The Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf is contested at the distance of 1 1⁄2 miles, which, along with the $5 million purse, makes it an attractive target for turf specialists from both North America and around the world. It is one of the seven initial Breeders’ Cup championship races and will be contested for the 37th time this year.
Check the Time for the Breeders’ Cup Classic and complete the race card for the “Championship Saturday”:
| Race | Race Name | Post Time ET |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Sunrise (Allowance) | 1:05pm |
| 2 | The Ocean View (Allowance) | 1:40pm |
| 3 | Goldikova Stakes (G3) | 2:15pm |
| 4 | Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) | 3:00pm |
| 5 | Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) | 3:41pm |
| 6 | Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) | 4:21pm |
| 7 | Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) | 5:01pm |
| 8 | Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) | 5:41pm |
| 9 | Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) | 6:25pm |
| 10 | Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) | 7:05pm |
| 11 | Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile | 7:45pm |
| 12 | Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) | 8:25pm |
Of the 41 previous runnings, 26 have been claimed by European invaders. Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien has sent out seven winners – 2002, High Chaparral; 2003, High Chaparral (DH with Johar); 2011, St. Nicholas Abbey; 2013, Magician; 2015, Found; 2016, Highland Reel; and Auguste Rodin, 2023. All were owned by the Coolmore partnership of Sue Maginer, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.
Champion European jockeys Frankie Dettori and Ryan Moore lead all riders with five winners each. Both Conduit (2008, 2009) and High Chaparral (2002, 2003) have won this race twice. High Chaparral dead-heated with Johar for the win in 2003 in the first and only dead heat in Breeders’ Cup history.
The fastest time for this race was the 2:22.83 mark Little Mike logged in 2012. In 2018, the mare Enable became the first horse to win both the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Breeders' Cup Turf in the same year.
Kotashaan in 1993 and Bricks and Mortar in 2019 are the two Breeders’ Cup Turf winners who also earned American Horse of the Year honors.
2003 -- In one of the most electrifying finishes in Breeders' Cup history, Irish star High Chaparral, trained by Aidan O'Brien, rallied to catch Richard Mandella-trained American longshot Johar right on the wire, creating the only dead-heat in Turf history. High Chaparral, seeking to cap a perfect season after the Epsom Derby and Irish Derby, surged late under Michael Kinane, while Johar—dismissed at 27-1 after a troubled career—fought gamely from the front under Alex Solis.
1984 - The Turf's debut set the tone for chaos when 53-1 French invader Lashkari stormed from seventh to defeat Horse of the Year All Along by a neck, paying a record $108.80 for a $2 bet—the biggest payout in race history. Amid a field of turf luminaries like Strawberry Road, Alphabatim, and Gato Del Sol, Lashkari's victory turned the inaugural Breeders' Cup Turf into an instant legend.
2018 - British superstar Enable (Frankie Dettori) etched her name in the international record books by becoming the first horse to sweep the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) and Breeders' Cup Turf in the same year. Fresh off her record-extending Arc win six weeks prior, the 4-year-old filly powered home by ¾ lengths over Magical, clocking a blistering final quarter in :22.49 on firm Churchill Downs turf. Her effortless dominance — defying jet lag and a contentious and talented American/European field — cemented her reputation as a once-in-a-generation talent.
1991 - At 42-1, France-based filly Miss Alleged unleashed a ferocious stretch run to win by a half-length at big odds of 42-1 for trainer Pascal Bary and jockey Eric Legrix, becoming just the second female to conquer the male-dominated Turf (after Pebbles in 1985). She overcame a wide trip, ran down Itsallgreektome for the win, earning Eclipse Champion Female Turf honors.
2022, 2024 – Dubai-raced gelding Rebel's Romance staged a Hollywood-style performance for his first Breeders’ Cup, surging from last to first to win by 2 ¼ lengths. The then 4-year-old's relentless charge past a star-studded field marked his first Turf win. He repeated his Turf score last year after a year-long break to win by a neck as the 8-5 favorite and will be back as a runner to beat in this year’s renewal as a 7-year-old.
Trends for the Breeders’ Cup Turf indicate a shift toward exotic wagers (exactas, trifectas, superfectas) due to larger fields (average 11 starters) and international competition, which can create value. European shippers from trainers like O'Brien and Appleby often attract heavy betting, with 77% of recent winners being international invaders, leading to lower average odds for favorites (e.g., 26% win rate for favorites since 2014, but 58% in-the-money).
In turf races broadly, Kentucky Downs winners are often overbet but underperform (0 wins in Breeders' Cup turf events since 2014).
For 2025, early betting interest centers on contenders like Rebel's Romance (2022/2024 winner) and Ombudsman, with fixed-odds previews showing short prices for European invaders amid a $3 All-Turf Pick 3 on Friday and a 50-cent All-Turf Pick 4 on Saturday.
Historical payouts for the Breeders' Cup Turf (based on $2 bets) reflect volatility due to international fields and occasional longshots, with an average win payoff of $19.21 across 493 starters since 1984. Averages and medians highlight potential for big exotic bets:
| Wager Type | Average Payout | Median Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Win | $21.40 | $12.40 |
| Exacta | $176.29 | $78.80 |
| Trifecta | $1,368.19 | $544.60 |
| Superfecta | $20,539.49 | $3,965.00 |
Trends show favorites delivering consistent but modest wins (e.g., 5 winning favorites in the last 20 renewals), with bigger payouts from upsets like Little Mike at 25-1 in 2012.
The highest win payoff was $53.40 (Lashkari in 1984); the lowest $0.80 (Enable in 2018). Payouts trend higher in years with moderate fields (7-14 starters) and when U.S.-based horses upset internationals (e.g., only 1 U.S. winner in the last 9 years: Bricks and Mortar in 2019 at 11/8F). For 2025, expect value in exotics with contenders like Goliath (GER) or Silawi (IRE) potentially inflating payouts if they challenge favorites.
The Breeders' Cup Turf favors closers, with 12 of the last 15 winners (and 10 of 11) rallying from 5th or farther back after the first half-mile, often on firm turf with moderate to fast early paces. Only Highland Reel (2016) won wire-to-wire in recent years. Winning times average around 2:26-2:28, with the fastest at 2:22.83 (Little Mike, 2012) and the slowest at 2:36.96 (English Channel, 2007). Recent pace data:
European-style closers thrive, with jockeys like Ryan Moore (5 wins) and Frankie Dettori (5 wins) excelling in patient rides. Fillies/mares have won 3 of the last 10 (Found, 2015; Enable, 2018; Tarnawa, 2020), often closing firmly. Post positions 5, 6, 1, and 9 have produced the most winners since 2014.
These races exemplify the Turf's allure: high-stakes international intrigue, improbable surges, and finishes that redefine champions. From dead-heats to double triumphs, they've produced moments as unforgettable as the 1½-mile grind itself. For more on the 2025 edition at Del Mar, keep an eye on contenders like Far Bridge and returning star Rebel's Romance.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
