The Breeders’ Cup Challenge series is a series of horse races that enable the winners to automatically win a spot or berth in the Breeders’ Cup to be held in November. The Breeders’ Cup organization will be the one paying for the entry fee of the winners.
The winning horses will also receive a travel allowance for out-of-state competitions. Moreover, the Breeders’ Cup organization chooses the races that will be part of the challenge series. They usually choose around 80 to 90 races in 10 to 15 countries, including the United States, where most races are held.
Here’s a list of Breeders’ Cup Challenge series horse races scheduled this June.
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Grande Premio Brasil
The Grande Premio Brasil is a Group 1 stakes race at the Hipodromo da Gávea in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was founded on August 1, 1933. It’s a left-handed flat racehorse race on a turf track for thoroughbreds ages three-years-old and older.
Moreover, it’s considered one of Brazil’s most popular sporting events behind soccer and MMA matches. The race offers a purse of around 150,000 Brazilian Real or around $30,000. It may not provide the biggest purse, but the horse race betting industry is looking at this market since it’s showing much potential to succeed.
Furthermore, it was in 2014 that the racing schedule was changed from August to June so that it would be included in the Breeder’s Cup challenge series. The race winner can compete in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. This 2023, the race is scheduled on June 19.
King’s Stand Stakes
This racing event was created in 1860 due to bad weather at the Royal Ascot. The Royal Stand Plate was shortened to five (5) furlongs in the raceable area of the racecourse.
The amended version became what is now known to be the King’s Stand Stakes. The race is considered the most important sprint at the Royal Ascot. It’s open to horses ages three and older.
It was in 2005 that the King’s Stand Stakes was included in the Global Sprint Challenge and the Breeder’s Cup challenge series. The 2023 edition of the race is scheduled on June 21. Its winner will be immediately part of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
Queen Anne Stakes
On June 21, the Queen Anne Stakes will also be held at the Ascot Racecourse near Windsor. This horse racing event is a Group 1 flat horse race open to all four-year-old and older horses. It has a distance of 1 mile.
The event was inaugurated in 1840, initially called the Trial Stakes. It was renamed after Queen Anne, the founder of the Ascot Racecourse. It’s now the first race on the opening day of the Royal Ascot. The race winner will automatically be qualified to compete in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
In addition, the Queen Anne Stakes is very popular among horse bettors. Aside from being at the top of the mind of bettors since it’s the first day, it also provides one of the most high-quality thrilling horse racing during the five-day horse racing event.
Prince of Wales’s Stakes
The Prince of Wales’s Stake was founded in 1862. It was named after the Prince of Wales at that time. Only three-year-old horses were allowed to join the original this one-mile and five furlongs race version.
It was discontinued after World War II since no Prince of Wales existed. In 1968, the racing event returned before the investiture of then-Prince Charles. The distance now of the race is 1 mile and two furlongs. Horses older than three-year-old are now allowed to join the race.
The Prince of Wales’s Stakes winner on June 22 at the Ascot Racecourse will immediately be eligible to join the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Norfolk Stakes
Horse bettors were thrilled to discover in 2018 that the Norfolk Stakes was added to the Breeders’ Cup challenge series, wherein its winner will qualify for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. The addition of the Norfolk Stakes increased the betting value in the race, providing more opportunities for horse bettors.
This Group 2 flat horse race is open to only two-year-old horses. It was established in 1843 with the name New Stakes. The event was renamed after the 16th Duke of Norfolk, who served as HM’s Representative at Ascot for almost 30 years. The 2023 edition will be on June 23, the third day of the Royal Ascot at the Ascot Racecourse.
Gran Premio Pamplona
On June 26, the Gran Premio Pamplona will be held at Hipodromo de Monterrico in Lima Peru. It’s part of the Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf Division. Horses aged two and older are eligible to be part of the race. The winner of this horse racing event is qualified for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
Takarazuka Kinen
The Takarazuka Kinen is a Grade I flat horse racing event for thoroughbreds ages three and above. It has been held in Hyogo, Japan, at the Hanshin Racecourse since 1960. Horses here will run a distance of 1 3/8 miles on June 26. The winner will then compete at the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
It’s considered to be one of the two “All-Star” Japanese horse races with Arima Kinen. With its high status in Japanese sports, horse bettors are now more intrigued to watch and bet on the races happening there.
Final Thoughts
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge series is a great innovation that gives importance and highlights horse racing events that aren’t that well-known. It provides racegoers and horse bettors more choices on which horse race to watch and bet on, respectively.
Let’s hope more horse racing events will be added for the 2024 edition.