Breeders’ Cup Fantastic Finishes: A Distaff Duel for the Ages
Where to Watch/Listen: Horse Racing Coverage Sept. 30-Oct. 4
Events / Travel
A typically full crowd packs the track apron at Keeneland during its 2024 fall meet. The 2026 fall meet begins Friday, Oct. 2. (Eclipse Sportswire)
The upcoming weekend in horse racing is easily one of the three or four most active each year, covering a slew of marquee stakes races here in North America and internationally. That’s especially so in 2026, as the postponement of last weekend’s racing at the new Belmont Park due to weather has added even more big-ticket contests to the early-October stakes calendar.
One highlight of the schedule is Fall Stars opening weekend at Keeneland Race Course, as the picturesque Lexington, Ky., track and host of this year’s Breeders’ Cup begins its month-long regular meet Friday, Oct. 2. Fall Stars weekend ends Sunday, Oct. 4 and contains eight “Win and You’re In” qualifying races for the Breeders’ Cup, which will be held Oct. 30-31.
Television coverage of Keeneland is extensive, and starts with three NBC Sports broadcasts on Fall Stars weekend. Friday’s show runs from 4-6 p.m. ET on NBCSN and streams on Peacock, while the Saturday, Oct. 3, show featuring the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity and Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes airs on NBC and streams on Peacock from 3-6 p.m. ET. Sunday’s program runs from 5-6:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN and streams on Peacock, and is anchored by the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes.
In addition to NBC Sports, FanDuel TV will show every race live from Keeneland’s fall meet, and Keeneland’s races can also be streamed on the track’s website, betting app, and YouTube channel.
The popular “Today at Keeneland” preview show kicks off Friday and will air each day of live racing. Hosted by Gabby Gaudet and Scott Hazelton, “Today at Keeneland” starts at 11:30 a.m. ET and airs locally on the CW Lexington while also streaming on Keeneland’s website, YouTube channel, WKYT.com, and several other outlets.
In addition to Keeneland, FanDuel TV will also show live racing from Santa Anita Park, which hosts four “Win and You’re In” races Saturday, and other tracks including Woodbine, Gulfstream Park, and Laurel Park.
Belmont Park (Susie Raisher/NYRA)
Belmont Park added a day of live racing on Wednesday, Sept. 30, and moved six stakes races including two “Win and You’re In” preps to Thursday, Oct. 1, from last weekend. Racing from the historic Long Island track is showcased five days this week on “America’s Day at the Races” airing on FOX Sports. Check the below schedule for channels and times.
Lastly, a truly elite day of racing is slated for Sunday at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, featuring six Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” events topped by the prestigious Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Racing from Longchamp will air in the U.S. on FanDuel TV and also during a one-hour show on FS1 Sunday morning.
Horse racing from tracks around the world is available to subscribers on Racetrack Television Network (RTN), which can be livestreamed on all devices (computer, tablet and smartphone) and on TV via DISH Network, Amazon Fire and Roku.
Here’s a comprehensive list to this week’s TV, streaming, and radio horse racing coverage:
Stakes Race Schedule
|
Stakes |
Date |
Post Time |
Channel(s) |
|
Gallant Bloom Stakes |
Oct. 1 |
3:14 p.m. |
|
|
Winter Memories Stakes |
Oct. 1 |
3:46 p.m. |
|
|
Belmont Turf Sprint Stakes |
Oct. 1 |
4:17 p.m. |
|
|
Vosburgh Stakes |
Oct. 1 |
4:48 p.m. |
|
|
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes |
Oct. 1 |
5:18 p.m. |
|
|
Flower Bowl Stakes |
Oct. 1 |
5:48 p.m. |
|
|
Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes |
Oct. 2 |
4:12 p.m. |
|
|
Jessamine Stakes Presented by Keeneland Sales |
Oct. 2 |
4:44 p.m. |
|
|
Darley Alcibiades Stakes |
Oct. 2 |
5:16 p.m. |
|
|
Matron Stakes |
Oct. 3 |
2:50 p.m. |
|
|
Miss Grillo Stakes |
Oct. 3 |
3:22 p.m. |
|
|
Woodford Stakes Presented by FanDuel |
Oct. 3 |
3:40 p.m. |
|
|
Champagne Stakes |
Oct. 3 |
3:53 p.m. |
|
|
Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes |
Oct. 3 |
4:12 p.m. |
|
|
bet365 Algonquin Stakes |
Oct. 3 |
TBA |
|
|
Chillingworth Stakes |
Oct. 3 |
4:29 p.m. |
|
|
Frizette Stakes |
Oct. 3 |
4:31 p.m. |
|
|
First Lady Stakes |
Oct. 3 |
4:44 p.m. |
|
|
bet365 Dance Smartly Stakes |
Oct. 3 |
TBA |
|
|
Oak Leaf Stakes Presented by Oak Tree Racing Association |
Oct. 3 |
5:01 p.m. |
|
|
Futurity Stakes |
Oct. 3 |
5:06 p.m. |
|
|
Claiborne Breeders' Futurity |
Oct. 3 |
5:16 p.m. |
|
|
Delaware Handicap |
Oct. 3 |
5:37 p.m. |
|
|
Pilgrim Stakes |
Oct. 3 |
5:39 p.m. |
|
|
Canadian International Stakes |
Oct. 3 |
TBA |
|
|
Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes |
Oct. 3 |
5:48 p.m. |
|
|
Nearctic Stakes Presented by TAA |
Oct. 3 |
TBA |
|
|
American Pharoah Stakes Presented by DK Horse |
Oct. 3 |
7:04 p.m. |
|
|
Rodeo Drive Stakes |
Oct. 3 |
8:36 p.m. |
|
|
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe |
Oct. 4 |
9:05 a.m. |
|
|
Indian Summer Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select |
Oct. 4 |
5:10 p.m. |
|
|
Juddmonte Spinster Stakes |
Oct. 4 |
5:45 p.m. |
|
|
Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes |
Oct. 4 |
6:20 p.m. |
|
|
Surfer Girl Stakes |
Oct. 4 |
TBA |
|
|
Zuma Beach Stakes |
Oct. 4 |
TBA |
Note: All times listed are Eastern
TV/Livestream Schedule
|
Date |
Program |
Time |
Network/Website/Social Media |
|
Sept. 30 |
"America's Day at the Races" |
1 p.m.-5 p.m. |
|
|
Sept. 30 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
Sept. 30 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
Oct. 1 |
"America's Day at the Races" |
2 p.m.-2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. |
|
|
Oct. 1 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
Oct. 1 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
Oct. 2 |
"America's Day at the Races" |
1 p.m.-6 p.m. |
|
|
Oct. 2 |
"Daily Racing Form Weekend Preview" |
2:30 p.m. |
|
|
Oct. 2 |
Live coverage of horse racing including opening day at Keeneland |
post time varies |
|
|
Oct. 2 |
Broadcast of Fall Stars Friday from Keeneland |
4 p.m.-6 p.m. |
|
|
Oct. 2 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
Oct. 3 |
"America's Day at the Races" |
12 p.m.-4 p.m. on FS1, 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. on FS2 |
|
|
Oct. 3 |
Broadcast of Fall Stars Saturday from Keeneland |
3 p.m.-6 p.m. |
|
|
Oct. 3 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
Oct. 3 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
|
|
Oct. 4 |
Broadcast of international races from Longchamp |
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. |
|
|
Oct. 4 |
"America's Day at the Races" |
1 p.m.-3 p.m. on FS1, 4:30 p.m.-5:50 p.m. on FS2 |
|
|
Oct. 4 |
Broadcast of Fall Stars Sunday from Keeneland |
5 p.m.-6:30 p.m. |
|
|
Oct. 4 |
Live coverage of horse racing including international races from Longchamp |
post time varies |
|
|
Oct. 4 |
Live coverage of horse racing |
post time varies |
Note: All times listed are Eastern
Radio Schedule
| Date | Program | Time | Network |
| Sept. 30 | At The Races with Steve Byk | 9 a.m. | Thoroughbred Radio Network |
| Oct. 1 | At The Races with Steve Byk | 9 a.m. | Thoroughbred Radio Network |
| Oct. 1 | 1/ST BET Racing Show | 4 p.m. | HRRN |
| Oct. 1 | Brisnet Call-In Show | 6 p.m. | HRRN |
| Oct. 2 | At The Races with Steve Byk | 9 a.m. | Thoroughbred Radio Network |
| Oct. 2 | Betting with Bobby | 4 p.m. | HRRN |
| Oct. 2 | Trainer Talk Presented by Fasig-Tipton | 5 p.m. | HRRN |
| Oct. 2 | Keeneland Select Weekend Stakes Preview | 6 p.m. | HRRN |
| Oct. 2 | Kentucky Racing Spotlight | 6 p.m. | ESPN 680/105.7 |
| Oct. 3 | Equine Forum Presented by TwinSpires | 8 a.m. | HRRN |
| Oct. 3 | Off to the Races Radio | 10 a.m. | ESPN Richmond |
| Oct. 3 | Down the Stretch | 10 a.m. | Siriux XM |
Note: All times listed are Eastern
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