Eligibility & Fees

Pre-Entry opens October 1st
Breeders’ Cup Limited (“BCL”) Condition of Integrity

  1. If any connection of a pre-entered horse has been notified by a regulatory body, racetrack or racing association (i) about a pending or potential anti-doping or controlled medication violation involving the connection, or (ii) that such connection is currently suspended, banned, ejected, or denied from participating in racing in its jurisdiction or facility, such connection must immediately report the same to BCL.
  2. BCL may, in its sole and absolute discretion, declare ineligible any horse in any Breeders’ Cup World Championships (“BCWC”) race if any connection (e.g., owner, trainer, jockey) of such horse has engaged in any conduct that is unlawful, unethical or may otherwise compromise the integrity or reputation of the BCWC.

Prohibited Substances and Methods and Penalties for Covered Persons

Breeders' Cup is proud to support the national rules of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Author­ity, Inc. (“HISA”) and its Anti-Doping and Medication Control (“ADMC”) Program, which prohibit the use of certain substances and methods and provide for uniform results management for alleged Anti-Doping and Controlled Medication rule violations. Responsible Persons are strictly liable for any Banned or Controlled Medication substances or methods in relation to his or her Covered Horse(s). For violations of the ADMC Program, sanctions include: disqualification; sus­pension; period of ineligibility, up to and including a lifetime ban; fines; and forfeiture of purses, prizes, trophies, points, rankings, and all other compensation. For repeat offenders or in cases where aggravating circumstances are present, Covered Persons may be subject to increased peri­ods of ineligibility and additional fines. Please review the ADMC Program rules carefully, available here: https://hisaus.org/regulations.

Breeders' Cup Out of Competition Testing

BCL eligible or nominated horses are subject to out-of-competition (“OOC”) testing at any time. Sam­pling and/or testing may be performed by any applicable regulatory authority in the jurisdiction(s) where a horse may be located, by the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (“HIWU”), by international regulatory authorities in cooperation with HIWU, or by any delegee of any of the foregoing. This testing will be in accordance with the applicable rules which may include the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, Inc.’s (“HISA”) rules. The Breeders’ Cup OOC testing will be performed by a HEAL accred­ited laboratory or such other laboratory or laboratories as HIWU or the applicable regulatory authority may direct. All routine testing meets or exceeds the protocols established by HISA and/or HIWU and is required by BCWC to ensure that the highest possible level of testing is performed on all samples and to preserve and protect the integrity and reputation of the BCWC. HIWU or its designee conducts OOC testing in accordance with HISA rules, expressly incorporated herein as the same may be now or hereinafter in effect, including without limitation HISA Rules 3132 (Authority To Test), 3135 (Ownership of Samples), and 3137 (Purpose of Sample Analysis).

Eligibility

Horses that are nominated to Breeders' Cup and are eligible for Breeders' Cup Championship races must pay entry fees as indicated. Horses that were not nominated as weanlings may be late nominated. No horse can be pre-entered for more than two races. When a horse is pre-entered for two races, the required pre-entry payment must be for the race of greatest value, regardless of whether it is the race of first preference.

Minimum Entry Qualifications for BCWC Runners
BCWC Eligibility Rule:

First time starters will not be allowed to pre-enter any BCWC race. All pre-entered horses must have made at least one official start in a Thoroughbred race.

All starters must have made at least one official start between January 1, 2026, and the pre-entry deadline of Monday, October 19, 2026, before being allowed to pre-enter and must be aged nine (9) years or younger.

The following is for any 3-year-old and older horse that has broken its maiden. Any horse that has started for $15,000 or less and has not won for $20,000 or more in the previous two (2) years or has not finished second, third, fourth or fifth for $20,000 or more since running for $15,000 or less is not eligible to be pre-entered, to be entered or to run in a BCWC race.

The following is for any maiden 3-year-old or older, which has started in a Maiden Claiming race of $32,000 or less.

Maidens that have started in a maiden race of $18,000 or less will not be eligible. Maidens that have started in a maiden race of $32,000 or less at ANY TIME and have not finished second, third, fourth or fifth in a maiden race greater than $18,000 within their last four starts will not be eligible. Horses must start in at least four maiden claiming races for this rule to apply.

Horses that are nominated to Breeders' Cup

The pre-entry fee is due by 12 noon (EDT) on Monday, October 19, 2026.

An entry fee is required to pass the box at the time of entry closing- 10:00 a.m. (EDT) on Monday, October 26, 2026 at the Breeders' Cup Racing Office-Keeneland.

All Championship starters will receive a travel award if based outside of Kentucky.

All runners are subject to the highest standards in medication testing and security while competing in the BCWC which include the following:

ARRIVALS

DEPARTURES

All horses must be nominated to compete in the BCWC. Horses not Nominated to Breeders' Cup may be nominated under the Horses of Racing Age nomination program.

Horses of Racing Age Nominations

Refunds for Pre-Entry and Entry Fees

Pre-entry and entry fees for nominated horses are nonrefundable except in the event of sickness or disability certified by the track or state veterinarian, or by veterinary certification acceptable to Breeders’ Cup Limited, in BCL’s sole discretion, and such determination shall be final, or in the event a horse is not selected by the Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel to enter the race of first choice or in the event a horse does not draw into the body of the field at scratch time or the horse is scratched by the Stewards.

Should a pre-entry fee be paid of greater amount than that required for a designated race, the excess balance will be refunded or may be applied to entry fee requirements for the race actually entered. (For example, if a pre-entry fee of $30,000 is paid in anticipation of entering the Breeders’ Cup Mile and the horse is actually entered in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint instead – requiring a $15,000 pre-entry fee – then the excess $15,000 may be applied to the fees due at the time entries are taken.)