not the best rider in the world. He’s also slightly crazy and does things like this:
 

Frankie Dettori and his signature dismount in the Parade Ring after winning the #QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes #ICW2015 pic.twitter.com/wVe4VmWx69 — Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) September 12, 2015

 
Mike Smith: The man owns the Breeders’ Cup stage with 21 career wins. His best shot at #22 looks to be aboard Songbird in the Juvenile Fillies.