Like the Melbourne Cup, Kentucky Derby and a limited number of other iconic races that take place beyond these isles, the Breeders’ Cup captures the imagination of UK and Irish racing fans. The Breeders’ Cup is actually a series of races but many in the UK refer to the key contest, technically the Breeders’ Cup Classic, as simply the Breeders’ Cup. Whatever we call it, this race is hugely valuable, offering up $6m in total prize money. It is run on dirt, though the venue changes, with the Breeders’ Cup World Championships using a number of different hosts. Santa Anita Park, in California, has hosted the championships, and the Classic itself, more than any other course.
The Breeders’ Cup Classic is a Grade 1 contest, run over a mile and a quarter. It is a weight for age race, whilst there are also allowances for fillies/mares and differing weights for Northern and Southern Hemisphere horses too. That said, the race is open to horses aged at least three with no other restrictions, and is considered by many to be the classiest race to take place in the US. Past winners include American Pharoah, who also won the US Triple Crown in 2015, when he claimed this one, and Tiznow, the only horse to win it more than once.
2025 - Forever Young
Forever Young made history at Del Mar, becoming the first Japanese-trained horse to win the Breeders' Cup Classic. Ryusei Sakai adopted aggressive tactics from gate five, quickly moving his mount towards the front alongside pacemaker Contrary Thinking. Defending champion Sierra Leone closed in as the field entered the stretch, setting up a high-class battle also involving Fierceness and Journalism. However, Forever Young proved strongest when it mattered, securing a landmark victory for trainer Yoshito Yahagi. The first three finishers from 2024 filled the podium again, but in a different order.
- 1st – Forever Young 7/2, Jockey: Ryusei Sakai, Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi
- 2nd – Sierra Leone 39/10, Jockey: Flavien Prat, Trainer: Chad C Brown
- 3rd – Fierceness 17/5F, Jockey: John R Velazquez, Trainer: Todd Pletcher
2024 - Sierra Leone
A powerful late challenge secured Sierra Leone victory at Del Mar. After last year’s runner-up Derma Sotogake set a brisk early pace, Fierceness moved into the lead around the far turn, overtaking the early pacemaker, with Sierra Leone closing rapidly behind him. The pair drew level entering the stretch, setting up a grandstand finish, before Sierra Leone gradually pulled clear to secure victory. Meanwhile, Derma Sotogake, who led for the opening nine furlongs, began to rapidly tire and wound up finishing a rather disappointing 13th.
- 1st - Sierra Leone 69/10, Jockey: Flavien Prat, Trainer: Chad C Brown
- 2nd - Fierceness 14/5F, Jockey: John R Velazquez, Trainer: Todd Pletcher
- 3rd - Forever Young 41/10, Jockey: Ryusei Sakai, Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi
2023 - White Abarrio
White Abarrio claimed the 40th edition of the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita, giving trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. a second victory in the prestigious contest. The favourite broke well before making his decisive move around the far turn, passing front-runner Arabian Knight in the stretch. Japan’s Derma Sotogake mounted a late challenge but could not close the gap, finishing second, while Proxy also passed the weakening leader just before the line. It was an emotional win for Dutrow following his return from a 10-year suspension relating to medication and administrative violations.
- 1st - White Abarrio 13/5F, Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr., Trainer: Richard Dutrow Jr.
- 2nd - Derma Sotogake 26/1, Jockey: Christophe-Patrice Lemaire, Trainer: Hidetaka Otonashi
- 3rd - Proxy 174/10, Jockey: Joel Rosario, Trainer: Michael Stidham
2022 - Flightline
Flightline cemented his reputation as one of the greatest dirt horses of his generation with a devastating victory at Keeneland. Flavien Prat positioned the unbeaten four-year-old just behind front-runner Life Is Good, with the leading pair pulling well clear of the chasing pack. Flightline travelled comfortably before accelerating into the home straight and quickly settling the contest. He crossed the line over eight lengths clear of the nearest challenger, an unprecedented margin in Breeders’ Cup Classic history. The triumph extended his perfect record to six victories and prompted comparisons with legendary champions such as Secretariat and, more familiar to English racing fans, Frankel.
- 1st - Flightline 4/9F, Jockey: Flavien Prat, Trainer: John W. Sadler
- 2nd - Olympiad 10/1, Jockey: Junior Alvarado, Trainer: William I. Mott
- 3rd - Taiba 33/4, Jockey: Mike E. Smith, Trainer: Bob Baffert
2021 - Knicks Go
Knicks Go led from the start to secure a commanding victory at Del Mar. Joel Rosario sent the grey colt straight to the front in the nine-runner field, and his rivals struggled to make any impression as the race unfolded. Medina Spirit, the controversial Kentucky Derby winner, finished second but was beaten by two and three-quarter lengths. Having failed a drugs test following the Derby win, he was only able to compete after undergoing extra testing measures.
- 1st - Knicks Go 16/5, Jockey: Joel Roasario, Trainer: Brad Cox
- 2nd - Medina Spirit 68/10, Jockey: John Velazquez, Trainer: Bob Baffert
- 3rd - Essential Quality 19/10F, Jockey: Luis Saez, Trainer: Brad Cox
2020 - Authentic
At Keeneland, Authentic added this race to his Kentucky Derby triumph earlier in the season. On a fast track favouring horses near the front, he took an early lead, with Maximum Security tracking him closely. Improbable moved into contention around the final turn, closing to within a length as they entered the stretch. However, Authentic responded decisively and pulled away to win by over two lengths. The victory made him the fourth horse to win both the Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic during the same three-year-old campaign, securing his place in the record books.
- 1st - Authentic 9/5, Jockey: John Velazquez, Trainer: Bob Baffert
- 2nd - Improbable 5/2F, Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr., Trainer: Bob Baffert
- 3rd - Global Campaign 20/1, Jockey: Javier Castellano, Trainer: Stanley Hough
2019 - Vino Rosso
A decisive late surge from Vino Rosso proved decisive in this year’s Classic. After War of Will set the early pace, Vino Rosso travelled a few lengths behind before moving forward around the far turn. McKinzie took over at the head of the stretch, but Vino Rosso gradually reeled him in before pulling clear in the final furlong to win. Sadly, the result was rather overshadowed by the serious injury suffered by Mongolian Groom, who was pulled up approaching the home straight and was later put down.
- 1st - Vino Rosso 4/1, Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr., Trainer: Todd Pletcher
- 2nd - McKinzie 3/1F, Jockey: Joel Rosario, Trainer: Bob Baffert
- 3rd - Higher Power 6/1, Jockey: Flavien Prat, Trainer: John Sadler
2018 - Accelerate
John Sadler finally secured his first Breeders' Cup victory after 45 attempts spanning three decades as Accelerate triumphed at Churchill Downs. Drawn widest of the field, Accelerate was urged forward by Joel Rosario before settling into fifth place during the early stages. Mendelssohn, saddled by Aidan O’Brien, set the early pace but weakened in the straight as Accelerate made his move around the final turn. The favourite swept past the leader and resisted Thunder Snow's challenge, while Gunnevera finished strongly to take second.
- 1st - Accelerate 3/1F, Jockey: Joel Rosario, Trainer: John Sadler
- 2nd - Gunnevera 6/1, Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr., Trainer: Antonio Sano
- 3rd - Thunder Snow 13/2, Jockey: Christophe Soumillon, Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor
2017 - Gun Runner
Gun Runner defeated reigning champion Arrogate in a commanding display at Del Mar, strengthening his claim to Horse of the Year honours. Florent Geroux sent the colt straight to the front, where he established a steady rhythm while Collected tracked him closely. Arrogate, expected to provide the main challenge, lost considerable ground at the start and never recovered. Collected drew alongside Gun Runner approaching the stretch, but the leader found another gear and pulled clear to win with some comfort. With this win, the four-year-old made it a very impressive four Grade 1 wins in a row.
- 1st - Gun Runner 9/5F, Jockey: Florent Geroux, Trainer: Steve Asmussen
- 2nd - Collected 6/1, Jockey: Martin Garcia, Trainer: Bob Baffert
- 3rd - West Coast 6/1, Jockey: Javier Castellano, Trainer: Bob Baffert
2016 - Arrogate
Arrogate emerged as racing's newest superstar after catching California Chrome in the closing stages of a thrilling renewal. The legendary odds-on favourite controlled the pace and appeared on course for another major victory, while Mike Smith positioned the inexperienced three-year-old in third. Arrogate moved around Melatonin on the final turn and began closing ground on California Chrome in the straight. Despite California Chrome maintaining his advantage deep into the stretch, Arrogate's relentless finish carried him past in the final 100 yards. This settled a wonderful battle between two horses that were classes above the rest of the field.
- 1st - Arrogate 11/4, Jockey: Mike Smith, Trainer: Bob Baffert
- 2nd - California Chrome 5/6F, Jockey: Victor Espinoza, Trainer: Art Sherman
- 3rd - Keen Ice 16/1, Jockey: Javier Castellano, Trainer: Todd Pletcher
2015 - American Pharoah
- 1st - American Pharoah 6/5F, Jockey: Victor Espinoza, Trainer: Bob Baffert
- 2nd - Effinex 30/1, Jockey: Mike Smith, Trainer: James Jerkens
- 3rd - Honor Code 6/1, Jockey: Javier Castellano, Trainer: Claude McGaughey III
2014 - Bayern
- 1st - Bayern 13/2, Jockey: Martin Garcia, Trainer: Bob Baffert
- 2nd - Toast of New York 12/1, Jockey: Jamie Spencer, Trainer: Jamie Osborne
- 3rd - California Chrome 7/1, Jockey: Victor Espinoza, Trainer: Art Sherman