Breeders Cup sets 'Challenge Series' races for June, July

Highlighted by two automatic qualifiers for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic and four free berths at the Royal Ascot meeting, the Breeders’ Cup has announced its June and July schedule of races for the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.

The Breeders’ Cup Challenge, now in its 14th year, is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which will be held this year on Nov. 6-7 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

The 15 Challenge Series races scheduled over the next two months will be televised by either NBC Sports, TVG or Fox Sports.

Breeders’ Cup will announce the remainder of the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series schedule in the coming weeks.

As part of the enhanced benefits to horsemen competing in the series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees and guarantee a starting position in a corresponding Championships race for winners of all Challenge races. The Challenge winner must already be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program or it must be nominated by the Championships’ pre-entry deadline of Oct. 26 to receive the rewards.

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