Breeders’ Cup Turf
The Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf is contested at the distance of 1 1⁄2 miles which, along with the $4 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.
BC Turf – USR Photo
Of the 36 previous runnings, 20 were claimed by European invaders led by Irish champion trainer Aidan O’Brien, who has sent out six winners – 2002, High Chaparral; 2003, High Chaparral (DH with Johar); 2011, St. Nicholas Abbey; 2013, Magician; 2015, Found; and 2016, Highland Reel. All were owned by the Coolmore partnership of Sue Maginer, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.
Top European jockey Frankie Dettori leads all riders with five winners on his championship resume — 1999, Daylami; 2001, Fantastic Light; 2006, Red Rocks; 2010, Dangerous Midge; and 2018, Enable. 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 recently retired Enable became the first horse to win both the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Breeders’ Cup Turf in the same year.
Breeders’ Cup Turf Statistics
Breeders’ Cup winners who went on to win the Eclipse Award for champion turf male:
Manila 1986
Theatrical 1987
Kotashaan 1993
Northern Spur 1995
Chief Bearhart 1997
Buck’s Boy, 1998
Daylami, 1999
Kalanisi, 2000
Fantastic Light, 2001
High Chaparral, 2002
High Chaparral, 2003
English Channel, 2007
Conduit, 2008
Main Sequence, 2014
Kotashaan in 1993 and Bricks and Mortar a year ago are the two Breeders’ Cup Turf winners to also earn American Horse of the Year honors.
Breeders’ Cup Turf Odds
| 1 | Arklow | 5-1 | Brad Cox | Florent Geroux |
| 2 | Magical (IRE) | 5-2 | Aidan P. O’Brien | Ryan Moore |
| 3 | Tarnawa (IRE) | 6-1 | Dermot K. Weld | Christophe Soumillon |
| 4 | Mehdaayih (GB) | 30-1 | John H.M. Gosden | Joel Rosario |
| 5 | Donjah (GER) | 30-1 | Henk Grewe | Clement Lecoeuvre |
| 6 | Lord North (IRE) | 8-1 | John H.M. Gosden | Lanfranco Dettori |
| 7 | United | 8-1 | Richard E. Mandella | Flavien Prat |
| 8 | Red King | 20-1 | Philip D’Amato | Umberto Rispoli |
| 9 | Channel Maker | 5-1 | William I. Mott | Manuel Franco |
| 10 | Mogul (GB) | 4-1 | Aidan P. O’Brien | Pierre-Charles Boudot |
Miriam Lee has always been a horse racing fan thanks to trips to the tracks in her home state of Maryland with her father as kid. She owns an OTTB and is an advocate for promoting the sport among her peers. Miriam studies communication arts at Hood College and will receive her master’s degree in 2021, which she plans to use for a career in screenwriting. Her all-time favorite racehorse is Man O War.
