The 2023 Breeders’ Cup is just around the corner, and horse racing enthusiasts are gearing up for an exhilarating weekend of thoroughbred racing action. To help you plan and get the most out of this prestigious event, we’ll take a closer look at the schedule for the 2023 Breeders’ Cup.
The Breeders’ Cup is usually seen as the finish line for horse racing in North America, even though a small number of top-tier races happen later in November and December.
2023 Breeders’ Cup Schedule
Day 1: Friday, November 3, 2023
The Breeders’ Cup kicks off with a bang on Friday, featuring five exciting races known as the “Future Stars Friday.” These races are designed to showcase the best two-year-old thoroughbreds, giving fans a glimpse of potential future stars of the sport.
- Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint
Distance: 5 furlongs on the turf
Highlight: Young sprinters show their speed and agility. - Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
Distance: 1 mile on the turf
Highlight: Young fillies take on the challenge of turf racing. - Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
Distance: 1 1/16 miles on the dirt
Highlight: Promising young fillies to compete for supremacy. - Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
Distance: 1 mile on the turf
Highlight Two-year-old colts and geldings battle on the grass. - Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Distance: 1 1/16 miles on the dirt
Highlight A glimpse of future stars as the two-year-old colts compete.
Day 2: Saturday, November 4, 2023
The excitement continues on Saturday with a full day of championship racing, featuring nine high-stakes races, including the prestigious Breeders’ Cup Classic.
- Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
Distance: 7 furlongs on the dirt
Highlight: Top female sprinters showcase their speed and agility. - Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint
Distance: 5 furlongs on the turf
Highlight: Fast-paced turf sprinting action. - Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile
Distance: 1 mile on the dirt
Highlight: Middle-distance specialists compete for glory. - Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
Distance: 1 3/8 miles on the turf
Highlight: Top fillies and mares face off on the grass. - Breeders’ Cup Sprint
Distance: 6 furlongs on the dirt
Highlight: Lightning-fast sprinters vie for victory. - Breeders’ Cup Mile
Distance: 1 mile on the turf
Highlight: Turf milers display their speed and strategy. - Breeders’ Cup Distaff
Distance: 1 1/8 miles on the dirt
Highlight: Top fillies and mares battle for supremacy. - Breeders’ Cup Turf
Distance: 1 1/2 miles on the turf
Highlight: The best turf horses compete in a test of endurance. - Breeders’ Cup Classic
Distance: 1 1/4 miles on the dirt
Highlight The grand finale, where the best older horses compete for glory and the title of Horse of the Year.
The 2023 World Championships will feature 14 Grade 1 races and $31 million in purses and awards as fans from around the globe gather to celebrate the world’s best horses, jockeys, and trainers as they compete over two days in racing’s most spectacular international showcase.
2023 Breeders’ Cup Broadcast Schedule
Live Coverage of Nov. 3-4 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park will be featured on NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and FanDuel TV
This year’s Breeders’ Cup begins Nov. 3 with Future Stars Friday, featuring all five Breeders’ Cup World Championships races for 2-year-olds. There will be four undercard races preceding the first Breeders’ Cup race on Friday’s 10-race program, with the first race post time at 2:30 p.m. ET.
USA Network and FanDuel TV will both televise the first day of this year’s World Championships.
USA Network coverage will take place from 4-8 p.m. ET and will include one undercard race and all five Breeders’ Cup races, concluding with the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at 7:40 p.m. ET.
FanDuel TV coverage will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET with the first undercard race and will conclude with undercard Race #10 at 8:10 p.m. ET.
The USA Network coverage on Saturday is from 1:30-3:30 p.m. ET, followed by an extended 3 1/2 hours of live programming on NBC and Peacock from 3:30-7 p.m. ET that will feature five World Championship races, concluding their coverage with the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). Post time for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Race #9, will be 6:40 p.m. ET.
The Classic will lead into NBC Sports’ Big Ten Football coverage.
FanDuel TV will also televise the first two undercard races and eight of the nine Breeders’ Cup World Championships races on Saturday.
Following the running of the Breeders’ Cup Classic on NBC and Peacock, FanDuel TV will televise the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) and the $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) and will conclude its coverage with a final undercard race with a post time of 8:32 p.m. ET.
This year marks the first time that Breeders’ Cup World Championships races will be held after the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The official race order and final post times for the 2023 World Championships will be released on Oct. 25.
The 2023 Breeders’ Cup schedule promises two days filled with heart-pounding races and the opportunity to witness the finest thoroughbreds in action. Whether you’re a seasoned racing enthusiast or a newcomer to the sport, this event offers something for everyone to enjoy. So, mark your calendars for November 3rd and 4th, 2023, and get ready for a weekend of thrilling horse racing action at the Breeders’ Cup.
