There was no shortage of superlatives tossed around before, during, and after the 1998 edition of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and for good reason.
“Best field I’ve ever seen,” Seth Hancock, president of Claiborne Farm on co-owner of one of the 10 Classic runners (Arch), told BloodHorse before the race. “You put up the money and you are going to get the best of the best.”
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series continues this weekend with the Christophe Clement Turf Stakes Saturday at Saratoga. The $750,000, Grade 1 stakes was previously named the Sword Dancer Stakes and this year is renamed after the late Hall of Fame trainer Christophe Clement.
Known for her consistency, grit, and unmatched will to win, Monomoy Girl captured the hearts of racing fans around the world. Her 10 graded stakes wins, including seven Grade 1s, not only solidified her status as one of the greatest female racehorses of her generation but also added a crowning achievement to an already illustrious career.
Each week a panel of media members, horseplayers, and Breeders’ Cup World Championships officials release a poll tabulating their votes on the nation's top contenders for the 2026 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic. The rankings are a weekly rating of the top 10 horses in contention and are determined by each voter ranking their top 10 horses with points assigned on a descending 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis.
