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Breeders' Cup

Slight Drop in Wagering on 2026 Breeders' Cup Races

Breeders' Cup reports strong attendance numbers, but a decline in total handle.

Race fans on the apron react to the photo finish replay of winner Further Ado and runner-up Owen Almighty in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland

Race fans on the apron react to the photo finish replay of winner Further Ado and runner-up Owen Almighty in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland

Edward Whitaker/Racing Post

Handle on the 14 Breeders' Cup races Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland saw a slight decline when compared with last year's event at Del Mar.

The handle reached $146,431,783, down 1.2% from 2025.

This year's two-day Breeders' Cup enjoyed a spike in attendance when compared with last year, up 25% to 81,604 for the two days. Saturday's attendance was 45,775.

As the weekend's undercard races saw a larger decline than the Breeders' Cup races, all-sources, common-pool handle for the two-day Breeders' Cup was down 6.7% to $167,930,278 when compared with last year.

Total common-pool handle on Saturday's 12-race Breeders' Cup card was $114,303,297. All-sources common-pool handle on Breeders' Cup's 10-race Future Stars Friday card was $53,626,981 (corrected from Friday's report).

On-track handle for the two days was $18,322,068.

International separate-pool wagering figures are not yet available. 

The Breeders' Cup World Championships will return to Belmont Park in 2027, marking a return to New York for the first time since 2005. The 44th edition will be held there Oct. 29-30.

Breeders' Cup Two-Day Attendance and Handle History
Year Track Attendance Handle
2026 Keeneland 81,604 $167,930,278
2025 Del Mar 65,232 $180,036,799
2024 Del Mar 67,418 $179,218,631
2023 Santa Anita Park 109,624 $176,281,989
2022 Keeneland 85,824 $189,060,373
2021 Del Mar 47,089 $182,908,409
2020 Keeneland --* $160,472,893
2019 Santa Anita Park 109,054 $174,628,986
2018 Churchill Downs 112,672 $157,445,841
2017 Del Mar 70,420 $166,077,486
2016 Santa Anita 118,484 $156,861,811
2015 Keeneland 94,652 $149,869,035
2014 Santa Anita 98,319 $151,158,813
2013 Santa Anita 94,628 $160,704,877
2012 Santa Anita 89,742 $144,272,332
2011 Churchill Downs 105,820 $161,512,867 
2010 Churchill Downs 114,353 $173,857,697
2009 Santa Anita 96,496 $153,271,176
2008 Santa Anita 86,588 $155,740,328
2007 Monmouth Park 69,584 $129,197,262

*No attendance reported because of COVID-19

This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.