'Dirt Dozen' series will again incentivize Breeders' Cup prospects

The Breeders’ Cup will once again award incentives to runners in selected stakes races this year to drive entries to its dirt races, the organization announced on Friday.

The so-called “Dirt Dozen” will feature 12 stakes races throughout the lead-up to the Breeders’ Cup on Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Del Mar that will award credits toward entry fees for the $2 million Distaff, the $2 million Sprint, the $2 million Juvenile, the $2 million Juvenile Fillies, the $1 million Filly and Mare Sprint, and the $1 million Dirt Mile.

Horses who finish first in any of the 12 races will receive a $30,000 credit toward entry fees in any of the $2 million Breeders’ Cup dirt races, with horses finishing second receiving a $15,000 credit and horses finishing third receiving $7,500. For the $1 million dirt races, the credits will be $15,000, $7,500, and $3,750.

The Dirt Dozen was launched in 2022. A schedule of the races in the series can be found here.

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