The 2017 Breeders' Cup Challenge series schedule will consist of 81 automatic qualifying stakes races into corresponding races of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, it was announced Wednesday. This year's series, which includes 62 Grade/Group 1 events, will have 49 Challenge races held in the U.S. and Canada, and 32 races to be run outside of North America (click here for the full schedule). Horses who secure “Win and You're In” berths will qualify to compete in the 34th World Championships to be held for the first time at Del Mar near San Diego Nov. 3-4. This year, the NBC Sports Group will also televise the “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In Series, presented by Lane's End Farm and America's Best Racing,” featuring Challenge races across 11 programs in the U.S. from June until the World Championships (click here for the schedule).
Breeders' Cup will also provide travel allowances to all starters outside of California for this year's Championships, including Challenge race winners. A $40,000 travel stipend will be awarded to the connections of each Challenge winner from outside of North America and a $10,000 travel allowance for winners within North America that are stabled outside of California. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program prior to the Oct. 23 pre-entry deadline in order to receive the rewards.
“We are very proud of the increased popularity and participation of horsemen around the world who take advantage of the benefits of an automatic berth and paid entry fees offered through the Breeders' Cup Challenge as the best way to secure a starting position in the World Championships,” said Craig Fravel, Breeders' Cup President and CEO. “Our racetrack and racing association partners are also a major part of the success of the series and we thank them for their participation in the program.”
Last year, 43 Breeders' Cup Challenge winners participated in the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the second largest contingent of “Win and You're In” starters to run in the two-day event.
There will be seven automatic berths awarded to the Breeders' Cup's premier race, the $6-million GI Classic. The series will also include three new qualifying races: Belmont's June 10 GII Belmont Sprint Championship (GI TwinSpires Sprint), Woodbine's July 2 GII Highlander S. (GI Turf Sprint) and Keeneland's Oct. 7 GI First Lady S. (GI Filly and Mare Turf).
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