Arc added to Breeders' Cup Challenge Series
Europe’s most prestigious race, the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, has been added to the roster of races that guarantee the winner an all-expenses paid spot in the Breeders’ Cup, the organization announced on Thursday.
The Arc, held at Longchamp in Paris and scheduled for Oct. 6 this year, was one of eight races newly designated as Win and You’re In by the Breeders’ Cup in its announcement of the full roster of 86 races for this year’s event, scheduled for Nov. 1-2 at Santa Anita Park in Southern California. The races for this year’s series will be held in 11 countries, and include 64 Grade 1 or Group 1 stakes.
The Arc winner will be guaranteed a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Breeders’ Cup also designated the Juddmonte International on turf at York racecourse in England as its first European race guaranteeing the winner a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, which is run on dirt. The Juddmonte International had previously guaranteed the winner a spot in the Turf.
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Winners of races in the series have their entry fees waived, as long as the winner is nominated to the Breeders’ Cup. At last year’s Breeders’ Cup, 35 winners of races in the series participated in the two-day event, and five of those won.
Also added to the roster this year were two races giving the winner a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint: the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs and the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp in France on the Arc undercard.
The other additions to the Breeders’ Cup Challenge schedule are the Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes at Parx racetrack outside Philadelphia, for a spot in the Distaff; the Grade 1 Fourstardave at Saratoga Race Course in New York, for the Breeders’ Cup Mile; the Jockey Club Derby at Belmont Park in New York, for the Turf; the the Prix Morny at Deauville in France for the Juvenile Turf Sprint; and the Gran Premio International Carlos Pelligrini Stakes in Argentina, for the Turf. The Gran Premio spot for 2019 was earned by Il Mercato for his win in the Dec. 15 running.
Many of the races in the series will be broadcast live as part of NBC Sports Group’s coverage of racing this summer and fall. The series has 11 broadcasts scheduled from June to October.
2019 Breeders' Cup Challenge Series
| DATE | TRACK | RACE | DISTANCE | AGE | DIVISION |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/15/18 | SIS | Gran Premio International Carlos Pellegrini Stakes (G1) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf |
| 1/5/19 | KEN | Cartier Paddock S. (G1) | 1 1/8 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP F&M | Filly & Mare Turf |
| 1/5/19 | KEN | L'Ormarins Queen's Plate (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile |
| 2/17/19 | TOK | February S. (G1) | 1 Mile | 4 YO & UP | Classic |
| 5/1/19 | PAL | Gran Premio Criadores (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles | 3 YO & UP F&M | Distaff |
| 5/26/19 | CHS | Gran Premio Club Hípico Falabella (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile |
| 5/27/19 | SA | Shoemaker Mile (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile |
| 6/2/19 | TOK | Yasuda Kinen (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile |
| 6/8/19 | BEL | Jaipur Invitational (G1) | 6 Furlongs (T) | 4 YO & UP | Turf Sprint |
| 6/8/19 | BEL | Ogden Phipps (G1) | 1 1/16 Miles | 4 YO & UP F&M | Distaff |
| 6/8/19 | BEL | Metropolitan H. (G1) | 1 Mile | 3 YO & UP | Dirt Mile |
| 6/9/19 | GVA | Grande Premio Brasil (G1) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 4 YO & UP | Turf |
| 6/15/19 | CD | Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP F&M | Distaff |
| 6/15/19 | CD | Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP | Classic |
| 6/18/19 | ASC | Queen Anne S. (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 4 YO & UP | Mile |
| 6/19/19 | ASC | Prince of Wales's S. (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 4 YO & UP | Turf |
| 6/20/19 | ASC | Norfolk S. (G2) | 5 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf Sprint |
| 6/22/19 | ASC | Diamond Jubilee S. (G1) | 6 Furlongs (T) | 4 YO & UP | Turf Sprint |
| 6/23/19 | HSN | Takarazuka Kinen (G1) | 1 3/8 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf |
| 6/29/19 | GP | Princess Rooney H. (G2) | 7 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP F&M | Filly & Mare Sprint |
| 6/30/19 | MON | Gran Premio Pamplona (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP F&M | Filly & Mare Turf |
| 7/6/19 | BEL | John A. Nerud (G2) | 7 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Sprint |
| 7/20/19 | MTH | Haskell Invitational (G1) | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO | Classic |
| 7/27/19 | ASC | King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes sponsored by QIPCO (G1) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf |
| 7/27/19 | DMR | Bing Crosby S. (G1) | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Sprint |
| 7/28/19 | DMR | Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) | 1 1/16 Miles | 3 YO & UP F&M | Distaff |
| 7/31/19 | GOO | Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile |
| 8/3/19 | SAR | Whitney (G1) | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP | Classic |
| 8/10/19 | AP | Arlington Million (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf |
| 8/10/19 | AP | Beverly D. Stakes (G1) | 1 3/16 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP F&M | Filly & Mare Turf |
| 8/10/19 | SAR | Fourstardave H. (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile |
| 8/11/19 | DEA | Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le Buffard - Jacques Le Marois (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile |
| 8/17/19 | DMR | Del Mar Handicap (G2) | 1 3/8 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf |
| 8/17/19 | DMR | Pacific Classic (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles | 3 YO & UP | Classic |
| 8/18/19 | DEA | Darley Prix Morny (G1) | 6 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf Sprint |
| 8/21/19 | YOR | Juddmonte International S. (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Classic |
| 8/22/19 | YOR | Yorkshire Oaks (G1) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP F&M | Filly & Mare Turf |
| 8/23/19 | YOR | Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) | 5 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO & UP | Turf Sprint |
| 8/24/19 | DMR | Pat O'Brien S. (G2) | 7 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Dirt Mile |
| 8/24/19 | SAR | Ballerina (G1) | 7 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP F&M | Filly & Mare Sprint |
| 8/24/19 | SAR | Personal Ensign (G1) | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP F&M | Distaff |
| 8/24/19 | SAR | Sword Dancer (G1) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf |
| 9/7/19 | BEL | Jockey Club Derby | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO | Turf |
| 9/7/19 | KD | Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint (G3) | 6 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf Sprint |
| 9/14/19 | CD | Iroquois S. (G3) | 1 1/16 Miles | 2 YO | Juvenile |
| 9/14/19 | CD | Pocahontas S. (G2) | 1 1/16 Miles | 2 YO F | Juvenile Fillies |
| 9/14/19 | LEO | Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron S. (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP F&M | Filly & Mare Turf |
| 9/14/19 | LEO | KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes (G2) | 1 Mile (T) | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf |
| 9/14/19 | LEO | QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf |
| 9/14/19 | WO | Woodbine Mile (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile |
| 9/15/19 | CUR | Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes (G1) | 5 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf Sprint |
| 9/15/19 | CUR | Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) | 7 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO F | Juvenile Fillies Turf |
| 9/15/19 | WO | Natalma Stakes (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 2 YO F | Juvenile Fillies Turf |
| 9/15/19 | WO | Summer Stakes (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf |
| 9/21/19 | PRX | Cotillion S. (G1) | 1 1/16 Miles | 3 YO F | Distaff |
| 9/27/19 | NEW | Shadwell Rockfel (G2) | 7 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO F | Juvenile Fillies Turf |
| 9/27/19 | SA | American Pharoah Stakes (G1) | 1 1/16 Miles | 2 YO | Juvenile |
| 9/27/19 | SA | Chandelier Stakes (G1) | 1 1/16 Miles | 2 YO F | Juvenile Fillies |
| 9/28/19 | BEL | Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles | 3 YO & UP | Classic |
| 9/28/19 | BEL | The Vosburgh (G1) | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Sprint |
| 9/28/19 | NEW | Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (G2) | 1 Mile (T) | 2 YO C&G | Juvenile Turf |
| 9/28/19 | SA | Awesome Again Stakes (G1) | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP | Classic |
| 9/28/19 | SA | Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP F&M | Filly & Mare Turf |
| 9/29/19 | NKR | Sprinters S. (G1) | 6 Furlongs (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf Sprint |
| 9/29/19 | SA | Zenyatta Stakes (G2) | 1 1/16 Miles | 3 YO & UP F&M | Distaff |
| 10/4/19 | KEE | Alcibiades Stakes (G1) | 1 1/16 Miles | 2 YO F | Juvenile Fillies |
| 10/4/19 | KEE | Phoenix Stakes (G2) | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Sprint |
| 10/5/19 | BEL | The Champagne (G1) | 1 Mile | 2 YO | Juvenile |
| 10/5/19 | KEE | Breeders' Futurity (G1) | 1 1/16 Miles | 2 YO | Juvenile |
| 10/5/19 | KEE | First Lady S. (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP F&M | Filly & Mare Turf |
| 10/5/19 | KEE | Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Mile |
| 10/5/19 | KEE | Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2) | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP F&M | Filly & Mare Sprint |
| 10/5/19 | SA | Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1) | 6 Furlongs | 3 YO & UP | Sprint |
| 10/6/19 | BEL | The Flower Bowl (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP F&M | Filly & Mare Turf |
| 10/6/19 | BEL | The Frizette (G1) | 1 Mile | 2 YO F | Juvenile Fillies |
| 10/6/19 | BEL | The Futurity (G3) | 6 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO C&G | Juvenile Turf Sprint |
| 10/6/19 | KEE | Dixiana Bourbon S. (G3) | 1 1/16 Miles (T) | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf |
| 10/6/19 | KEE | Indian Summer Stakes | 5 1/2 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf Sprint |
| 10/6/19 | KEE | Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) | 1 1/8 Miles | 3 YO & UP F&M | Distaff |
| 10/6/19 | LCH | Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines (G1) | 5 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO & UP | Turf Sprint |
| 10/6/19 | LCH | Prix de l'Opera Longines (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP F&M | Filly & Mare Turf |
| 10/6/19 | LCH | Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Turf |
| 10/6/19 | LCH | Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf |
| 10/6/19 | LCH | Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) | 1 Mile (T) | 2 YO F | Juvenile Fillies Turf |
| 10/6/19 | SA | Speakeasy Stakes | 5 Furlongs (T) | 2 YO | Juvenile Turf Sprint |
| 10/9/19 | KEE | Jessamine Stakes (G2) | 1 1/16 Miles (T) | 2 YO F | Juvenile Fillies Turf |