The Breeders’ Cup World Championships is the year-end culmination of the best horses from around the world in every division. The $31 million event is comprised of a total of 14 Grade 1 races run over two days every November. Knowing the Breeders’ Cup betting odds and the Breeders’ Cup best bets is the only way to get ahead in the competitive world of horse racing betting.
The Breeders’ Cup Classic odds are available here:
Here we’ll explain how to bet on the Breeders’ Cup, as well as how to read the various Breeders Cup betting odds. Before we dig in, be sure to check across the top bookmakers for the best place to bet for you.
Breeders’ Cup expert picks can be found online close to the main event, to be held in 2025 on November 1 and 2. The festival moves all over the country to tracks like Santa Anita, Keeneland, Churchill Downs, and it may even return to Belmont in the future after the renovation is done. However, the 2025 edition returns to sunny southern California, to Del Mar Racetrack in 2025.
Friday’s race card has a $500,000 minimum guarantee Pick 5, a late Pick 5 worth $1 million, and a Breeders’ Cup Pick 4 with a $1 million guarantee. Saturday’s card has a $1 million guaranteed Breeders’ Cup Ultra Pick 6, and the late Breeders’ Cup Pick 5 has a $2 million guarantee. There is also a $2 million guaranteed Breeders’ Cup Late Pick 4. Regular win, place, show, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, Pick 3, and daily double wagering on all the races on the card. Depending on the host track, the undercard races are usually all stakes or high-class allowance races.
Keep an eye out for the Breeders’ Cup betting challenge, a “real money” handicapping challenge that is held over Breeders’ Cup weekend. The challenge has a $10,000 buy-in, of which $2,500 goes to the winning pot and $7,500 is what is wagered by the bettor. The prize amount is $1 million.
The $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) is almost as important as the Kentucky Derby in terms of betting in the United States. The 1 1/4 mile race brings together the best horses from both the three-year-old and older horse division, as well as several overseas runners from places like the United Kingdom and Japan. They are all put in the starting gate together to crown that year’s champion. Breeders’ Cup Classic odds fluctuate up until the gate opens, but it is a race that provides some great payouts.
In 1993, the most famous Breeders’ Cup upset ever happened when Arcangues won the race at 133-1. He paid $269.20 to win a $2 win ticket. In other major Breeders’ Cup upsets, Cat Thief won in 1999 and paid $41.20, Raven’s Pass shipped in from England to win in 2008 and paid $29, Drosselmeyer paid $31.60 in 2011, and Volponi scored at $89 even in 2002.
To keep an eye on Breeders’ Cup Classic live odds, various online racebooks provide bettors with the ability to wager on all the races. When hunting for the best racebook to place a bet, compare their promotions. Bonus bets, betting rebates, Breeders’ Cup betting challenges, and wagering contests differ between services, including vital details such as rollover and rebate rules. The best online racebooks help players get the most out of their wagering dollar when wagering on the Breeders’ Cup post positions and odds.
Breeders’ Cup entries are drawn 72 hours before the races. Horses first pre-enter the races about two weeks before, while a committee sorts out what horses get preference in which races. Horses can pre-enter more than one race, as long as they mark their preference in order. For example, a horse can pre-enter in both the Classic and the Turf, but they have to designate that they would rather run in the Classic than the Turf. After being ranked, owners and trainers know if the horse has a good chance of getting into their desired Breeders’ Cup race. Then 72 hours before the races, the horses are actually entered, or “declared.” At this point, they must select a single race.
There are 14 races that make up the Breeders’ Cup. These are the major details of each race including race dates, purses, distances, ages of eligible horses, and major prep races.
| Race | Venue | Date | Inaugural Year | Distance | Surface | Purse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juvenile Turf Sprint | Del Mar | Nov 1, 2024 | 2018 | 5 furlongs | Turf | $1 million |
| Juvenile Fillies | Del Mar | Nov 1, 2024 | 1984 | 1 1/16 miles | Dirt | $2 million |
| Juvenile Fillies Turf | Del Mar | Nov 1, 2024 | 2008 | 1 mile | Turf | $1 million |
| Juvenile | Del Mar | Nov 1, 2024 | 1984 | 1 1/16 miles | Dirt | $2 million |
| Juvenile Turf | Del Mar | Nov 1, 2024 | 2007 | 1 mile | Turf | $1 million |
| Dirt Mile | Del Mar | Nov 2, 2024 | 2007 | 1 mile | Dirt | $2 million |
| Turf Sprint | Del Mar | Nov 2, 2024 | 2008 | 5 furlongs | Turf | $1 million |
| Distaff | Del Mar | Nov 2, 2024 | 1984 | 1 1/8 miles | Dirt | $2 million |
| Turf | Del Mar | Nov 2, 2024 | 1984 | 1 1/2 miles | Turf | $5 million |
| Classic | Del Mar | Nov 2, 2024 | 1984 | 1 1/4 miles | Dirt | $7 million |
| Filly & Mare Turf | Del Mar | Nov 2, 2024 | 1999 | 1 3/8 miles | Turf | $2 million |
| Filly & Mare Sprint | Del Mar | Nov 2, 2024 | 2007 | 7 furlongs | Dirt | $1 million |
| Mile | Del Mar | Nov 2, 2024 | 1984 | 1 mile | Turf | $2 million |
| Sprint | Del Mar | Nov 2, 2024 | 1984 | 6 furlongs | Dirt | $2 million |
The Breeders’ Cup entries and Breeders’ Cup odds for these races will be announced closer to the event.
The Breeders’ Cup betting menu changes each year depending on the order of the races, which depends on how many horses the fields draw. There are five Breeders’ Cup races on Friday, and nine on Saturday. Pay attention to the Breeders’ Cup current odds as post time draws near.
The Breeders’ Cup offers all of the wagers available on regular horse racing: exacta, trifecta, superfecta, super high five, daily double, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, and Pick 6. There are rolling doubles and Pick 3 bets throughout the day, with Pick 4, Pick 5, and Pick 6
In 2025, there are also special sequences that do not consist of consecutive races. Special daily doubles begin on Friday and link to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Saturday. There are also, in addition to regular Pick 3, Pick 4, and Pick 5 wagers throughout each day, an all-turf Pick 3, and both all-turf and all-dirt Pick 4 wagers. These can be excellent wagering opportunities if you prefer handicapping and betting races on a particular surface.
The Friday Pick 6, Pick 5s, and Jackpot Super High-5 may carry over to Saturday’s card. Any Pick 5 carryover from Friday or Saturday will carry over to the late Pick 5 on Saturday. Saturday’s Pick 6, late Pick 5, and Jackpot Super High-5 have a mandatory payout in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday. As for Breeders’ Cup minimum bets, the all-turf Pick 3 is $3, it is $1 for win, place, show, exacta, Daily Double, and Pick 6, $0.50 for the trifecta, regular Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, and Super High Five, and $0.10 for the superfecta.
The Breeders’ Cup began at Hollywood Park in California in 1984 and has a relatively short history compared to some of the historic events in racing that have been going on since the 1800s. There were initially just eight races on a single day, but in 1999 an eighth race was added, and in 2007 the event was split into two different championship days. Now there are 14 Breeders’ Cup races over two days.
The Breeders’ Cup is a traveling event, moving from track to track around the country. After Hollywood Park it was held at Aqueduct, Santa Anita Park, Churchill Downs, Gulfstream Park, Belmont Park, Woodbine, Arlington Park, Lone Star Park, Monmouth Park, Keeneland, and Del Mar. Santa Anita Park has hosted the event more times than any other track, ten times through 2019. Churchill Downs is next with nine host years. The Breeders’ Cup has only been held once at tracks like Woodbine, Monmouth, and Lone Star. Keeneland hosted it for the second time in 2020, and Del Mar for the second time in 2021. Keeneland gets it back this year, in 2022.
The winningest Breeders’ Cup jockey is Mike Smith, who has a record 26 wins through 2019. John Velazquez has 16, Jerry Bailey 15, and world-renowned Italian jockey Frankie Dettori 14. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas leads all trainers with 20 wins. Bob Baffert and Chad Brown have 15 each, and Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has 12. Between them, they account for some of the biggest Breeders’ Cup wins ever.
After Arcangues in the 1993 Classic, some of the biggest Breeders’ Cup Payouts have been Court Vision in the 2011 Mile. ($131.60), Spain in the 2000 Distaff ($113.80), One Dreamer in the 1994 Distaff ($96.20), Volponi in the 2002 Classic ($89), Shared Account in the 2010 Filly and Mare Turf ($94), Lashkari in the 1984 Turf ($108), and Adoration in the 2003 Distaff ($83.40). The payouts shown are on a $2 win bet.
After Arcangues in the 1993 Classic, some of the biggest Breeders’ Cup Payouts have been Court Vision in the 2011 Mile. ($131.60), Spain in the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Distaff ($113.80), One Dreamer in the 1994 Distaff ($96.20), Volponi in the 2002 Classic ($89), Shared Account in the 2010 Filly and Mare Turf ($94), Lashkari in the 1984 Turf ($108), and Adoration in the 2003 Distaff ($83.40). The payouts shown are on a $2 win bet.
These are the highest Breeders’ Cup odds for each race, as well as the average payouts in each race. Each of these races has a large field size year in and year out, with all but one averaging over 10 horses per year, and every race but the Juvenile Turf Sprint averaging a double-digit payout. This means there are always long shots to wager, and they are always worth your time to handicap and bet.
| Race | Average Field | Average Win Price | Record Win Price |
| Classic | 11 | $23.09 | $269.20 (Arcangues, 1993) |
| Distaff | 9 | $18.95 | $113.80 (Spain, 2000) |
| Dirt Mile | 10 | $18.34 | $77.40 (Dakota Phone, 2010) |
| Filly & Mare Sprint | 11 | $22.34 | $135.40 (Bar of Gold, 2017) |
| Filly & Mare Turf | 12 | $20.34 | $94.00 (Shared Account, 2010) |
| Juvenile | 12 | $18.73 | $93.80 (Storm the Court, 2019) |
| Juvenile Fillies | 11 | $20.80 | $125.40 (Take Charge Brandi, 2014) |
| Juvenile Fillies Turf | 14 | $16.41 | $29.60 (Sharing, 2019) |
| Juvenile Turf | 13 | $17.60 | $62.40 (Fire at Will, 2020) |
| Juvenile Turf Sprint | 12 | $9.31 | $15.84 (Mischief Magic, 2022) |
| Mile | 13 | $23.65 | $148.40 (Order of Australia, 2020) |
| Sprint | 12 | $20.06 | $54.60 (Sheikh Albadou, 1991) |
| Turf | 12 | $19.53 | $106.80 (Lashkari, 1984) |
| Turf Sprint | 14 | 27.65 | $87.78 (Caravel, 2022) |
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‘You can profit off of any market, no less the Breeders’ Cup, as long as you’re making smart, calculated wagers. The Breeders’ Cup is often one of the most profitable betting events of the year, since the fields are so large, classy, and well-matched.’You can profit off of any market, no less the Breeders’ Cup, as long as you’re making smart, calculated wagers. The Breeders’ Cup is often one of the most profitable betting events of the year, since the fields are so large, classy, and well-matched.
It is entirely legal to bet on the Breeders’ Cup; just ensure you’re working with our recommended providers or a licensed online bookmaker.
You can go to our suggested list of online bookmakers, where you’ll find several top-tier providers offering odds for this year’s race. Choosing one of our top-reviewed bookmakers means you can get market-leading odds, trusted payouts, and all your racing betting and sports betting needs in one place.
As it stands, City of Troy is trading as the favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Classic in most books. However, Fierceness is not far behind, and given the long drought of overseas horses in the Breeders’ Cup Classic he may drift down in the markets come race day. Forever Young is third in most books, and his good run in the Kentucky Derby may give a lot of American bettors confidence in his Breeders’ Cup Classic chances.
