Breeders’ Cup Turf

Introduction

As one of the original seven races of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the Breeders' Cup Turf has been a cornerstone of American and international racing since its inception in 1984. This Grade 1 race has become a crucible for turf excellence, drawing the best from both sides of the Atlantic to compete for supremacy over grass. With a rich history and a tapestry of memorable champions, the Turf is often considered the most prestigious long-distance grass race in North America.

Breeders’ Cup Turf History

The Breeders' Cup Turf was established to provide a high-stakes, year-end staying championship for turf horses, something that was missing in the American racing calendar. The race has grown enormously in prestige, and is a key influencer of Eclipse Award outcomes and international rankings. With a purse of $4 million in 2022, it is one of the most valuable turf races in the world.

The Turf is open to horses aged three years and older. It is run over a distance of 1 1/2 miles, the classic European middle-distance range, on a grass course.

2024 Breeders’ Cup Turf Challenge Series Races

DATE	TRACK	RACE	GRADE	DISTANCE	AGE	SEX	DIVISION	AREA	WINNER
16/12/2023	SIS	Gran Premio International Carlos Pellegrini Stakes	I	1 1/2 Miles (T)	3 YO & UP		Turf	Argentina	El Encinal (ARG)
19/06/2024	ASC	The Prince of Wales's Stakes	I	1 1/4 Miles (T)	4 YO & UP		Turf	United Kingdom	Auguste Rodin (IRE)
23/06/2024	GVA	Grande Premio Brasil	I	1 1/2 Miles (T)	3 YO & UP		Turf	Brazil	Obataye (BRZ)
23/06/2024	KYO	Takarazuka Kinen	I	1 3/8 Mile (T)	3 YO & UP		Turf	Japan	Blow the Horn (JPN)
27/07/2024	ASC	King George VI & Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes	I	1 1/2 Miles (T)	3 YO & UP		Turf	United Kingdom	Goliath (GER)
24/08/2024	Sar	The Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer	I	1 1/2 Miles (T)	3 YO & UP		Turf	New York	Far Bridge
31/08/2024	Dmr	Del Mar Handicap Presented By The Japan Racing Association	II	1 3/8 Mile (T)	3 YO & UP		Turf	California	Gold Phoenix (IRE)
07/09/2024	KD	The FanDuel TV Kentucky Turf Cup	II	1 1/2 Miles (T)	3 YO & UP		Turf	Kentucky	Grand Sonata
14/09/2024	LEO	The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes	I	1 1/4 Miles (T)	3 YO & UP		Turf	Ireland	Economics (GB)
06/10/2024	Lch	Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe	I	1 1/2 Miles (T)	3 YO & UP		Turf	France	Bluestocking
19/10/2024	ASC	QIPCO Champion Stakes	I	1 1/4 Miles (T)	3 YO & UP		Turf	United Kingdom

 

Breeders’ Cup Turf Trends and Stats

• 28/29 winners to have raced at the distance had been at least 2nd (Found in 2015 the exception)
• Layoff: US 35 days or less ('19 winner off 3 months); Euro any
• 41/41 aged 3-5yo; 6yo+ 0/65
• Euro 3yo's 9; US 3yo's 2 (last one in 1989)
• 32/41 won G1 that season (8/9 exceptions were Euro, & averaged 12.5/1). US *MUST* have won G1 same season
• 12/26 Euro winners last ran in the Arc (rarely the 'obvious' one, though Enable doubled up in '18)
• Arc winners are 1/7 in same season (Enable first horse to do the double)
• 8 US winners ran in Joe Hirsch, six of them winning that key prep (War Like Goddess won 2023)
• 27/30 since '94 had 3-8 season starts - 3-5; 4 or 5-8; 6 to 8-14
• 6 of last 12 had 6-8 seasonal runs, though mares Enable won off just 2 runs in '18 & Tarnawa off 3 in '20
• Every winner to have had at least two 1m4f runs either won or was 100% ITM at the distance
• Europe 19 1/2 US 5 1/2 since 1999 (2xUS winners trained by Graham Motion, Englishman)
• APO'B 7 wins, Sir Michael Stoute 4, Fabre 3, Appleby, Motion, bin Suroor, Meehan, Mott 2 each
• European-trained horses have won the Turf a staggering 26 times prior to the 2024 renewal, emphasizing the transatlantic nature of the race as well as how it plays to the stamina strengths of the overseas runners
• Two horses - High Chaparral and Conduit - have won multiple editions of the Turf. High Chaparral's second win was the only dead heat to date in Breeders' Cup history
• Aidan O'Brien has won the Breeders' Cup Turf seven times, more than any other trainer
• No horse aged six or older has ever won the Breeders' Cup Turf. Prior to the 2023 renewal, that's 65 runners and counting

 

How The Runners Fit in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Turf

To be determined

Breeders’ Cup Turf Pace Map

To be determined

Key Turf Trials

Go to breederscup.com for race videos.

Turf Trends Contenders

To be determined

2024 Breeders’ Cup Turf Form Preview

To be determined

Turf Form Contenders

To be determined

Breeders’ Cup Turf Results

Key: PP - post position; RS - run style (lengths behind leader: 4 <½L, 3 ½L- 1½L, 2 1¾L - 3½L, 1 > 3½L); Odds - return for a 1 unit stake; SR - Equibase speed figure

Track	Date	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	PP	RS	Odds	SR	Chart
Santa Anita	4/11/2023	Auguste Rodin	Aidan P. O'Brien	Ryan L. Moore	4	1	2.50	117	Result
Keeneland	5/11/2022	Rebel's Romance (IRE)	Charles Appleby	James Doyle	5	1	5.96	127	Result
Del Mar	6/11/2021	Yibir (GB)	Charles Appleby	William Buick	8	1	8.50	118	Result
Keeneland	7/11/2020	Tarnawa (IRE)	Dermot K. Weld	Colin Keane	3	1	4.70	126	Result
Santa Anita	2/11/2019	Bricks and Mortar	Chad C. Brown	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	9	1	1.00	121	Result
Churchill	3/11/2018	Enable (GB)	John H. M. Gosden	Lanfranco Dettori	2	1	0.80	133	Result
Del Mar	4/11/2017	Talismanic (GB)	Andre Fabre	Mickael Barzalona	1	1	14.10	126	Result
Santa Anita	5/11/2016	Highland Reel (IRE)	Aidan P. O'Brien	Seamie Heffernan	12	4	3.80	125	Result
Keeneland	10/31/2015	Found (IRE)	Aidan P. O'Brien	Ryan L. Moore	9	1	6.40	116	Result
Santa Anita	1/11/2014	Main Sequence	H. Graham Motion	John R. Velazquez	11	1	6.20	132	Result
Santa Anita	2/11/2013	Magician (IRE)	Aidan P. O'Brien	Ryan L. Moore	11	1	12.50	121	Result
Santa Anita	3/11/2012	Little Mike	Dale L. Romans	Ramon A. Dominguez	7	2	17.30	123	Result
Churchill	5/11/2011	St Nicholas Abbey (IRE)	Aidan P. O'Brien	Joseph Patrick O'Brien	1	2	6.80	126	Result
Churchill	6/11/2010	Dangerous Midge	Brian Meehan	Lanfranco Dettori	7	3	8.50	121	Result
Santa Anita	7/11/2009	Conduit (IRE)	Sir Michael R. Stoute	Ryan L. Moore	2	1	0.90	122	Result
Santa Anita	10/25/2008	Conduit (IRE)	Sir Michael R. Stoute	Ryan L. Moore	9	1	5.80	127	Result
Monmouth	10/27/2007	English Channel	Todd A. Pletcher	John R. Velazquez	6	2	3.00	126	Result
Churchill	4/11/2006	Red Rocks (IRE)	Brian Meehan	Lanfranco Dettori	9	1	10.80	123	Result
Belmont	10/29/2005	Shirocco (GER)	Andre Fabre	Christophe Soumillon	2	2	8.80	120	Result
Lone Star	10/30/2004	Better Talk Now	H. Graham Motion	Ramon A. Dominguez	5	1	27.90	119	Result
Santa Anita	10/25/2003	High Chaparral (IRE)	Aidan P. O'Brien	Michael J. Kinane	3	2	4.90	122	Result
Santa Anita	10/25/2003	Johar	Richard E. Mandella	Alex O. Solis	9	1	14.20	122	Result
Arlington	10/26/2002	High Chaparral (IRE)	Aidan P. O'Brien	Michael J. Kinane	5	1	0.90	125	Result
Belmont	10/27/2001	Fantastic Light	Saeed bin Suroor	Lanfranco Dettori	2	2	1.40	119	Result
Churchill	4/11/2000	Kalanisi (IRE)	Sir Michael R. Stoute	John Patrick Murtagh	1	1	4.60	116	Result
Gulfstream	6/11/1999	Daylami (IRE)	Saeed bin Suroor	Lanfranco Dettori	3	1	1.60	110	Result
Churchill	7/11/1998	Buck's Boy	P. Noel Hickey	Shane J. Sellers	2	4	3.60	114	Result
Hollywood	8/11/1997	Chief Bearhart	Mark R. Frostad	Jose A. Santos	5	1	1.90	119	Result
Woodbine	10/26/1996	Pilsudski (IRE)	Sir Michael R. Stoute	Walter R. Swinburn	9	1	13.70	122	Result
Belmont	10/28/1995	Northern Spur (IRE)	Ronald L. McAnally	Chris J. McCarron	12	3	3.95	124	Result
Churchill	5/11/1994	Tikkanen	Jonathan E. Pease	Mike E. Smith	9	1	16.60	132	Result
Santa Anita	6/11/1993	Kotashaan (FR)	Richard E. Mandella	Kent J. Desormeaux	13	1	1.50	123	Result
Gulfstream	10/31/1992	Fraise	William I. Mott	Patrick A. Valenzuela	7	1	14.00	117	Result
Churchill	2/11/1991	Miss Alleged	Pascal F. Bary	Eric Legrix	12	2	42.10	N/A	Result
Belmont	10/27/1990	In the Wings (GB)	Andre Fabre	Gary L. Stevens	2	1	1.90	N/A	Result
Gulfstream	4/11/1989	Prized	Neil D. Drysdale	Eddie J. Delahoussaye	8	2	8.80	N/A	Result
Churchill	5/11/1988	Great Communicator	Thad D. Ackel	Ray Sibille	1	4	12.40	N/A	Result
Hollywood	11/21/1987	Theatrical (IRE)	William I. Mott	Pat Day	12	1	1.80	N/A	Result
Santa Anita	1/11/1986	Manila	LeRoy S. Jolley	Jose A. Santos	2	2	8.80	N/A	Result
Aqueduct	2/11/1985	Pebbles (GB)	Clive E. Brittain	Pat Eddery	13	1	2.20	N/A	Result
Hollywood	10/11/1984	Lashkari (GB)	Alain de Royer-Dupre	Yves Saint-Martin	2	1	53.40	N/A	Result
	*Dead heat in 2003

Noteworthy Breeders’ Cup Turf Winners

Theatrical (1987)

Trained by the legendary Bill Mott, Theatrical defeated the great Trempolino to secure his place in history, highlighting the international flavor of the competition.

High Chaparral (2002, 2003)

Trained by Aidan O'Brien to win back-to-back editions of the Turf, he solidified his status as one of the all-time greats having won the G1 Racing Post Trophy as a two-year-old, the Derby and Irish Derby at three, and the Irish Champion Stakes at four as well as his two Breeders' Cup Turf victories. His second Turf win was a dead heat with the late-running Johar, a race that was close to being a three-way tie, Falbrav just a head back in third place! It was a fantastic horse race:

Conduit (2008, 2009)

Another dual winner, Conduit's victories were notable for their sheer dominance, as Sir Michael Stoute's colt won both times with plenty left in the tank.

Enable (2018)

The brilliant British mare Enable added the Breeders' Cup Turf to her illustrious resume, which also includes two Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe victories. She is the only horse ever to win the Arc and Turf in the same season.

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