Total Handle Rises, Attendance Dips at Breeders' Cup

All-sources handle for the two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar was $180,036,799, the third-highest wagering in the history of the event and a small increase over the 2024 figure of $179,218,631.

Total common-pool handle on the 12-race Breeders' Cup card Nov. 1, was $118,028,444. All-sources common-pool handle on Breeders' Cup's 10-race Future Stars Friday card Oct. 31 was $62,008,354. 

Short fields in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) likely impacted wagering totals. Bettors typically wager most on large fields.

Breeders' Cup did not restrict computer-assisted wagering inside two minutes to post in its win pools—a deviation from the current practice at Del Mar.

On-track handle for the two days was $18,079,169. Saturday's attendance was 35,173, bringing two-day attendance to 65,232, down from 67,418 in 2024. Aside from 2020 and 2021, when COVID-19 precautions restricted attendance, this was the least attended Breeders' Cup in the event's two-day history.

Infield general admission tickets for the Breeders' Cup cost $80 per person for Friday and $155 for Saturday. Trackside general admission prices were $106 per person for Friday and $233 per person Saturday. Reserved seating was more expensive.

Through the years, Breeders' Cup attendance has been largest at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., and Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. Both tracks have large grandstands and seating areas.

The Breeders' Cup World Championships returns to Keeneland in Central Kentucky in 2026, when the 43rd edition will be held Oct. 30-31 at the Lexington track. A record $189,060,373 in all-sources wagering was bet there in 2022.

Breeders' Cup Two-Day Attendance & Handle (Common-Pool) History: