The horse racing world closes out a thrilling year with the 42nd edition of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar, with coverage exclusively across NBC, USA Network, NBCSports.com, and Peacock.
Fourteen races over two days will be run on October 31 and November 1 at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, which will be hosting for the second straight year.
Because of the number of international horses in the field, many consider the Breeders’ Cup to be the Olympics of horse racing. The most prestigious race of the weekend is the Breeders’ Cup Classic, where $7 million is up for grabs.
What is the Breeders’ Cup World Championships?
The Breeders’ Cup is horse racing’s last major event of the season. Horses from around the globe will compete in 14 races over two days, with the Breeders’ Cup Classic headlining the weekend.
The Breeders’ Cup originated in 1984 as a year-end championship for North American Thoroughbred horses and their breeders. The brainchild of the late John Gaines, the former owner of Gainesway Farm, the Breeders’ Cup was built by Thoroughbred breeders, for Thoroughbred breeders.
In 2007, the Breeders’ Cup was expanded from one day to two. Now, the first day of the weekend is called Future Stars Friday, with many of racing’s most promising colts and fillies running on the dirt and the turf. The top finishers of these races usually shape the Road to the Kentucky Derby and may feature the following year’s contenders for the Run for the Roses.
Championship Saturday will give out more than $23 million in purse money over nine races, including the $7 million Classic.
When is the 2025 Breeders’ Cup?
The Breeders’ Cup runs from October 31-November 1. Friday’s coverage goes from 4 to 8 p.m. ET on USA Network. Saturday’s coverage starts at 2 p.m. ET on USA Network before jumping to NBC and Peacock until 7 p.m. ET (when the Breeders’ Cup Classic finishes) and finishing on the USA Network until 8 p.m. ET.
Where is the 2025 Breeders’ Cup?
The Breeders’ Cup changes tracks every year, with Del Mar Racing hosting for the first of two straight years. Located in Del Mar, Calif., Del Mar Racing has been the location of a number of historic races, including Gun Runner winning the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic and Knicks Go’s historic Breeders’ Cup Classic win in 2021.
How to watch the Breeders’ Cup:
Friday
USA
- Date: October 31, 2025
- Time: 4 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET
- TV Network: USA
- Streaming Info: Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app
Peacock
- Date: October 31, 2025
- Time: 8 p.m. ET to 8:45 p.m. ET
- Streaming Info: Peacock
Saturday
USA Network, Part 1
- Date: November 1, 2025
- Time: 2 p.m. ET to 3:30 p.m. ET
- TV Network: USA
- Streaming Info: Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app
NBC
- Date: November 1, 2025
- Time: 3:30 p.m. ET to 7 p.m. ET
- TV Network: NBC
- Streaming Info: Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app
USA Network, Part 2
- Date: November 1, 2025
- Time: 6 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET
- TV Network: USA
- Streaming Info: Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app
What is the full schedule for the Breeders’ Cup?
The Breeders’ Cup features 14 races contested across two days the first weekend in November.
Friday, Oct. 31 schedule
- Juvenile Turf Sprint (Post time: 5:45 p.m. ET) - $1 million purse
- Juvenile Fillies (Post time: 6:25 p.m. ET) - $2 million purse
- Juvenile Fillies Turf (Post time: 7:05 p.m. ET) - $1 million purse
- Juvenile (Post time: 7:45 p.m. ET) - $2 million purse
- Juvenile Turf (Post time: 8:25 p.m. ET) - $1 million purse
Saturday, Nov. 1 schedule
- Filly and Mare Sprint (Post time: 3:00 p.m. ET) - $1 million purse
- Turf Sprint (Post time: 3:41 p.m. ET) - $1 million purse
- Sprint (Post time: 4:21 p.m. ET) - $2 million purse
- Distaff (Post time: 5:01 p.m. ET) - $2 million purse
- Turf (Post time: 5:41 p.m. ET) - $5 million purse
- Classic (Post time: 6:25 p.m. ET) - $7 million purse
- Mile (Post time: 7:05 p.m. ET) - $2 million purse
- Dirt Mile (Post time: 7:45 p.m. ET) - $1 million purse
- Filly and Mare Turf (Post time: 8:25 p.m. ET) - $2 million purse
Related: How do horses qualify for the Breeders’ Cup?
What is the Breeders’ Cup Classic?
The $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic is the marquee event of the weekend. At 1 1/4 miles long, the Classic has a field of up to 14 horses that must be at least 3 years old. Breeders’ Cup Classic winners have a history of going on to win Horse of the Year, including Flightline (2022) Knicks Go (2021), Authentic (2020), Curlin (2007) and Cigar (1995)
The last time the Breeders’ Cup was held at Del Mar, Chad Brown’s Sierra Leone won the Breeders’ Cup Classic by 1 1/2 lengths, defeating Todd Pletcher’s Fierceness, who won the Travers Stakes in Saratoga in August.
Who are the horses to watch in the Breeders’ Cup Classic?
The 2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic is full of heavyweight champions looking to cement their legacies. 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic champion Sierra Leone looks to defend his title against some accolade-laden contenders. Preakness winner Journalism is also in the field hoping to end his season on a high note.
Fierceness is looking for redemption after a runner up finish in last year’s Classic and is coming off a win the Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar. Also looking to improve it’s 2024 Classic result is Japan-based Forever Young who has won three of four starts in 2025.
Is Sovereignty racing in the Breeders’ Cup Classic?
Kentucky Derby champion Sovereignty, trained by Bill Mott, was on a four-race win streak following his latest triumph coming at the Travers Stakes. However, Mott announced Wednesday that Sovereignty was scratched from the race.
2025 Breeders’ Cup Classic post positions and odds
NOTE: Odds are from before Sovereignty’s scratch was announced.
- Fierceness, 4-1
- Baeza, 15-1
- Nevada Beach, 20-1
- Contrary Thinking, 50-1
- Forever Young (JPN), 6-1
- Sovereignty, SCR
- Sierra Leone, 8-1
- Mindframe, 10-1
- Journalism, 10-1
- Antiquarian, 15-1
Big Event Weekend on NBC and Peacock - November 1st and 2nd
It’s a weekend of must-watch events on NBC and Peacock. Tune in to the Breeders’ Cup on Saturday, November 1st at 3:30 p.m. ET, followed by Big Ten Football with USC facing Nebraska at 7 p.m. ET. The night concludes with the NBA on NBC and Peacock where the Dallas Mavericks head to Detroit to battle with the Pistons at 10 p.m. ET on Peacock.
The action continues Sunday, November 2nd with Premier League soccer, starting at 8 a.m. ET with West Ham hosting Newcastle and concludes with Manchester City facing off against Bournemouth. Don’t miss the championship race of the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at 2:00 p.m. ET and the Seahawks battling the Commanders on Sunday Night Football starting at 7 p.m., all on NBC and Peacock.
What devices does Peacock support?
You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.
