The Breeders’ Cup Need-to-Know Guide

The greatest two days in North American racing!

Photo by © Breeders’ Cup/Margaret Dry 2015

The 2016 Breeders’ Cup is just 24 hours away! Each race packs a riveting story, making this one of the most exciting weekend in horse racing: rivalries abound, unfinished business from previous championships looms, international duels seek to settle. Here’s your need-to-know guide:

Who: 157 of the best Thoroughbreds in racing from all over the world over a variety of surfaces and distances. Entries qualify through Breeders’ Cup Challenge races as well a points system based on major graded stakes.

What: A two-day festival consisting of 13 races, awarding $26 million in purses

When: First Breeders’ Cup post on Friday, November 4 is 2:25 PM PDT; first Breeders’ Cup post on Saturday, November 5 is 12:05 PM PDT. View the full schedule here.

Where: Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California

How to watch:

• NBC Sports Network will cover the Breeders’ Cup from 5:00 PM  – 8:00 PM EST on Friday and 2:30 PM – 8:00 PM on Saturday.
• NBC will cover the Breeders’ Cup Classic from 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST.
• The Breeders’ Cup Facebook page will broadcast select races live.
• The Breeders’ Cup website will live stream the entire championship.

Hose Nation will also be running a live thread with predictions and recaps on both Friday and Saturday!

Quick and dirty field previews

Juvenile Turf

• Post 2:25 PM PDT on Friday
• $1,000,000 purse
• 1 mile over turf for two-year-old males
• 2015 champion: Hit It a Bomb
• 2016 favorite: Oscar Performance (4-1)

Las Vegas Dirt Mile

• Post 3:05 PM PDT on Friday
• $1,000,000 purse
• 1 mile over dirt for three-year-olds and older
• 2015 champion: Liam’s Map
• 2016 favorite: Dortmund (6-5)

Juvenile Fillies Turf

• Post 3:50 PM PDT on Friday
• $1,000,000 purse
• 1 mile over turf for two-year-old females
• 2015 champion: Catch a Glimpse
• 2016 favorite: Roly Poly (4-1)

Longines Distaff

• Post 4:35 PM PDT on Friday
• $2,000,000 purse
• 1 1/8 miles over dirt for three-year-old females and older
• 2015 champion: Stopchargingmaria
• 2016 favorite: Songbird (6-5)

The Distaff may be one of the most exciting races of the championship, with undefeated Songbird facing off against champions Stellar Wind and Beholder!

14 Hands Winery Juvenile Fillies

• Post 12:05 PM PDT on Saturday
• $2,000,000 purse
• 1 1/16 miles over dirt for two-year-old females
• 2015 champion: Songbird
• 2016 favorite: Noted and Quoted (9-2)

Filly & Mare Turf

• Post 12:45 PM PDT on Saturday
• $2,000,000 purse
• 1 1/4 miles over turf for three-year-old females and older
• 2015 champion: Stephanie’s Kitten
• 2016 champion: Seventh Heaven (IRE) (3-1)

TwinSpires Sprint

• Post 1:21 PM PDT on Saturday
• $1,500,000 purse
• 6 furlongs over dirt for three-year-olds and older
• 2015 champion: Runhappy
• 2016 favorite: Masochistic (2-1)

Turf Sprint

• Post 2:05 PM PDT on Saturday
• $1,000,000 purse
• 6.5 furlongs over turf for three-year-olds and older
• 2015 champion: Mongolian Saturday
• 2016 favorite: Pure Sensation (5-1)

Sentient Jet Juvenile

• Post 2:43 PM PDT on Saturday
• $2,000,000 purse
• 1 1/16 miles over dirt for two-year-old males
• 2015 champion: Nyquist
• 2016 favorite: Not This Time (7-2)

Longines Turf

• Post 3:22 PM PDT on Saturday
• $4,000,000 purse
• 1 1/2 miles over turf for three-year-olds and older
• 2015 champion: Found (IRE)
• 2016 favorite: Flintshire (GB) (5-2)

Filly & Mare Sprint

• Post 4:01 PM PDT on Saturday
• $1,000,000 purse
• 7 furlongs over dirt for three-year-old females and older
• 2015 champion: Wavwell Avenue
• 2016 favorite: Haveyougoneaway (3-1)

Mile

• Post 4:40 PM PDT on Saturday
• $2,000,000 purse
• 1 mile over turf for three-year-olds and older
• 2015 champion: Tepin
• 2016 favorite: Tepin (3-1)

Classic

• Post 5:35 PM PDT on Saturday
• $6,000,000 purse
• 1 1/4 miles over dirt for three-year-olds and older
• 2015 champion: American Pharoah
• 2016 favorite: California Chrome (1-1)

Who are your picks? Share in the comments section!