The Breeders` Cup is one of the highlights of the horse racing calendar, and 2021 seems certain to host an exciting version of it.
What do you need to know about this event to get ready for it?
A Hugely Important Meeting
Held on November 5 and 6 this year, the Breeders’ Cup has been a massive meeting for the horse racing world since 1984. It is a series of top-class races for thoroughbreds, leading up to the prestigious $6 million Breeder’s Cup Classic on the second day. These are mainly Grade I races, meaning that they are the highest level of race run in the US.
Apart from the Classic, other big races in the series include the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and the Breeder’s Cup Mile. The leading horses take place in a series of qualifying races that determine who will take place in the event. This ensures that only the top horses in each category are present for this event.
There is also now a Festival Week that runs before and after the meeting, with the likes of a welcome party, a golf tournament, and live music shows helping to add to the sense of occasion. If you can spare the time to catch these events as well as the races, it is sure to all add up to an unforgettable experience.
A Great Setting
The location for the Breeders’ Cup meeting varies from one year to the next. For 2021, it will take place at the pretty Del Mar racetrack in California. This is a hugely scenic setting for the Breeders’ Cup where the race-goers can enjoy a huge variety of facilities in an historic racetrack beside the coast.
Big crowds always flock to these races wherever they are held. In fact, some years see more than 100,000 people heading to the track over the couple of days the meeting lasts for, with millions more watching at home on TV. Tickets are already on sale for different packages, such as those that include dining, box seating, and reserved seating.
In 2020, the races took place in Keeneland, Kentucky. Due to the pandemic restrictions in place, no spectators were allowed to attend, meaning that only the riders, jockeys, and essential staff were there. This means that there is a huge sense of anticipation for the 2021 version of the Breeders’ Cup.
Some of the Top Horses
Of course, for fans of horse racing this is a great opportunity to see the best current horses face each other in a hugely competitive environment with extremely high stakes. A look at the early betting for the Breeder’s Cup Classic shows a range of excellent 3-year-olds in the running.
Among the favorites at the time of writing are names like Essential Quality, Mystic Guide, and Life Is Good. With some build-up races still to go, we are sure to see new names emerge as certain horses come into form at exactly the right moment. Imperador is one of the latest horses to qualify for the Breeders’ Cup Turf race.
In the same way, you can now research online to find out the favorites in the other races that make up this meeting. You can bet online even if you aren’t able to make it to Del Mar to see the races run right in front of you.
Check the complete list of 2021 Breeders’ Cup Contenders here.
Summary
The Breeders’ Cup 2021 has special significance this year, thanks to the fact that the races were run behind closed doors in 2020.
There are sure to be a lot of horse racing fans who are extremely keen to get to Del Mar this year and places some bets on their favorite horses.
