BCBC can now be played online

In the early days of the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge, contestants were required to play on-site at whatever the Breeders’ Cup host track was. Starting two Breeders’ Cups ago, wagering was permitted at select simulcast locations from around the country. This year, fans looking to play in the BCBC – either by paying their $10,000 buy-ins or qualifying via a BCQualify.com event – have yet another option: They can play from home.

The Breeders’ Cup announced Friday that fans can now register and play online in the 2016 BCBC with its advance-deposit wagering partner Twinspires.com.

“On behalf of the Breeders’ Cup and our partner, Twinspires.com, we are very excited to announce the expansion of the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge to allow horseplayers to play online on their personal devices,” said Tim Schram, BCBC tournament director. “The play online is a direct result of the popularity and intense interest in the BCBC we have seen over the past eight years, and we are thrilled to widen the competition options for all players.

“We are also pleased to be working with the New York Racing Association at Aqueduct, Churchill Downs, and Gulfstream Park as satellite locations for this year’s tournament,” Schram added.

Now in its eighth year, the BCBC will crown the winner with the highest accumulated bankroll at the end of the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which will be held this year at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., on Nov. 4-5. The 2016 BCBC, Thoroughbred racing’s biggest live-money tournament, will have an estimated prize pool of more than $1 million based on a minimum of 400 entries.

Another new feature announced this year, is that players can now have two entries in the tournament. This is a driving force behind the expected purse jump.

To register to play in the BCBC online, go to https://www.breederscup.com/experience/bcbc.

For BCBC rules and information, go to www.breedersup.com/bcbc.