The Breeders' Cup announced its 2021 Breeders' Cup Challenge Series schedule April 20, consisting of 84 automatic qualifying stakes races into the Breeders' Cup World Championships. This year's series, which includes a record nine "Win and You're In" races for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) division, is available online.
Horses from around the globe will be qualifying through the Challenge Series for the 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held at Del Mar in California Nov. 5-6, and will be televised live on NBC and NBCSN.
The Challenge Series, now in its 15th year, will be hosted at many of the world's premier racetracks in Argentina, Canada, Chile, England, France, Ireland, Japan, Peru, South Africa, and the United States.
As part of the benefits to horsemen, the Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees and guarantee a starting position in a corresponding Championships race for all Challenge Series race winners. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of Oct. 25 to receive the rewards.
In addition, Breeders' Cup will provide a $40,000 travel allowance 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 California.
There are two new Challenge Series races in 2021: the Suburban Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park July 3, which grants a berth into the Breeders' Cup Classic, and the Calumet Kentucky Turf Cup (G2) at Kentucky Downs Sept. 11, which offers a spot in the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T). The latter race is worth $1 million for Kentucky-bred horses.
"There already were a million reasons for owners and trainers to send their turf sprinter or distance grass horse to Kentucky Downs," said Ted Nicholson, vice president for racing for the Southern Kentucky track. "Now there's even more incentive."
In support of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, which was signed into law in the U.S. last December, all Breeders' Cup Challenge races this year will not permit medications to be administered within 24 hours of race day, the organization announced.
"We look forward to the return of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series with horsemen from around the world participating in and taking advantage of the many incentives, such as automatic starting positions and paid entry fees, to qualify for the World Championships," said Breeders' Cup president and CEO Drew Fleming. "We also thank our international and domestic racetrack partners for their important work and dedication to support the Challenge Series."
The first North American Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race of the year will be the Shoemaker Mile Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita Park May 31. The Shoemaker Mile winner will gain a free starting position into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T).
There are several highlights to this year's Challenge Series, such as providing fans with a path to the World Championships through NBC Sports. The network will televise the "Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In Series presented by America's Best Racing," featuring 12 live programs in the U.S. this summer and fall. The full 2021 television schedule will be announced April 21.
There will be a record nine automatic berths awarded for the Breeders' Cup Classic. The 4-year-old Cafe Pharoah became the first horse to qualify for this year's Classic when he won the February Stakes (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse in Japan Feb. 16. The next automatic qualifier in the division will be the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs June 26; followed by the Suburban at Belmont Park July 3; the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park July 17; the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 7; the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at York in England Aug. 18; the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar Aug. 21; the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga Sept. 4; and the Awesome Again Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Oct. 2.
In the United States, there will be six "Win and You're In" races for the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), starting with the Ogden Phipps (G1) June 5 as part of the Belmont Stakes (G1) day program at Belmont Park. The Ogden Phipps will be followed by the Fleur de Lis (G2) at Churchill Downs June 26; the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar Aug. 1; the Personal Ensign (G1) at Saratoga Aug. 28; the Juddmonte Spinster (G1) at Keeneland Oct. 3; and the Zenyatta Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Oct. 3.
The European leg of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series will begin with four races at the Royal Ascot meeting in England: The Queen Anne Stakes (G1) June 15 with an invitation to the Breeders' Cup Mile; the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) June 16 with an invitation to the Breeders' Cup Turf; the Norfolk Stakes (G2) June 17 with an invitation to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T); and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1) June 19 with an invitation to the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T).
Three other prestigious European automatic qualifiers for the Breeders' Cup Turf are also back this year: The King George VI & Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (G1) at Ascot July 24; the Irish Champion Stakes (G1) at Leopardstown Sept. 11; and the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) at ParisLongchamp Oct. 3, one of five Breeders' Cup Challenge races on the Arc day program.
Canada will also be represented by three grade 1 Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races at Woodbine, led by the Ricoh Woodbine Mile Sept. 18 with an invitation to the Breeders' Cup Mile, and Natalma Stakes with an invitation to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) and the Summer Stakes with an invitation to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T), both Sept. 19.
The international portion of the series began on Dec. 19 when the 3-year-old Cool Day captured the Gran Premio International Carlos Pellegrini (G1) at Hipodromo de San Isidro in Argentina to gain the first automatic starting berth into the Breeders' Cup Turf.
Last year, five Breeders' Cup Challenge Series winners also won a World Championships race: Authentic , Tarnawa, Glass Slippers, Essential Quality , and Aunt Pearl.
| Breeders' Cup Challenge 2021 Schedule | |||||||||
| Race Date | Track | Race Name | Grade | Distance | Surface | Age | Sex | Division | Region |
| Dec. 19 | SIS | Gran Premio International Carlos Pellegrini Stakes | 1 | 1 1/2 Miles | Turf | 3 YO & UP | Turf | Argentina | |
| Jan. 9 | KEN | Cartier Paddock Stakes | 1 | 1 1/8 Miles | Turf | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | South Africa |
| Jan. 9 | KEN | L'Ormarins Queen's Plate | 1 | 1 Mile | Turf | 3 YO & UP | Mile | South Africa | |
| Feb. 21 | TOK | February Stakes | 1 | 1 Mile | Dirt | 4 YO & UP | Classic | Japan | |
| May 1 | Pal | Gran Premio Criadores | 1 | 1 1/4 Miles | Dirt | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Distaff | Argentina |
| May 2 | CHS | Gran Premio Club Hípico Falabella | 1 | 1 1/4 Miles | Turf | 3 YO & UP | Mile | Chile | |
| May 16 | TOK | Victoria Mile | 1 | 1 Mile | Turf | 4 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | Japan |
| May 31 | SA | Shoemaker Mile | 1 | 1 Mile | Turf | 3 YO & UP | Mile | California | |
| June 5 | BEL | Jaipur | 1 | 6 Furlongs | Turf | 3 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | New York | |
| June 5 | BEL | Metropolitan | 1 | 1 Mile | Dirt | 3 YO & UP | Dirt Mile | New York | |
| June 5 | BEL | Ogden Phipps | 1 | 1 1/16 Miles | Dirt | 4 YO & UP | F & M | Distaff | New York |
| June 6 | TOK | Yasuda Kinen | 1 | 1 Mile | Turf | 3 YO & UP | Mile | Japan | |
| June 15 | ASC | Queen Anne Stakes | 1 | 1 Mile | Turf | 4 YO & UP | Mile | United Kingdom | |
| June 16 | ASC | Prince of Wales's Stakes | 1 | 1 1/4 Miles | Tiurf | 4 YO & UP | Turf | United Kingdom | |
| June 17 | ASC | Norfolk Stakes | 2 | 5 Furlongs | Turf | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf Sprint | United Kingdom | |
| June 18 | ASC | Diamond Jubilee Stakes | 1 | 6 Furlongs | Turf | 4 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | United Kingdom | |
| June 26 | CD | Fleur de Lis Stakes | 2 | 1 1/8 Miles | Dirt | 4 YO & UP | F & M | Distaff | Kentucky |
| June 26 | CD | Stephen Foster Stakes | 2 | 1 1/8 Miles | Dirt | 4 YO & UP | Classic | Kentucky | |
| June 26 | MON | Gran Premio Pamplona | 1 | 1 1/4 Miles | Turf | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | Peru |
| June 27 | HSN | Takarazuka Kinen | 1 | 1 3/8 Miles | Turf | 3 YO & UP | Turf | Japan | |
| July 3 | BEL | Suburban Stakes | 2 | 1 1/4 Miles | Dirt | 4 YO & UP | Classic | New York | |
| July 3 | GP | Princess Rooney Invitational | 2 | 7 Furlongs | Dirt | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Sprint | Florida |
| July 4 | BEL | John A. Nerud | 2 | 7 Furlongs | Dirt | 4 YO & UP | Sprint | New York | |
| July 17 | MTH | TVG.com Haskell Stakes | 1 | 1 1/8 Miles | Dirt | 3 YO | Classic | New Jersey | |
| July 24 | ASC | King George VI & Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes | 1 | 1 1/2 Miles | Turf | 3 YO & UP | Turf | United Kingdom | |
| July 28 | GOO | Qatar Sussex Stakes | 1 | 1 Mile | Turf | 3 YO & UP | Mile | United Kingdom | |
| July 31 | DMR | Bing Crosby Stakes | 1 | 6 Furlongs | Dirt | 3 YO & UP | Sprint | California | |
| Aug. 1 | DMR | Clement L. Hirsch Stakes | 1 | 1 1/16 Miles | Dirt | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Distaff | California |
| Aug. 7 | SAR | The Whitney | 1 | 1 1/8 Miles | Dirt | 4 YO & UP | Classic | New York | |
| Aug. 14 | SAR | The Fourstardave | 1 | 1 Mile | Turf | 3 YO & UP | Mile | New York | |
| Aug. 15 | DEA | Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois | 1 | 1 Mile | Turf | 3 YO & UP | Mile | France | |
| Aug. 18 | YOR | Juddmonte International Stakes | 1 | 1 1/4 Miles | Turf | 3 YO & UP | Classic | United Kingdom | |
| Aug. 19 | YOR | Darley Yorkshire Oaks | 1 | 1 1/2 Miles | Turf | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | United Kingdom |
| Aug. 20 | YOR | Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes | 1 | 5 Furlongs | Turf | 2 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | United Kingdom | |
| Aug. 21 | DMR | Del Mar Handicap Presented By The Japan Racing Association | 2 | 1 3/8 Mile | Turf | 3 YO & UP | Turf | California | |
| Aug. 21 | DMR | TVG Pacific Classic | 1 | 1 1/4 Miles | Dirt | 3 YO & UP | Classic | California | |
| Aug. 22 | DEA | Darley Prix Morny | 1 | 6 Furlongs | Turf | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf Sprint | France | |
| Aug. 28 | DMR | Pat O'Brien Stakes | 2 | 7 Furlongs | Dirt | 3 YO & UP | Dirt Mile | California | |
| Aug. 28 | SAR | The Ballerina | 1 | 7 Furlongs | Dirt | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Sprint | New York |
| Aug. 28 | SAR | The Personal Ensign | 1 | 1 1/8 Miles | Dirt | 4 YO & UP | F & M | Distaff | New York |
| Aug. 28 | SAR | The Sword Dancer | 1 | 1 1/2 Miles | Turf | 4 YO & UP | Turf | New York | |
| Sept. 4 | SAR | Jockey Club Gold Cup | 1 | 1 1/4 Miles | Dirt | 3 YO & UP | Classic | New York | |
| Sept. 4 | SAR | The Flower Bowl | 1 | 1 3/8 Mile | Turf | 4 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | New York |
| Sept. 11 | KD | Calumet Kentucky Cup | 2 | 1 1/2 Miles | Turf | 3 YO & UP | Turf | Kentucky | |
| Sept. 11 | KD | Turf Sprint | 3 | 6 Furlongs | Turf | 3 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | Kentucky | |
| Sept. 11 | LEO | Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes | 1 | 1 Mile | Turf | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | Ireland |
| Sept. 11 | LEO | Irish Champion Stakes | 1 | 1 1/4 Miles | Turf | 3 YO & UP | Turf | Ireland | |
| Sept. 11 | LEO | KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes | 2 | 1 Mile | Turf | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf | Ireland | |
| Sept. 12 | CUR | Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes | 1 | 5 Furlongs | Turf | 3 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | Ireland | |
| Sept. 12 | CUR | Moyglare Stud Stakes | 1 | 7 Furlongs | Turf | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies Turf | Ireland |
| Sept. 18 | BEL | Jockey Club Derby Invitational | 1 1/2 Miles | Turf | 3 YO | Turf | New York | ||
| Sept. 18 | CD | Iroquois | 3 | 1 1/16 Miles | Dirt | 2 YO | Juvenile | Kentucky | |
| Sept. 18 | CD | Pocahontas | 3 | 1 1/16 Miles | Dirt | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies | Kentucky |
| Sept. 18 | WO | Ricoh Woodbine Mile | 1 | 1 Mile | Turf | 3 YO & UP | Mile | Ontario | |
| Sept. 19 | WO | Natalma Stakes | 1 | 1 Mile | Turf | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies Turf | Ontario |
| Sept. 19 | WO | Summer Stakes | 1 | 1 Mile | Turf | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf | Ontario | |
| Sept. 24 | NEW | Shadwell Rockfel Stakes | 2 | 7 Furlongs | Turf | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies Turf | United Kingdom |
| Sept. 25 | NEW | Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes | 2 | 1 Mile | Turf | 2 YO | C & G | Juvenile Turf | United Kingdom |
| Oct. 1 | KEE | Darley Alcibiades | 1 | 1 1/16 Miles | Dirt | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies | Kentucky |
| Oct. 1 | KEE | Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix | 2 | 6 Furlongs | Dirt | 3 YO & UP | Sprint | Kentucky | |
| Oct. 1 | SA | American Pharoah Stakes | 1 | 1 1/16 Miles | Dirt | 2 YO | Juvenile | California | |
| Oct. 1 | SA | Chandelier Stakes | 2 | 1 1/16 Miles | Dirt | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies | California |
| Oct. 1 | SA | Speakeasy Stakes | 5 Furlongs | Turf | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf Sprint | California | ||
| Oct. 2 | BEL | The Champagne | 1 | 1 Mile | Dirt | 2 YO | Juvenile | New York | |
| Oct. 2 | KEE | Claiborne Breeders' Futurity | 1 | 1 1/16 Miles | Dirt | 2 YO | Juvenile | Kentucky | |
| Oct. 2 | KEE | First Lady Presented by UK HealthCare | 1 | 1 Mile | Turf | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | Kentucky |
| Oct. 2 | KEE | Keeneland Turf Mile | 1 | 1 Mile | Turf | 3 YO & UP | Mile | Kentucky | |
| Oct. 2 | KEE | Thoroughbred Club of America | 2 | 6 Furlongs | Dirt | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Sprint | Kentucky |
| Oct. 2 | SA | Awesome Again Stakes | 1 | 1 1/8 Miles | Dirt | 3 YO & UP | Classic | California | |
| Oct. 2 | SA | Rodeo Drive Stakes | 1 | 1 1/4 Miles | Turf | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | California |
| Oct. 2 | SA | Santa Anita Sprint Championship | 2 | 6 Furlongs | Dirt | 3 YO & UP | Sprint | California | |
| Oct. 3 | BEL | The Frizette | 1 | 1 Mile | Dirt | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies | New York |
| Oct. 3 | KEE | Bourbon Stakes | 2 | 1 1/16 Miles | Turf | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf | Kentucky | |
| Oct. 3 | KEE | Indian Summer Stakes | 5 1/2 Furlongs | Turf | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf Sprint | Kentucky | ||
| Oct. 3 | KEE | Juddmonte Spinster | 1 | 1 1/8 Miles | Dirt | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Distaff | Kentucky |
| Oct. 3 | LCH | Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines | 1 | 5 Furlongs | Turf | 2 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | France | |
| Oct. 3 | LCH | Prix de l'Opera Longines | 1 | 1 1/4 Miles | Turf | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | France |
| Oct. 3 | LCH | Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | 1 | 1 1/2 Miles | Turf | 3 YO & UP | Turf | France | |
| Oct. 3 | LCH | Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere | 1 | 7 Furlongs | Turf | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf | France | |
| Oct. 3 | LCH | Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac | 1 | 1 Mile | Turf | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies Turf | France |
| Oct. 3 | SA | Zenyatta Stakes | 2 | 1 1/16 Miles | Dirt | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Distaff | California |
| Oct. 6 | KEE | JPMorgan Chase Jessamine | 2 | 1 1/16 Miles | Turf | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies Turf | Kentucky |
| Oct. 9 | BEL | The Vosburgh | 2 | 6 Furlongs | Dirt | 3 YO & UP | Sprint | New York | |
| Oct. 10 | BEL | The Futurity | 3 | 6 Furlongs | Turf | 2 YO | C & G | Juvenile Turf Sprint | New York |
