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| Sumita Pawar |
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This year's Breeders' Cup Challenge Series includes two new races in South Korea and two more in the United Kingdom, adding to a total of 82 races across 12 countries, with 41 of them being international.
Winners of these races automatically qualify for corresponding events in the 2024 Breeders' Cup World Championships, held on November 1-2 at Del Mar in Southern California. The 41st edition of the Breeders' Cup will feature 14 top-tier Group One races, offering a record-breaking US$33 million in prizes.
Apart from the United States, the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, now in its 18th year, takes place at prestigious racetracks in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, England, France, Ireland, Japan, Peru, South Africa, and South Korea.
In South Korea, the Gr.3 Korea Cup and Gr.3 Korea Sprint will be held on 8th September at Seoul Racecourse. The Korea Cup, covering a distance of 1 1/8 miles, guarantees a spot in the US$1 million Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, while the Korea Sprint, spanning six furlongs, ensures qualification for the US$2 million Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Sprint.
Adding to the international lineup are the Gr.3 Acomb Stakes at York on 21st August, the Gr.3 Prestige Stakes at Goodwood on 24th August, and the British Champions Fillies and Gr.1 Mares Stakes at Ascot on 19th October.
The seven-furlong Acomb Stakes serves as an automatic qualifier for the Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, while the Prestige Stakes offers a berth into the Gr.1 Juvenile Fillies Turf. The British Champion Fillies and Mares Stakes, spanning 1 1/2 miles at Ascot Racecourse, guarantees entry into the US$2 million Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
"International competition is a cornerstone of the Breeders' Cup program, and the Challenge Series continues to be the best way for horsemen the world over to gain an automatic entry into the World Championships," said Dora Delgado, executive vice president and chief racing officer of Breeders' Cup. "We extend our deepest gratitude to the racing authorities and organizations on five continents who are partnering with us this year to support and administer Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races in their respective jurisdictions, and we look forward to another outstanding renewal of the World Championships this November at Del Mar."
Eight automatic spots are up for grabs in the Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Classic. Peptide Nile, a 6YO, secured the first qualifying spot this year by winning the Gr.1 February Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse on 19th February. Three more races in Japan will follow, leading up to the 23rd June 23 Gr.1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin Racecourse, where a starting position in the Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Turf is on offer.
In South America, two Challenge Series races on 23rd June will grant automatic berths: the Gr.1 Gran Premio Pamplona at Hipódromo de Monterrico in Peru for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and the Gr.1 Grande Premio Brasil at Hipódromo da Gávea in Rio de Janeiro for the Breeders' Cup Turf.
England will host 13 Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races, starting with four during the Royal Ascot meeting in June. Notable among these is Ascot's Gr.1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes on 27th July, guaranteeing a starting position for the Breeders' Cup Turf. Another key race is the Gr.1 International Stakes at York on 21st August 21, the sole automatic qualifier in Europe for the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Ireland will feature five Challenge Series races over Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown and at the Curragh, including the Royal Gr.1 Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes on September 14.
Canada will be represented by three Challenge Series races at Woodbine near Toronto, featuring the Gr.1 Woodbine Mile on 14th September, offering a free starting position into the Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Mile.
The Gr.1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe will anchor five Challenge Series races at ParisLongchamp on 6th October, with the Arc winner earning an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Turf.
The international schedule concludes on 19th October on British Champions Day at Ascot with two races: the British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes and the Gr.1 Champion Stakes, both offering automatic spots in the Breeders' Cup Turf.
Breeders' Cup provides benefits to horsemen, including allocated funds for entry fees and travel allowances for participants. Last year, 42 Breeders' Cup Challenge winners competed in the World Championships, with notable victories across various divisions. Purse increases in 2024 raise the value of the Classic to US$7 million and the Turf to US$5 million.