Breeders' Cup Releases 2024 Challenge Series Schedule

Two new races in South Korea and two additional races in the United Kingdom are part of this year's Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In schedule of 82 races in 12 countries, including 41 international races, which Breeders' Cup Limited released April 15.

The winner of each Challenge race will receive an automatic qualifying position, and fees paid, into a corresponding race in the 2024 Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar in Southern California. The 41st Breeders' Cup will feature 14 grade 1 races with purses and awards totaling a record $33 million.

In addition to the United States, the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, now in its 18th year, will be hosted at premier racetracks in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, England, France, Ireland, Japan, Peru, South Africa, and South Korea.

View the complete Breeders' Cup Challenge Series schedule

The Korea Cup (G3) and Korea Sprint (G3) will both run Sept. 8 at Seoul Racecourse in South Korea. At 1 1/8 miles, the Korea Cup is an automatic qualifier for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), while the six-furlong Korea Sprint provides an automatic berth in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).

Also new to the international schedule are the Aug. 21 Acomb Stakes (G3) at York, the Aug. 24 Prestige Stakes (G3) at Goodwood, and the Oct. 19 British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes (G1) at Ascot. The seven-furlong Acomb Stakes is an automatic qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T), while the seven-furlong Prestige Stakes provides an automatic berth into the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T). The British Champion Fillies and Mares Stakes, over 1 1/2 miles at Ascot Racecourse, is a Win and You're In event for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T).

"International competition is a cornerstone of the Breeders' Cup program, and the Challenge Series continues to be the best way for horsemen the world over to gain an automatic entry into the World Championships," said Dora Delgado, executive vice president and chief racing officer of Breeders' Cup. "We extend our deepest gratitude to the racing authorities and organizations on five continents who are partnering with us this year to support and administer Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races in their respective jurisdictions, and we look forward to another outstanding renewal of the World Championships this November at Del Mar." 

Qualifiers on Five Continents

There will be eight automatic berths awarded for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). The 6-year-old Peptide Nile  became the first horse to qualify this year for the marquee race when he won the Feb. 19 February Stakes (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse. Three more Challenge Series races are scheduled in Japan this year, culminating with the June 23 Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse with a free starting position into the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) on the line. 

Two of the five Challenge Series races in South America this year will also be June 23: the Gran Premio Pamplona (G1) at Hipódromo de Monterrico in Peru will award the winner an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and the winner of the Grande Premio Brasil (G1) at Hipódromo da Gávea in Rio de Janeiro will earn a guaranteed start into the Breeders' Cup Turf. 

England will host 13 Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races, beginning with four during the Royal Ascot meeting in June. They also include Ascot's July 27 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1), which awards the winner an automatic starting position for the Breeders' Cup Turf. Another English race is the Aug. 21 International Stakes (G1) at York—the only automatic qualifier in Europe for the Breeders' Cup Classic. 

There will be five Challenge Series races in Ireland over Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown and at the Curragh, anchored by the Sept. 14 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (G1). In 2023, Auguste Rodin  won the Irish Champion Stakes and gained a free spot into the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita Park, where won.

Canada will be represented by three Challenge Series races at Woodbine near Toronto, featuring the Sept. 14 Woodbine Mile (G1T), for a free starting position into the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T). Last year's Breeders' Cup Mile winner, Master of the Seas , gained a free berth when he won the Woodbine Mile.

The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) will be the centerpiece of five Challenge Series races Oct. 6 at ParisLongchamp. The Arc winner will receive an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Turf. 

The Challenge Series' international schedule concludes Oct. 19 on British Champions Day at Ascot with two races. Along with the British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes, the Champion Stakes (G1) gives the winner an automatic spot in the Breeders' Cup Turf.  

As part of the benefits to horsemen, Breeders' Cup has allocated $5,485,000 in free entry fees for this year's Challenge Series and will pay the entry fees and guarantee a starting position in a corresponding Championships race for all Challenge Series race winners. If not already nominated, the Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 21 to receive the rewards.

In addition, Breeders' Cup will provide a $10,000 travel allowance for all starters within North America that are stabled outside of California, and a $40,000 travel allowance to the connections of all Championship starters based outside of North America.

Last year, 42 Breeders' Cup Challenge winners competed in the World Championships at Santa Anita and eight won their respective divisional races: White Abarrio , $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic; Auguste Rodin (IRE), $4 million Breeders' Cup Turf; Idiomatic , $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1); Cody's Wish  , $2 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile; Master of the Seas (IRE), $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile; Inspiral , $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf; Just F Y I , $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1); and Hard to Justify , $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T). Auguste Rodin (IRE), Master of the Seas (IRE), and Inspiral (GB) were European contenders.

Purse increases in 2024 raise the value of the Classic to $7 million and the Turf to $5 million.