The 2026 Breeders' Cup World Championships take place Friday, October 30, and Saturday, October 31, 2026, at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. The event features 14 Grade 1 races worth more than $34 million, ending with the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic at 6:16 p.m. ET. This article covers the race schedule, advance wagering, how to wager on TwinSpires, and how to watch.
The Breeders' Cup World Championships are two days of championship horse racing featuring top horses from around the world. Here's everything you need to know to follow along and wager on TwinSpires.
What you need to know
- Dates: Friday, October 30, and Saturday, October 31, 2026
- Location: Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky
- Races: 14 Grade 1 championship races worth more than $34 million in purses and awards. Grade 1 is the highest level of stakes race.
- Main event: The $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday, October 31, at 6:16 p.m. ET
- Advance wagering: You can place wagers on Breeders' Cup races before race day. See Advance wagering below.
Race order and post times are subject to change. Post time is the scheduled start time of a race. The Breeders' Cup will release the final official race order and post times on October 21, 2026.
Friday, October 30: Future Stars Friday
Friday features five Breeders' Cup races for 2-year-old horses (called juveniles). Races on turf are run on grass. All times are Eastern Time (ET).
| Race | Post time (ET) | Breeders' Cup race | Purse |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 2:55 p.m. | Juvenile Turf Sprint | $1 million |
| 7 | 3:35 p.m. | Juvenile Fillies | $2 million |
| 8 | 4:15 p.m. | Juvenile Fillies Turf | $1 million |
| 9 | 4:55 p.m. | Juvenile | $2 million |
| 10 | 5:35 p.m. | Juvenile Turf | $1 million |
Races 1–5 on Friday's card are undercard races, which are non-championship races that run before the Breeders' Cup races. Racing begins at 11:55 a.m. ET.
Saturday, October 31: Championships Saturday
Saturday features nine Breeders' Cup races, ending with the Classic. A filly or mare is a female horse. All times are Eastern Time (ET).
| Race | Post time (ET) | Breeders' Cup race | Purse |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 1:10 p.m. | Dirt Mile | $1 million |
| 5 | 1:48 p.m. | Turf Sprint | $1 million |
| 6 | 2:26 p.m. | Sprint | $2 million |
| 7 | 3:04 p.m. | Filly & Mare Turf | $2 million |
| 8 | 3:42 p.m. | Filly & Mare Sprint | $1 million |
| 9 | 4:20 p.m. | Mile | $2 million |
| 10 | 4:58 p.m. | Distaff | $2 million |
| 11 | 5:36 p.m. | Turf | $5 million |
| 12 | 6:16 p.m. | Classic | $7 million |
Races 1–3 on Saturday's card are undercard races. Racing begins at 11:15 a.m. ET.
Advance wagering
Advance wagering lets you place wagers on Breeders' Cup races before race day. Advance wagering for the 2026 Breeders' Cup will be available on TwinSpires. Check back for dates and available wagers.
On TwinSpires, advance wagering appears as a separate track in the track list.
How to wager on the Breeders' Cup
- Sign in to your TwinSpires account.
- Select Bet Now.
- Choose Keeneland from the track list. To wager ahead of race day, choose the advance wagering track instead.
- Select the race, wager type, horses, and amount.
- Review your wager, then submit it.
How to watch
On TwinSpires: Watch the Breeders' Cup races live on TwinSpires.com or in the TwinSpires app for iOS and Android.
On TV: NBC Sports will air all 14 Breeders' Cup races live (all times ET):
- Friday, October 30: 1–6 p.m. on USA Network
- Saturday, October 31: 1–3:30 p.m. on USA Network, then 3:30–6:30 p.m. on NBC
Coverage also streams on Peacock.
Handicapping and past performances
Past performances (PPs) show each horse's racing history and help you choose your wagers. Breeders' Cup contender PPs are available on TwinSpires.com and Brisnet.com. For handicapping articles and news, visit The TwinSpires Edge.
Important details
- Race order and post times may change until the final schedule is released on October 21, 2026.
- If your horse scratches (is withdrawn from the race), you can cancel your wager before the race starts. Otherwise, you'll get an automatic refund when the race is made official.
- Wager cancellations may not be available from 3 to 6 a.m. ET while the system switches to the next day's racing.