The road to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships is known simply as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge. From January 9th until October 12th, contenders will compete in a wide range of prep races across the world as they attempt to qualify for the 2016 Breeders’ Cup.
As the tagline for the Breeders’ Cup Challenge clearly states – all you have to do is “Win and You’re In”.
Winners from each of the challenge races will earn an automatic berth in to specific events at the Breeders’ Cup. We’ve provided a schedule below for you to see when races will run, where they’re hosted and what division they qualify victors for.
The remaining entries in to each of the 13 races at the Breeders’ Cup will be decided based on an application process where points acquired during the season will help fill out the remainder of the field.
Though not official prep races for the 2016 Breeders’ Cup, the Triple Crown contenders will sometimes toss their hats into the ring. The Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes results all offer ways for handicappers to gauge the potential success of a horse in a high stakes race.
This doesn’t preclude 2016 Triple Crown contenders from the 2016 Breeders’ Cup. This season, fans and bettors alike hope that two Kentucky Derby winners in California Chrome and Nyquist meet.
Please enjoy the full schedule of 2016 Breeders’ Cup Prep Races listed here:
| 1/9/16 | L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate | Mile | South Africa | Legal Eagle (SAF) |
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| 1/9/16 | Maine Chance Farms Paddock S. | Filly & Mare Turf | South Africa | Smart Call (SAF) | |
| 2/21/16 | February S. | Classic | Japan | Moanin | |
| 4/2/16 | Darley TJ Smith Stakes | Turf Sprint | Australia | Chautauqua (AUS) | |
| 4/2/16 | The Star Doncaster Mile | Mile | Australia | Winx (AUS) | |
| 4/9/16 | Coolmore Legacy Queen of the Turf Stakes | Filly & Mare Turf | Australia | Azkadellia (NZ) | |
| 5/1/16 | Gran Premio Criadores | Distaff | Argentina | Corona Del Inca (ARG) | |
| 5/22/16 | Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella | Mile | Chile | Kitcat (CHI) | |
| 5/25/16 | Gran Premio 25 de Mayo | Turf | Argentina | Don Inc (ARG) | |
| 6/4/16 | Shoemaker Mile | Mile | California | Midnight Storm | |
| 6/5/16 | Yasuda Kinen | Mile | Japan | Logotype (JPN) | |
| 6/11/16 | Mohegan Sun Metropolitan H. | Dirt Mile | New York | Frosted | |
| 6/11/16 | Ogden Phipps | Distaff | New York | Cavorting | |
| 6/12/16 | Grande Premio Brasil | Turf | Brazil | My Cherie Amour (BRZ) | |
| 6/18/16 | Fleur de Lis H. | Distaff | Kentucky | Paid Up Subscriber | |
| 6/18/16 | Stephen Foster H. | Classic | Kentucky | Bradester | |
| 6/25/16 | The Gold Cup at Santa Anita | Classic | California | Melatonin | |
| 6/26/16 | Takarazuka Kinen | Turf | Japan | Marialite (JPN) | |
| 6/26/16 | Gran Premio Pamplona | Filly & Mare Turf | Peru | Ryans Charm | |
| 7/2/16 | Princess Rooney H. | Filly & Mare Sprint | Florida | Spelling Again | |
| 7/2/16 | Smile Sprint Handicap | Sprint | Florida | Delta Bluesman | |
| 7/9/16 | Belmont Oaks Invitational | Filly & Mare Turf | New York | Catch a Glimpse | |
| 7/23/16 | King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes spons | Turf | United Kingdom | Highland Reel (IRE) | |
| 7/27/16 | Qatar Sussex Stakes | Mile | United Kingdom | The Gurkha (IRE) | |
| 7/30/16 | Clement L. Hirsch Stakes | Distaff | California | Stellar Wind | |
| 7/31/16 | Bing Crosby S. | Sprint | California | Lord Nelson | |
| 7/31/16 | Betfair.com Haskell Invitational | Classic | New Jersey | Exaggerator | |
| 8/6/16 | Whitney Handicap | Classic | New York | Frosted | |
| 8/13/16 | Arlington Million XXXIV | Turf | Illinois | Mondialiste (IRE) | |
| 8/13/16 | Beverly D. Stakes | Filly & Mare Turf | Illinois | Sea Calisi (FR) | |
| 8/14/16 | Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le Buffard – Jacques Le Marois |
Mile | France | Ribchester (IRE) | |
| 8/17/16 | Juddmonte International S. | Turf | United Kingdom | Postponed (IRE) | |
| 8/18/16 | Darley Yorkshire Oaks | Filly & Mare Turf | United Kingdom | Seventh Heaven (IRE) | |
| 8/19/16 | Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes | Turf Sprint | United Kingdom | Mecca’s Angel (IRE) | |
| 8/20/16 | Del Mar H. Presented By The Japan Racing Association | Turf | California | Ashleyluvssugar | |
| 8/20/16 | TVG Pacific Classic | Classic | California | California Chrome | |
| 8/27/16 | Pat O’Brien S. | Dirt Mile | California | Masochistic | |
| 8/27/16 | Ballerina Stakes | Filly & Mare Sprint | New York | Haveyougoneaway | |
| 8/27/16 | Personal Ensign H. | Distaff | New York | Cavorting | |
| 8/27/16 | Priority One Jets Forego Stakes | Sprint | New York | A. P. Indian | |
| 8/27/16 | Sword Dancer Invitational S. | Turf | New York | Flintshire (GB) | |
| 9/3/16 | T. Von Zastrow Stutenpreis | Filly & Mare Turf | Germany | Parvaneh (IRE) | |
| 9/3/16 | Spinaway S. | Juvenile Fillies | New York | Dead Heat | |
| 9/4/16 | Longines Grosser Preis Von Baden | Turf | Germany | Iquitos (GER) | |
| 9/10/16 | Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron S. | Filly & Mare Turf | Ireland | Alice Springs (IRE) | |
| 9/10/16 | QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes | Turf | Ireland | Almanzor (FR) | |
| 9/10/16 | Willis Towers Watson Champions Juvenile Stakes | Juvenile Turf | Ireland | Landfall (FR) | |
| 9/11/16 | Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes | Turf Sprint | Ireland | Ardhoomey (IRE) | |
| 9/11/16 | Moyglare Stud Stakes | Juvenile Fillies Turf | Ireland | Intricately (IRE) | |
| 9/17/16 | Iroquois S. | Juvenile | Kentucky | Not This Time | |
| 9/17/16 | Pocahontas S. | Juvenile Fillies | Kentucky | Daddys Lil Darling | |
| 9/17/16 | Canadian Stakes | Filly & Mare Turf | Ontario | Rainha Da Bateria | |
| 9/17/16 | Ricoh Woodbine Mile | Mile | Ontario | Tepin | |
| 9/18/16 | Natalma Stakes | Juvenile Fillies Turf | Ontario | Victory to Victory | |
| 9/18/16 | Summer Stakes | Juvenile Turf | Ontario | Good Samaritan | |
| 9/23/16 | Shadwell Rockfel | Juvenile Fillies Turf | United Kingdom | Spain Burg (FR) | |
| 9/24/16 | Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes | Juvenile Turf | United Kingdom | Best of Days (GB) | |
| 10/1/16 | Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes | Turf | New York | Ectot (GB) | |
| 10/1/16 | Vosburgh Invitational Stakes | Sprint | New York | Joking | |
| 10/1/16 | Awesome Again Stakes | Classic | California | California Chrome | |
| 10/1/16 | Chandelier Stakes | Juvenile Fillies | California | Noted and Quoted | |
| 10/1/16 | FrontRunner Stakes | Juvenile | California | Gormley | |
| 10/1/16 | Rodeo Drive Stakes | Filly & Mare Turf | California | Avenge | |
| 10/1/16 | Zenyatta Stakes | Distaff | California | Stellar Wind | |
| 10/2/16 | Longines Prix de L’Opera | Filly & Mare Turf | France | Speedy Boarding (GB) | |
| 10/2/16 | Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere | Juvenile Turf | France | National Defense (GB) | |
| 10/2/16 | Total Prix Marcel Boussac | Juvenile Fillies Turf | France | Wuheida (GB) | |
| 10/2/16 | Sprinters S. | Turf Sprint | Japan | Red Falx (JPN) | |
| 10/7/16 | Darley Alcibiades Stakes | Juvenile Fillies | Kentucky | Dancing Rags | |
| 10/7/16 | Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes | Sprint | Kentucky | A. P. Indian | |
| 10/8/16 | Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes | Filly & Mare Turf | New York | Lady Eli | |
| 10/8/16 | Foxwoods Champagne Stakes | Juvenile | New York | Practical Joke | |
| 10/8/16 | Frizette Stakes | Juvenile Fillies | New York | Yellow Agate | |
| 10/8/16 | Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational Stakes | Classic | New York | Hoppertunity | |
| 10/8/16 | Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity | Juvenile | Kentucky | Classic Empire | |
| 10/8/16 | Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes | Mile | Kentucky | Miss Temple City | |
| 10/8/16 | Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes | Filly & Mare Sprint | Kentucky | Irish Jasper | |
| 10/8/16 | Santa Anita Sprint Championship | Sprint | California | Lord Nelson | |
| 10/9/16 | Dixiana Bourbon S. | Juvenile Turf | Kentucky | Keep Quiet (FR) | |
| 10/9/16 | Juddmonte Spinster Stakes | Distaff | Kentucky | I’m a Chatterbox | |
| 10/12/16 | JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes | Juvenile Fillies Turf | Kentucky | ||