The Breeders’ Cup World Championships will offer unprecedented viewing access when the sport’s top event returns to Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on October 31 and November 1, with organizers announcing a broad multi-platform broadcast plan designed to reach racing fans through traditional TV, streaming services, and digital platforms.
Comprehensive Coverage Strategy
The 42nd edition of the championships will offer over 10 hours of live coverage across NBC Sports networks, streaming platforms, and social media channels. NBC Sports will lead the coverage with a 3.5-hour prime-time broadcast on Saturday from 3:30 to 7:00 p.m. ET, featuring the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic along with four other Grade 1 championship races.
The broadcast strategy reflects evolving sports consumption patterns, with content simultaneously available on NBC, USA Network, Peacock streaming service, and FanDuel TV. Additionally, the Breeders’ Cup Players’ Show will stream continuously across the organization’s YouTube, Facebook, and X social media channels, providing comprehensive coverage for digital-first audiences.
International Field Highlights Classic
This year’s Classic is positioning itself as a significant international showdown, featuring the previous year’s top three finishers: Sierra Leone, Fierceness, and Japanese champion Forever Young. The field also includes Triple Crown race winners Sovereignty, who captured the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Travers Stakes, alongside Preakness and Haskell Stakes winner Journalism.
The championship weekend will present 14 Grade 1 races with combined purses exceeding $34 million, building on the record-setting 2024 edition that generated $203.7 million in global wagering and attracted 61 international competitors.
Industry Partnership Expansion
Justin McDonald, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Breeders’ Cup, emphasized the strategic importance of the multi-platform approach. “Sports consumption has shifted dramatically — fans now expect premium live content on the device and platform of their choice,” McDonald stated, noting that the strategy mirrors successful approaches across major sports properties and has driven record international growth.
The coverage arrangement represents the beginning of a new six-year partnership between the Breeders’ Cup and NBC Sports. Jon Miller, President of Acquisitions & Partnerships for NBC Sports, confirmed the network’s commitment to showcasing the culmination of the fall racing season through comprehensive coverage.
Global Distribution Network
International broadcasting will extend to more than 180 countries through partnerships with major regional networks. Coverage will include ITV4, Sky Sports Racing, and Racing TV in the United Kingdom, Virgin Media in Ireland, and ESPN across Latin America. Additional international partners include Green Channel, Abema TV, and Netkeiba in Japan, Sportsnet in Canada, SuperSport throughout Africa, and FanCode in India.
Complete Race Schedule
The championships begin with Future Stars Friday featuring juvenile competitions, followed by Championships Saturday’s premier races. Friday’s card includes five Grade 1 events starting with the Juvenile Turf Sprint at 2:45 p.m. PDT and concluding with the Juvenile Turf at 5:25 p.m. PDT.
Saturday’s program opens with undercard events before the championship races commence at noon PDT with the Filly & Mare Sprint. The afternoon builds toward the Classic at 3:25 p.m. PDT, followed by the concluding championship races including the Mile, Dirt Mile, and Filly & Mare Turf.
Michael Shiffman, SVP and Executive Producer for FanDuel TV, highlighted the expanded digital distribution’s potential for connecting with global audiences through expert analysis and wagering insights. The comprehensive coverage strategy positions the Breeders’ Cup to capitalize on growing international interest while serving diverse fan preferences across multiple viewing platforms.
Friday, October 31 – Future Stars Friday
First post: 11:35 a.m. PT / 2:35 p.m. ET
First Breeders’ Cup race: Race 6 at 2:45 p.m. PT / 5:45 p.m. ET
Breeders’ Cup Races (Eastern Time)
- Race 6: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) – 5:45 p.m.
- Race 7: NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) – 6:25 p.m.
- Race 8: John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) – 7:05 p.m.
- Race 9: FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) – 7:45 p.m.
- Race 10: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) – 8:25 p.m.
Saturday, November 1 – World Championships
First post: 10:05 a.m. PT / 1:05 p.m. ET
First Breeders’ Cup race: Race 4 at 12:00 p.m. PT / 3:00 p.m. ET
Breeders’ Cup Races (Eastern Time)
- Race 4: PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) – 3:00 p.m.
- Race 5: Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) – 3:41 p.m.
- Race 6: Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) – 4:21 p.m.
- Race 7: Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) – 5:01 p.m.
- Race 8: Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) – 5:41 p.m.
- Race 9: Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) – 6:25 p.m.
- Race 10: FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) – 7:05 p.m.
- Race 11: Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) – 7:45 p.m.
- Race 12: Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) – 8:25 p.m.
The Classic will not serve as the finale this year, with the Mile, Dirt Mile, and Filly & Mare Turf running after it. Final official race order and post times will be released October 22, 2025.
