The 2027 horse racing schedule opens with the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, January 30, followed by the Saudi Cup (G1) on Saturday, February 6, and the Dubai World Cup (G1) on Saturday, March 27. The Kentucky Derby (G1) runs Saturday, May 1; the Preakness Stakes (G1) moves to Sunday, May 23; the Belmont Stakes (G1) is Saturday, June 5; and the Breeders’ Cup World Championships close the year at Belmont Park on October 29–30, 2027.
| Date (2027) | Race | Track | Distance / Surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., Jan. 30 | Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) | Gulfstream Park | 1 1/8 miles, dirt |
| Sat., Jan. 30 | Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) | Gulfstream Park | 1 1/8 miles, turf |
| Sat., Feb. 6 | Saudi Cup (G1) | King Abdulaziz Racecourse, Riyadh | 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles), dirt |
| Sat., Mar. 27 | Dubai World Cup (G1) | Meydan Racecourse, Dubai | 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles), dirt |
| Fri., Apr. 30 | Kentucky Oaks (G1) | Churchill Downs | 1 1/8 miles, dirt |
| Sat., May 1 | Kentucky Derby (G1) | Churchill Downs | 1 1/4 miles, dirt |
| Sun., May 23 | Preakness Stakes (G1) | Pimlico Race Course | 1 3/16 miles, dirt |
| Sat., June 5 | Belmont Stakes (G1) | Belmont Park | 1 1/2 miles, dirt |
| July (TBA) | Matt Winn Stakes | Churchill Downs | TBA |
| Late July/early Aug. (TBA) | Jim Dandy Stakes | Saratoga Race Course | TBA |
| Late Aug. (TBA) | Travers Stakes | Saratoga Race Course | TBA |
| Sept. (TBA) | Thoroughbred Championship Series Championship Race | Churchill Downs | TBA |
| Fri.–Sat., Oct. 29–30 | Breeders’ Cup World Championships | Belmont Park | Classic: 1 1/4 miles, dirt |
The 2027 Triple Crown runs over 35 days: the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 1 at Churchill Downs, the Preakness Stakes on Sunday, May 23 at Pimlico Race Course, and the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 5 at Belmont Park. The spacing changes from past years: 22 days between the first two legs and 13 days between the last two.
According to the Maryland Jockey Club, the Preakness moves from the third Saturday in May to the fourth Sunday, with NBC Sports extending its Preakness broadcast deal through 2032. The Belmont Stakes leaves Saratoga Race Course after three years and returns to Belmont Park. See the full hubs for the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
The remaining 2027 Kentucky Derby prep races start Saturday, November 28, 2026, with the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs and end Saturday, April 10, 2027, with the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park and the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. The top five finishers in each race earn Road to the Kentucky Derby points, and the 20 highest-ranked eligible horses make the starting gate.
Dates, tracks, and points below are per the official Road to the Kentucky Derby schedule at Churchill Downs, which notes that the schedule is subject to change. Distance and surface are confirmed for Gulfstream Park races per the Gulfstream Park stakes schedule; others are TBA.
| Date | Race | Track | Points (1st–5th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 28, 2026 | Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes | Churchill Downs | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Nov. 28, 2026 | Cattleya Stakes | Tokyo Racecourse, Japan | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Dec. 5, 2026 | Remsen Stakes | Belmont at the Big A (Aqueduct) | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Dec. 12, 2026 | Los Alamitos Futurity | Los Alamitos | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Dec. 16, 2026 | Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun | Kawasaki, Japan | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Dec. 19, 2026 | Gun Runner Stakes | Fair Grounds | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Dec. 19, 2026 | Remington Springboard Mile | Remington Park | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Jan. 2, 2027 | Smarty Jones Stakes | Oaklawn Park | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Jan. 16, 2027 | Lecomte Stakes | Fair Grounds | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Jan. 16, 2027 | Leonatus Stakes | Turfway Park | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Jan. 16, 2027 | Withers Stakes | Belmont at the Big A (Aqueduct) | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Jan. 22, 2027 | UAE 2000 Guineas | Meydan Racecourse, Dubai | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Jan. 23, 2027 | Holy Bull Stakes (G3) | Gulfstream Park | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Feb. 6, 2027 | Robert B. Lewis Stakes | Santa Anita Park | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Feb. 6, 2027 | Sam F. Davis Stakes | Tampa Bay Downs | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Feb. 6, 2027 | Saudi Derby (G2) | King Abdulaziz Racecourse, Riyadh | 30-15-9-6-3 |
| Feb. 6, 2027 | Southwest Stakes | Oaklawn Park | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Feb. 13, 2027 | Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes | Fair Grounds | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| Feb. 19, 2027 | Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby Stakes | Meydan Racecourse, Dubai | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Feb. 20, 2027 | Gotham Stakes | Belmont at the Big A (Aqueduct) | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| Feb. 20, 2027 | John Battaglia Memorial Stakes | Turfway Park | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Feb. 21, 2027 | Hyacinth Stakes | Tokyo Racecourse, Japan | 30-15-9-6-3 |
| Feb. 21, 2027 | Sunland Park Derby | Sunland Park | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Feb. 24, 2027 | Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes | Kempton, England | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Feb. 26, 2027 | The Patton Stakes | Dundalk, Ireland | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Feb. 27, 2027 | Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) | Gulfstream Park | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| Mar. 6, 2027 | ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby | Tampa Bay Downs | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| Mar. 6, 2027 | San Felipe Stakes | Santa Anita Park | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| Mar. 13, 2027 | Rebel Stakes | Oaklawn Park | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| Mar. 13, 2027 | Virginia Derby | Colonial Downs | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| Mar. 20, 2027 | Jeff Ruby Steaks | Turfway Park | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| Mar. 20, 2027 | TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby | Fair Grounds | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| Mar. 27, 2027 | Florida Derby (G1) | Gulfstream Park | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| Mar. 27, 2027 | Fukuryu Stakes | Nakayama, Japan | 40-20-12-8-4 |
| Mar. 27, 2027 | UAE Derby | Meydan Racecourse, Dubai | 100-60-30-15-10 |
| Apr. 3, 2027 | Blue Grass Stakes | Keeneland | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| Apr. 3, 2027 | Santa Anita Derby | Santa Anita Park | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| Apr. 3, 2027 | Wood Memorial Stakes | Belmont at the Big A (Aqueduct) | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| Apr. 10, 2027 | Arkansas Derby | Oaklawn Park | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| Apr. 10, 2027 | Lexington Stakes | Keeneland | 20-10-6-4-2 |
The remaining 2027 Kentucky Oaks prep races for 3-year-old fillies start Saturday, November 28, 2026, with the Fasig-Tipton Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs and end Saturday, April 3, 2027, with the Gazelle Stakes at Belmont Park and the Santa Anita Oaks. Points go to the top five finishers, toward a spot in the Kentucky Oaks on Friday, April 30.
| Date | Race | Track | Points (1st–5th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep. 12, 2026 | Pocahontas Stakes (G3) | Churchill Downs | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Oct. 2, 2026 | Alcibiades Stakes (G1) | Keeneland | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Oct. 3, 2026 | Frizette Stakes (G1) | Belmont at the Big A (Aqueduct) | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Oct. 4, 2026 | Oak Leaf Stakes (G2) | Santa Anita Park | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Oct. 25, 2026 | Rags to Riches Stakes | Churchill Downs | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Oct. 30, 2026 | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) | Keeneland | 30-15-9-6-3 |
| Nov. 28, 2026 | Golden Rod Stakes (G2) | Churchill Downs | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Dec. 5, 2026 | Demoiselle Stakes (G2) | Belmont at the Big A (Aqueduct) | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Dec. 5, 2026 | Starlet Stakes (G2) | Los Alamitos | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Dec. 19, 2026 | Untapable Stakes | Fair Grounds | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Jan. 3, 2027 | Santa Ynez Stakes (G3) | Santa Anita Park | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Jan. 16, 2027 | Busanda Stakes | Belmont at the Big A (Aqueduct) | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Jan. 16, 2027 | Silverbulletday Stakes | Fair Grounds | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Jan. 23, 2027 | Forward Gal Stakes (G3) | Gulfstream Park | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Jan. 30, 2027 | Martha Washington Stakes | Oaklawn Park | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Feb. 6, 2027 | Las Virgenes Stakes (G3) | Santa Anita Park | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Feb. 6, 2027 | Suncoast Stakes | Tampa Bay Downs | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Feb. 13, 2027 | Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) | Fair Grounds | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| Feb. 20, 2027 | UAE Oaks (G3) | Meydan Racecourse, Dubai | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| Feb. 20, 2027 | Honeybee Stakes (G3) | Oaklawn Park | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| Feb. 27, 2027 | Davona Dale Stakes (G2) | Gulfstream Park | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| Feb. 27, 2027 | Cincinnati Trophy Stakes | Turfway Park | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Mar. 6, 2027 | Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) | Santa Anita Park | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| Mar. 6, 2027 | Busher Stakes | Belmont at the Big A (Aqueduct) | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| Mar. 13, 2027 | Virginia Oaks | Colonial Downs | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| Mar. 20, 2027 | Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) | Fair Grounds | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| Mar. 20, 2027 | Bourbonette Oaks | Turfway Park | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| Mar. 27, 2027 | Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) | Gulfstream Park | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| Mar. 28, 2027 | Sunland Park Oaks | Sunland Park | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Apr. 2, 2027 | Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) | Keeneland | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| Apr. 3, 2027 | Santa Anita Oaks (G2) | Santa Anita Park | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| Apr. 3, 2027 | Gazelle Stakes (G3) | Belmont at the Big A (Aqueduct) | 100-50-25-15-10 |
| Apr. 3, 2027 | Fantasy Stakes (G3) | Oaklawn Park | 100-50-25-15-10 |
The 2027 Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, on Friday, October 29 and Saturday, October 30, 2027. It is the fifth Breeders’ Cup at Belmont Park, after 1990, 1995, 2001 and 2005, and the first held outside Kentucky or California since 2008.
Per Breeders’ Cup Limited and the New York Racing Association, the dates are pending approval by the New York State Gaming Commission. The rebuilt Belmont main track has been widened, giving the 1 1/4-mile Breeders’ Cup Classic a cleaner starting gate position. Full coverage is on the Breeders’ Cup hub.
The 11th Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) run Saturday, January 30, 2027, at Gulfstream Park, both at 1 1/8 miles. Gulfstream Park lists the purses as TBA; 1/ST Racing said the final purse structure will be announced shortly.
Prep races fall on Saturday, December 26, 2026, Pegasus Preview Day, with the Harlan’s Holiday Stakes (G3) and Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G3), according to Gulfstream Park. More on the Pegasus World Cup page.
The Saudi Cup (G1) runs Saturday, February 6, 2027, at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, the second day of a two-day meeting starting Friday, February 5. The Dubai World Cup (G1) follows on Saturday, March 27, 2027, at Meydan Racecourse, with a $12 million purse for its 31st running.
Both cards carry Kentucky Derby points: the Saudi Derby (G2) on February 6 awards 30-15-9-6-3, and the UAE Derby on March 27 awards 100-60-30-15-10, per the official Road to the Kentucky Derby schedule. See the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup pages.
The Thoroughbred Championship Series is a new six-race points series for 3-year-olds starting in 2027, created by Churchill Downs Incorporated and the New York Racing Association. It links the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, Matt Winn Stakes, Jim Dandy Stakes, Travers Stakes, and a September Championship Race at Churchill Downs, with a $5 million prize pool. The Preakness Stakes is not part of the series.
Bettors can play 2027 races two ways: futures, which lock a price months ahead, and race-day bets once fields are drawn, such as win, exacta, and trifecta wagers. Kentucky Derby futures are usually the first market to open. At BUSR, new players can claim up to a $1,000 Welcome Bonus.
Derby futures move on 100-point days. Eight Derby preps award 100 points to the winner, from the Jeff Ruby Steaks and Louisiana Derby on March 20 to the Arkansas Derby on April 10. A win in any of them all but locks a Derby spot, so futures prices on those horses shorten fast. The time to bet a contender is before his final prep, not after it.
Pegasus to Saudi Cup is 7 days. The Pegasus World Cup on January 30 and the Saudi Cup on February 6 are one week apart. Horses are unlikely to run both, so compare the two fields before playing either race’s futures.
Derby winners now have 22 days to the Preakness. The extra week is designed to bring Kentucky Derby runners to Pimlico Race Course. More returning Derby horses means shorter prices on the Preakness favorite, so value may shift to exacta and trifecta combinations under the top two.
Preakness to Belmont is only 13 days. With the Belmont Stakes on June 5, horses that run in the Preakness on May 23 come back quickly at 1 1/2 miles. Fresh horses that skip the Preakness deserve a closer look in Belmont Stakes win and exotic bets.
Breeders’ Cup returns to New York. New York-based horses race over their home surface at Belmont Park. Their current form at the fall Belmont meet is the first thing to check before the October 29–30 cards.
Pegasus World Cup January 30, Saudi Cup February 6, Dubai World Cup March 27, Kentucky Derby May 1, Preakness Stakes May 23, Belmont Stakes June 5, and Breeders’ Cup October 29–30, 2027.
Saturday, May 1, 2027, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The Kentucky Oaks runs Friday, April 30, 2027.
The remaining preps run from the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes on November 28, 2026 to the Arkansas Derby and Lexington Stakes on April 10, 2027.
Sunday, May 23, 2027, at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. It is the first Preakness run on a Sunday.
Saturday, June 5, 2027, at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, at 1 1/2 miles.
Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, on October 29–30, 2027, pending New York State Gaming Commission approval.
The Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, all for 3-year-olds.
The Saudi Cup, which has carried a $20 million purse. The 2027 purse is TBA. The 2027 Dubai World Cup is worth $12 million.
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.
