2026 Breeders' Cup Challenge Race Schedule
Win, and you’re in. It’s the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, where the world’s top Thoroughbreds compete for a free spot at the 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships starting gate this October 30 & October 31 at Keeneland. With a record number of qualifying races all over the world, this year’s series means more than ever.
Click here to download the Challenge Schedule by date.
Click here to download the Challenge Schedule by division.
Click on any column header below to sort the schedule.
| Date | Track | Race | Grade | Distance | Age | Sex | Division | Area | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/13/2025 | SIS | Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini Internacional Stakes | I | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf | Argentina | Obataye (BRZ) | |
| 1/6/2026 | MAR | Gran Premio Pedro Pineyrua | III | 7 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Dirt Mile | Uruguay | Herr Kitten (BRZ) | |
| 1/10/2026 | KEN | Cartier Paddock Stakes | I | 1 1/8 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | South Africa | Wish List (SAF) |
| 1/10/2026 | KEN | L'Ormarins King's Plate | I | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | South Africa | The Real Prince (SAF) | |
| 1/10/2026 | KEN | World Pool Cape Flying Championship | I | 5 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | South Africa | Kingdundee (SAF) | |
| 1/24/2026 | GP | Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes | I | 1 1/8 Miles | 4 YO & UP | Classic | Florida | Skippylongstocking | |
| 2/14/2026 | KAR | Riyadh Dirt Sprint | II | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Sprint | Saudi Arabia | Imagination | |
| 2/14/2026 | KAR | Saudi Cup | I | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP | Classic | Saudi Arabia | Forever Young (JPN) | |
| 2/22/2026 | TOK | February Stakes | I | 1 Mile | 4 YO & UP | Classic | Japan | Costa Nova (JPN) | |
| 3/28/2026 | MEY | Dubai Golden Shaheen sponsored by Nakheel | I | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Sprint | United Arab Emirates | Dark Saffron | |
| 3/28/2026 | MEY | Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World | I | 1 1/8 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | United Arab Emirates | Ombudsman (IRE) | |
| 3/28/2026 | MEY | Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airlines | I | 1 1/4 Miles | 3 YO & UP | Classic | United Arab Emirates | Magnitude | |
| 3/28/2026 | MEY | Longines Dubai Sheema Classic | I | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf | United Arab Emirates | Calandagan (IRE) | |
| 4/11/2026 | OP | Apple Blossom H. | I | 1 1/16 Miles | 4 YO & UP | F & M | Distaff | Arkansas | Claret Beret |
| 4/26/2026 | MON | Gran Premio Pamplona | I | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | Peru | Se Va Colando (ARG) |
| 5/1/2026 | Pal | Gran Premio Criadores | I | 1 1/4 Miles | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Distaff | Argentina | |
| 5/17/2026 | TOK | Victoria Mile | I | 1 Mile (T) | 4 YO & UP | F | Filly & Mare Turf | Japan | |
| 5/31/2026 | CHS | Gran Premio Club Hípico Falabella | I | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf | Chile | ||
| 6/5/2026 | Sar | Ogden Phipps Presented by Ford | I | 1 1/8 Miles | 4 YO & UP | F & M | Distaff | New York | |
| 6/6/2026 | Sar | Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap | I | 1 Mile | 3 YO & UP | Dirt Mile | New York | ||
| 6/6/2026 | Sar | Jaipur | I | 5 1/2 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | New York | ||
| 6/7/2026 | TOK | Yasuda Kinen | I | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | Japan | ||
| 6/14/2026 | HSN | Takarazuka Kinen | I | 1 3/8 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf | Japan | ||
| 6/16/2026 | ASC | The King Charles III Stakes | I | 5 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | United Kingdom | ||
| 6/16/2026 | ASC | The Queen Anne Stakes | I | 1 Mile (T) | 4 YO & UP | Mile | United Kingdom | ||
| 6/17/2026 | ASC | The Prince of Wales's Stakes | I | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 4 YO & UP | Turf | United Kingdom | ||
| 6/20/2026 | ASC | The Norfolk Stakes | II | 5 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf Sprint | United Kingdom | ||
| 6/27/2026 | CD | Fleur de Lis Stakes | II | 1 1/8 Miles | 4 YO & UP | F & M | Distaff | Kentucky | |
| 6/27/2026 | CD | Stephen Foster Stakes | I | 1 1/8 Miles | 4 YO & UP | Classic | Kentucky | ||
| 7/18/2026 | Mth | NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes | I | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO | Classic | New Jersey | ||
| 7/25/2026 | ASC | King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes | I | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf | United Kingdom | ||
| 7/25/2026 | ASC | Princess Margaret Stakes | III | 6 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies Turf | United Kingdom | |
| 7/25/2026 | Dmr | Bing Crosby Stakes | I | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Sprint | California | ||
| 7/29/2026 | GOO | HKJC World Pool Molecomb Stakes | III | 5 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf Sprint | United Kingdom | ||
| 7/29/2026 | GOO | Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes | I | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | United Kingdom | ||
| 7/30/2026 | GOO | Visit Qatar Nassau Stakes | I | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | United Kingdom | |
| 8/1/2026 | Dmr | Clement L. Hirsch Stakes presented by Oak Tree Racing Association | I | 1 1/16 Miles | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Distaff | California | |
| 8/8/2026 | Sar | Fourstardave | I | 1 Mile (T) | 4 YO & UP | Mile | New York | ||
| 8/8/2026 | Sar | Whitney | I | 1 1/8 Miles | 4 YO & UP | Classic | New York | ||
| 8/15/2026 | Sar | Christophe Clement Turf | I | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 4 YO & UP | Turf | New York | ||
| 8/19/2026 | YOR | Juddmonte International Stakes | I | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Classic | United Kingdom | ||
| 8/19/2026 | YOR | Tattersalls Acomb Stakes | III | 7 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf | United Kingdom | ||
| 8/20/2026 | YOR | Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks | I | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | United Kingdom | |
| 8/21/2026 | YOR | Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes | I | 5 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | United Kingdom | ||
| 8/22/2026 | Dmr | Green Flash Handicap | II | 5 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | California | ||
| 8/22/2026 | Dmr | Pacific Classic | I | 1 1/4 Miles | 3 YO & UP | Classic | California | ||
| 8/29/2026 | Dmr | Del Mar Handicap Presented By The Japan Racing Association | II | 1 3/8 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf | California | ||
| 8/29/2026 | Dmr | Pat O'Brien Stakes | II | 7 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Dirt Mile | California | ||
| 8/29/2026 | Sar | Forego | I | 7 Furlongs | 4 YO & UP | Dirt Mile | New York | ||
| 8/29/2026 | Sar | Personal Ensign | I | 1 1/8 Miles | 4 YO & UP | F & M | Distaff | New York | |
| 8/29/2026 | Sar | Resorts World Casino Ballerina | I | 7 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Sprint | New York | |
| 9/5/2026 | KD | Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational | II | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf | Kentucky | ||
| 9/5/2026 | KD | Kentucky Turf Sprint Stakes | II | 6 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | Kentucky | ||
| 9/5/2026 | Sar | Spinaway | I | 7 Furlongs | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies | New York | |
| 9/6/2026 | SEO | Korea Cup | II | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP | Dirt Mile | South Korea | ||
| 9/6/2026 | SEO | Korea Sprint | III | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Sprint | South Korea | ||
| 9/12/2026 | LEO | Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes | I | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | Ireland | |
| 9/12/2026 | LEO | The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes | I | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf | Ireland | ||
| 9/12/2026 | WO | bet365 Summer Stakes | I | 1 Mile (T) | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf | Ontario | ||
| 9/12/2026 | WO | E.P. Taylor Stakes | I | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | Ontario | |
| 9/12/2026 | WO | Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes | I | 1 Mile (T) | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies Turf | Ontario | |
| 9/12/2026 | WO | Woodbine Mile | I | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | Ontario | ||
| 9/13/2026 | CUR | Bar One Racing Flying Five | I | 5 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | Ireland | ||
| 9/13/2026 | CUR | Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes | I | 7 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf | Ireland | ||
| 9/13/2026 | CUR | Moyglare Stud Stakes | I | 7 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies Turf | Ireland | |
| 9/18/2026 | Bel | Jockey Club Gold Cup | I | 1 1/4 Miles | 3 YO & UP | Classic | New York | ||
| 9/19/2026 | GP | Princess Rooney Stakes | III | 7 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Sprint | Florida | |
| 9/26/2026 | Bel | Flower Bowl | II | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | New York | |
| 9/26/2026 | Bel | Vosburgh | III | 7 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Sprint | New York | ||
| 9/26/2026 | SA | City of Hope Mile | II | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | California | ||
| 9/26/2026 | SA | Goodwood Stakes | I | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP | Classic | California | ||
| 9/27/2026 | SA | Santa Anita Sprint Championship presented by Estrella Jalisco | II | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Sprint | California | ||
| 9/27/2026 | SA | Zenyatta Stakes | II | 1 1/16 Miles | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Distaff | California | |
| 10/2/2026 | Kee | Darley Alcibiades | I | 1 1/16 Miles | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies | Kentucky | |
| 10/2/2026 | Kee | Jessamine Presented by Keeneland Sales | II | 1 1/16 Miles (T) | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies Turf | Kentucky | |
| 10/2/2026 | Kee | Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix | II | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Sprint | Kentucky | ||
| 10/3/2026 | Bel | Champagne | I | 1 Mile | 2 YO | Juvenile | New York | ||
| 10/3/2026 | Bel | Futurity | III | 6 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf Sprint | New York | ||
| 10/3/2026 | Bel | Miss Grillo | II | 1 1/16 Miles (T) | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies Turf | New York | |
| 10/3/2026 | Bel | Pilgrim | II | 1 1/16 Miles (T) | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf | New York | ||
| 10/3/2026 | Kee | Claiborne Breeders' Futurity | I | 1 1/16 Miles | 2 YO | Juvenile | Kentucky | ||
| 10/3/2026 | Kee | Coolmore Turf Mile | I | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | Kentucky | ||
| 10/3/2026 | Kee | Thoroughbred Club of America | II | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Sprint | Kentucky | |
| 10/3/2026 | SA | American Pharoah presented by DK Horse | I | 1 1/16 Miles | 2 YO | Juvenile | California | ||
| 10/3/2026 | SA | Oak Leaf Stakes Presented by Oak Tree Racing Association | II | 1 1/16 Miles | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies | California | |
| 10/3/2026 | SA | Rodeo Drive Stakes | II | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | California | |
| 10/4/2026 | Kee | Castle & Key Bourbon | II | 1 1/16 Miles (T) | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf | Kentucky | ||
| 10/4/2026 | Kee | Juddmonte Spinster | I | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Distaff | Kentucky | |
| 10/4/2026 | Lch | Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines | I | 5 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO & UP | Turf Sprint | France | ||
| 10/4/2026 | Lch | Prix de l'Opera Longines | I | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | F & M | Filly & Mare Turf | France | |
| 10/4/2026 | Lch | Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe | I | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf | France | ||
| 10/4/2026 | Lch | Qatar Prix de la Foret | I | 7 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile | France | ||
| 10/4/2026 | Lch | Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere | I | 7 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf | France | ||
| 10/4/2026 | Lch | Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac | I | 1 Mile (T) | 2 YO | F | Juvenile Fillies Turf | France | |
| 10/17/2026 | ASC | QIPCO Champion Stakes | I | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf | United Kingdom |