Graded stakes at a distance of 1 1/4 miles or more are on dirt are rare, but they do play an important role in preparing horses for some of the sport’s most important races.
The path to the 2021 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar on Nov. 5-6 is a road with plenty of ups and downs as talented racehorses vie for a spot in one of 14 championship races and $31 million in purses and awards.
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 2021 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The field for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic begins to take shape in early summer after the Triple Crown races conclude and, in many ways, the road to the $6 million race begins in earnest with the Stephen Foster Stakes in June at Churchill Downs.
The first day of the weekend is relished by most, but for the people behind Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Godolphin operation, it has become a time to celebrate.
