Horse races are a source of fascination for people. It is a sport that has been around for more than a century, involves coordination between both humans and horses, and is one of the more popular sports within the sports betting community. One such race, the Breeders’ Cup, is coming soon, as of writing, and fans are eagerly awaiting which horses will reign champion.
Want to know more about what makes the Breeders’ Cup so unique? Here are the Top 10 cool facts you need to know about the Breeders’ Cup.
#10. The Breeders’ Cup is one of the most important horse races in the US.
There are a variety of horse races in the world, all unique through track, mechanics, prize money, and so on. The US has some horse races that bear great significance, for some of the most outstanding horses from North America and anywhere in the world. The Breeders’ Cup is one of the prominent and famous races in the US. This racing event is inaugurated as a year-ending event, essentially the last chance for aspiring thoroughbreds worldwide to show fans what they got.
Do you want to see this year’s lineup? You can learn more about the top choices for the 2022 Breeders’ Cup in media outlets online, such as the event’s official site, sports news outlets, and online sportsbooks.
#9. The race boasts a purse of $28,000,000.
When it was inaugurated in 1984, the Breeders’ Cup had a purse of 10 million dollars as a prize to give away to the winners of its then 7 races. Decades later, with the racing event growing in popularity and gaining support from fans and sponsors, this year’s Breeders’ Cup has a total purse of 28 million.
Most races give away a 1-2 million dollar prize, except for the Breeders’ Cup Turf and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The former gives away a 4 million dollar prize, while the latter, the highlight of the racing event, gives away a 6 million prize.
#8. The Venue for the Race has always been in the US, but…
One of the things that the Breeders’ Cup is known for is that it is held on different tracks every year. Race tracks have housed the event several times now, such as Santa Anita Park, Churchill Downs, and Gulfstream Park. This year’s event will be held at Keeneland.
The Breeders’ Cup has always been held in the USA, except for one instance in 1996, where it was held at the Woodbine Racetrack, a track in Toronto, Canada.
#7. The Breeders’ Cup showcases 13 races.
Today, the Breeders’ Cup boasts 13 different races, which will happen in two days. However, back in 1984, it was a one-day event, with only 7 races available. It was until 2007 that a second day was added, as well as 3 more races.
The races showcased for this year’s Breeders’ Cup are Juvenile Turf Sprint, Juvenile Fillies, Juvenile Fillies Turf, Juvenile, Juvenile Turf, Filly and Mare Sprint, Turf Sprint, Sprint, Filly, and Mare Turf, Dirt Mile, Mile, Distaff, Turf, and the Classic.
#6. The Breeders’ Cup is an international race.
Even though the Breeders’ Cup is primarily held in the US, it is an international race. It also invites different thoroughbreds from the rest of the world to race. However, one does not simply join to compete, as the Horse has to be qualified or nominated to join the lineup of any race.
#5. The USA has the most Breeders’ Cup wins.
The US has seen its fair share of foreign thoroughbreds run alongside them in the Breeders’ Cup, but they have had the most overall wins, bagging more than 200 wins. Other countries or territories with a significant amount of wins are Ireland and Great Britain.
Other participating countries that have won a Breeders’ Cup race include France, Argentina, Canada, Germany, and Japan.
#4. The Trainer with the most wins is…
The Breeders’ Cup has seen a handful of exceptional trainers whose thoroughbreds have conquered their journey to the finish line. As of now, the one that stands tall is D. Wayne Lukas, who has had 20 wins.
#3. The Jockey with the most wins is…
Jockeys are equally essential in horse racing, as they ride the horses, helping the Thoroughbred navigate the race track. There have been jockeys who have won the Breeders’ Cup multiple times, but the one that takes the cake is Mike E. Smith, who has won 27 Breeders’ Cup races.
# 2. The Horses with the most Breeders’ Cup wins are…
The Breeders’ Cup is a prestigious horse race that invites only the best thoroughbreds. Suffice it to say, many of its races have seen neck-to-neck matches. Several horses who have won more than one race in their entire career came out of it.
Two thoroughbreds have achieved winning Breeders’ Cup races thrice. These are Goldikova (Mile 2008, 2009, 2010) and Beholder (Juvenile Fillies 2012, Distaff 2013, 2016)
#1. The Horse with the most Breeders’ Cup Classic wins is…
With the Breeders’ Cup classic deemed as the most important race, it would be an honour if one were to win more than once. So far, only one Thoroughbred has done so, Tiznow, winning the Classic in 2000 and 2001.
To Sum it Up
With little time left until the big two days, we can’t help but wonder what’s in store for the 2022 Breeders’ Cup. Who will be the winners? Will records ever be broken? Only time will tell. Have fun watching the race!
