The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series "Win and You’re In" returns for its 20th year in 2026, providing the premier pathway for top contenders to earn automatic berths into the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The North American portion of the series will again deliver a robust schedule of races throughout the United States and Canada leading into the 43rd Breeders’ Cup World Championships Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

Additionally, Breeders’ Cup has announced the television schedule for the 2026 Breeders’ Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" Series. Consisting of seven live programs across NBC, FOX, and Peacock, the series features key automatic qualifying races at premier racetracks on the road to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. All Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series coverage on NBC will also be streamed on Peacock, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app. NBC Sports will also continue to present the World Championships on NBC and Peacock as part of its long-term partnership with Breeders’ Cup Limited. 

Breeders’ Cup has allocated a record $6.5 million in free entry fees for the 2026 Challenge Series, with the winners of 95 qualifying races across 14 countries receiving a guaranteed starting position into a corresponding race at the World Championships.

There are 50 Challenge Series races scheduled to take place in North America. The full schedule may be viewed at BreedersCup.com/races/challenge-series. After launching Jan. 24 when Skippylongstocking secured a berth into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic via victory in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes - a new addition to the Challenge Series - the North American portion of the Challenge Series next moves to Oaklawn Park, where the April 11 Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap will offer a berth into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff for the first time. The series then shifts to New York with a trio of races on Belmont Stakes weekend at Saratoga Race Course and continues throughout the year until concluding with the Oct. 17 Champion Stakes at Ascot Racecourse.

“North American racing provides the essential framework for the Challenge Series, presenting horsemen with a consistent and competitive path to the Breeders' Cup World Championships," said Dora Delgado, Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer of Breeders' Cup Limited. "The ongoing support of racing officials and track partners nationwide has been key to our success with the series, and we look forward to strong fields of global contenders at Keeneland this fall.”

Breeders’ Cup will offer a $10,000 travel allowance for all World Championships starters within North America that are located outside of Kentucky, and a $40,000 travel allowance to the connections of World Championships starters that are based outside of North America. If not already nominated, each Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 19 to receive the rewards.

Last year, 46 Challenge Series winners competed in the World Championships at Del Mar and three won their respective races: Forever Young in the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Notable Speech in the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile presented by PDJF, and Ted Noffey in the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by TAA.

Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen.

Breeders’ Cup will also continue the Dirt Dozen, an elite bonus program that features 12 North American graded dirt races, with two per World Championships division (excluding the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic). Horses finishing first, second, or third in these designated races will earn a tiered bonus bankroll which can be utilized towards pre-entry and entry fees at the World Championships. In total, over $525,000 in free entry fees await program participants. Bonus earnings may only be used to pay entry fees for dirt races in the Breeders’ Cup. For more information, visit BreedersCup.com/races/dirt-dozen.

The majority of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge races will be televised on FanDuel TV, which will continue to provide extensive special programming in the lead-up to the World Championships. FanDuel, the Official ADW Partner, Official Sports Wagering Partner, Official Fantasy Sports Partner, and Official Mobile Casino Partner of the Breeders’ Cup, also serves as title partner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in addition to the Breeders’ Cup Mile.