Breeders' Cup releases win-and-you're in, dirt dozen schedules

The Breeders’ Cup challenge series returns for its 20th year in 2026, with the winners of 95 qualifying races across 14 countries receiving a guaranteed starting position into a corresponding race at the at the  Breeders’ Cup on Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland.

Breeders’ Cup allocated a record $6.5 million in free entry fees for the 2026 challenge series. 

Fifty win-and-you're-in races are scheduled to take place in North America. The full schedule may be viewed on the Breeders' Cup website.

The series launched Jan. 24 as Skippylongstocking secured a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic via victory in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup (G1), a new addition to the challenge series. The North American portion of the challenge series next moves to Oaklawn, where the April 11 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) will offer a berth into the Breeders’ Cup Distaff for the first time. The series then shifts to New York with a trio of races on Belmont Stakes weekend at Saratoga and continues throughout the year until concluding with the Oct. 17 Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot.

“North American racing provides the essential framework for the challenge series, presenting horsemen with a consistent and competitive path to the Breeders' Cup world championships," said Dora Delgado, executive vice president and chief racing officer of Breeders' Cup Ltd. "The ongoing support of racing officials and track partners nationwide has been key to our success with the series, and we look forward to strong fields of global contenders at Keeneland this fall.”

Breeders’ Cup will offer a $10,000 travel allowance for all starters within North America who are located outside of Kentucky, and a $40,000 travel allowance to the connections of starters who are based outside of North America. If not already nominated, each challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 19 to receive the rewards.

Last year, 46 challenge series winners competed in the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar, and three won their respective divisional races: Forever Young in the Classic; Notable Speech in the Breeders’ Cup Mile and Ted Noffey in the Juvenile.

Breeders’ Cup will also continue the dirt dozen, a bonus program that features 12 North American graded dirt races, with two for each division, excluding the Classic. Horses finishing first, second or third in these designated races will earn a tiered bonus bankroll, which can be applied to Breeders' Cup pre-entry and entry fees. In total, over $525,000 in free entry fees await program participants. Bonus earnings may only be used to pay entry fees for dirt races. For more information, click here.