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While the Breeders’ Cup has been around since 1984, the series of thoroughbred horse races reached a new level in 2007 when it expanded to two days, making the event even bigger.
This race may not have the same pedigree as Triple Crown races like the Kentucky Derby, but it’s still the biggest horse racing event of the fall and the last big race before the sport hibernates for the winter.
Accordingly, this race will be heavily featured at our favorite sportsbooks, some of which have special promotions for new users.
Here’s what to know about this year’s Breeders’ Cup and how to bet on it at our favorite horse racing betting sites.
What is the Breeders’ Cup?
The Breeders’ Cup is an annual series of Grade I Thoroughbred horse races held at a different racetrack each year. As mentioned above, it became a two-day event in 2007 and currently features 14 different races.
Those races are:
- Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf ($1 million purse)
- Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf ($1 million purse)
- Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint ($1 million purse)
- Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile ($1 million purse)
- Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint ($1 million purse)
- Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint ($1 million purse)
- Breeders’ Cup Sprint ($2 million purse)
- Breeders’ Cup Mile ($2 million purse)
- Breeders’ Cup Distaff ($2 million purse)
- Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies ($2 million purse)
- Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf ($2 million purse)
- Breeders’ Cup Juvenile ($2 million purse)
- Breeders’ Cup Turf ($5 million purse)
- Breeders’ Cup Classic ($7 million purse)
The first day features the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 1, followed by the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2. Post time for the latter is 5:41 p.m. ET / 2:41 p.m. PT.
Each race allows a maximum of 14 starters and consists of a mix of horses. Some won “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge races, while others are near the top of the sport’s point system or were picked by a panel of racing experts.
The Breeders’ Cup is traditionally held in late October or early November. It’s arguably the biggest horse racing event that’s not part of the horse racing Triple Crown, with this year marking the 41st running of the race.
This year’s Breeders’ Cup will take place at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California. The race will also occur there in 2025, marking the first time it’s been held in consecutive years at the same location since Santa Anita Park hosted it from 2012 to 2014.
Santa Anita has hosted the Breeders’ Cup more than any other location (11 times), followed by Churchill Downs (nine times).
How to Bet on the Breeders’ Cup
While several sportsbooks offer wagers on horse racing, FanDuel Sportsbook stands out as the best place to bet on horse racing.
You can bet on horse racing at FanDuel through FanDuel Racing, which is available in the following states: AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, ID, IL, IN, IA, LA, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MT, ND, NH, NY, NM, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, VA, WA, WV and WY.
FanDuel Racing has a special sign-up offer for new customers, giving them a no-sweat bet up to $20 to use on each day of the Breeders’ Cup.
Like most horse racing sites, FanDuel Racing uses fractional odds such as 5/1 or 13/2.
You might be more familiar with American odds. For example, 5/1 odds are equivalent to +500 odds. In both cases, you could earn $50 in profit on a $10 wager.
Similarly, a horse with 13/2 odds is equivalent to +650 odds.
One unique part of betting on horse racing is that the odds for your bet don’t lock until the final odds at post time, regardless of what they were when you placed your bet.
So, if you bet on a horse with 8/1 odds and those odds shorten to 7/2 by the start of the race, your bet will have 7/2 odds.
Accordingly, it’s worth monitoring the odds ahead of time before placing your wagers, as there may be some fluctuation that could affect your payout.
Some other sportsbooks that also offer mobile horse race betting are:
- TwinSpires
- DK Horse (DraftKings Sportsbook)
- BetMGM Horse Racing (BetMGM Sportsbook)
- Caesars Racebook (Caesars Sportsbook)
Horse Racing Bet Types
There are three main types of straight bets for horse racing:
- Win Bet: Horse finishes 1st
- Place Bet: Horse finishes 1st or 2nd
- Show Bet: Horse finishes 1st, 2nd or 3rd
The most straightforward way to wager on horse racing is to simply pick which horse will win, similar to a moneyline bet in other sports. In horse racing, this is called a “win” bet.
You can also bet on a horse to finish first or second, which is called a “place” bet.
A “show” bet is a wager on a horse to finish in the top three. These bets have lower odds and payouts than a “win” bet because they are more likely to occur.
There are various “exotic bets” to choose from as well. A common type of exotic bet is the exact finishing order:
- Exacta: Correctly picking 1st and 2nd place
- Trifecta: Correctly picking 1st, 2nd and 3rd place
- Superfecta: Correctly picking 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place
Picking the correct finishing order is more difficult, so these bets come with higher odds and payouts than basic straight bets.
How do I Sign Up to Bet on the Breeders’ Cup?
Signing up to bet on the Breeders’ Cup is just like signing up for a regular sportsbook.
- First, verify that you’re located in a state where horse racing is legal and you’re old enough to wager (21+ in most states).
- After that, download the mobile racing app of your choice and provide the necessary personal information so the racing app can verify your identity.
- Once that’s complete, make a deposit, claim your welcome bonus and bet on any race you want.
Once you sign up to bet on the Breeders’ Cup at a sports/racing book, you’ll also be able to bet on the three Triple Crown races and countless races held daily across the country.
Breeders’ Cup Betting Deposit Methods
Once you’ve joined a racing app, the next step is depositing funds to wager with. The process is quick similar to the deposit process for sports betting.
Most racing apps feature a variety of deposit methods, including:
All of these methods are trusted options that provide quick and easy transactions. That said, it’s worth setting up your account and depositing money a few days before the Breeders’ Cup to ensure there aren’t any problems.
Is Sports Betting Legal in California?
No, sports betting is not legal in California. While California is the most populous state in the U.S. and is hosting the 2024 Breeders’ Cup, it doesn’t have legal sports betting.
The state’s most recent attempt came in November 2022 when California voters failed to approve sports betting via referendum. It’s one of 12 states without legal sports betting.
That said, you can bet on horse racing in California at any of the state’s four private horse racing tracks or one of its five racing fairs.
You can also bet on horse racing online in California at any of the following online racebooks:
- FanDuel Racing California
- TwinSpires
- Xpressbet
- WatchandWager
- bRacing
- NYRA Bets
- OffTrackBetting
What Are Some Breeders’ Cup Records?
With so many different races, there are countless Breeders’ Cup records.
Some notable ones are:
Most Wins by a Jockey
- Mike Smith (27)
Most Wins by a Trainer
- D. Wayne Lukas (20)
Most Earnings by an Owner
- Juddmonte Farms ($17,135,820)
Most Earnings by a Breeder
- Adena Springs ($10,112,400)
Most Earnings by a Horse
- Zenyatta ($4,680,000)
The following two horses have won a Breeders’ Cup race three times:
- Goldikova (Mile 2008, 2009 and 2010)
- Beholder (Juvenile Fillies 2012, Distaff 2013 and 2016)
Additionally, the largest margins of victory at the Breeders’ Cup are:
- 13.5 lengths: Inside Information, 1995
- 10 lengths: Street Sense, 2006
The biggest longshot to win a Breeders’ Cup race was Arcangues, who won as a 133.60-1 underdog in the 1993 Classic.
Breeders’ Cup Classic Odds
While the Breeders’ Cup takes place over two days, the marquee event is the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday. The final race of the weekend has a post time of 5:41 p.m. ET and includes a $7 million purse for the winning horse.
See below for the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic odds. Odds are current as of Friday afternoon and subject to change.
- City of Troy: 5/2
- Fierceness: 3/1
- Forever Young: 6/1
- Next: 8/1
- Sierra Leone: 12/1
- Ushba Tesoro: 12/1
- Arthur’s Ride: 15/1
- Derma Sotogake: 20/1
- Highland Falls: 20/1
- Newgate: 20/1
- Mixto: 30/1
- Senor Buscador: 30/1
- Pyrenees: 30/1
- Tapit Trice: 30/1
Breeders’ Cup Classic Post Draw
Additionally, see below for the Breeders’ Cup Classic post draw.
1: Forever Young
2: Highland Falls
3: City of Troy
4: Mixto
5: Senor Buscador
6: Derma Sotogake
7: Ushba Tesoro
8: Pyrenees
9: Fierceness
10: Tapit Trice
11: Sierra Leone
12: Arthur’s Ride
13: Newgate
14: Next
Breeders’ Cup Classic Insight
While City of Troy is the morning line favorite at 5/2 and the son of former Triple Crown winner Justify, he’s never run on dirt and will be starting in the muck in Post 3. He has five graded stakes wins overseas but has yet to score a big American win.
Beyond City of Troy, the horse getting the most attention from bettors is Fierceness (3/1), who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile race last year and has the second-shortest odds. Fierceness was the Kentucky Derby favorite this year but finished in 15th place. He hasn’t raced in two months, but his trainer Todd Pletcher believes the layoff could help.
Speaking of the Kentucky Derby, Forever Young (6/1) finished third there and won the Japan Dirt Classic on Oct. 2 by 1 1/2 lengths, so he’s on a hot streak.
One underdog to watch is Ushba Tesoro, who could be a good value play at 12/1. This race is 1 ¼ miles, and he’s won seven of his last nine dirt starts at or near that distance. He’s also finished first or second in 10 of his last 11 starts and came in fifth at last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic.
