Breeders' Cup launches dirt race incentive program

The Breeders’ Cup has launched a new incentive-based participation bonus program for horsemen pointing runners to the dirt races in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland. The 12-race program, titled the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen, is composed of existing graded-stakes races scheduled from May through October at six U.S. tracks.

The Dirt Dozen program will award bonus credits, funded by the Breeders’ Cup, for first- through third-place finishes, for horsemen to use for entry fees in one of six Breeders’ Cup dirt races: $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, and the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

In Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen races in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup race divisions, the bonus tier is allocated at $30,000 for first, $15,000 for second, and $7,500 for a third-place finish. In Dirt Dozen races in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup race divisions, the bonus tier will award $15,000 for first, $7,500 for second, and $3,750 for a third-place finish.

The Dirt Dozen program began on May 7 with the Derby City Distaff (G1) at Churchill Downs. The first three finishers in the race earned a credit earmarked toward entry fees for a potential start in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint or for another Breeders’ Cup World Championships race, based on eligibility.

Juddmonte’s Obligatory earned a $15,000 credit for first, Four Graces received a $7,500 credit for second, and Just One Time earned a $3,750 credit for third place. The program continues July 2 with the 1 1/8-mile Fleur de Lis (G2) at Churchill Downs, for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up, and the 6-furlong Smile Handicap (G3) at Gulfstream Park, for 3-year-olds and up.

“In our continuing efforts to support horsemen, the new Dirt Dozen program is an innovative way to provide credits which can be put toward entry fees for runners to compete in the dirt races of the World Championships,” said Dora Delgado, Breeders’ Cup executive vice president and chief racing officer. “We look forward to connections taking advantage of the incentives of the Dirt Dozen program and seeing them at Keeneland this November.”