The Breeders’ Cup is one of the most exciting meetings of the year for horse racing fans, as it pits superstars from North America and Europe against one another. Betting on the event is exceptionally popular, and that will be no different once again in 2024 as the action takes place at Del Mar.
The pinnacle of flat racing will see 14 championship races staged over the two-day meet, but what are some of the key betting tips to consider before making selections on the action this year?
Understand What The Breeders’ Cup Is
If you want to bet the 2024 Breeders’ Cup, you can learn everything about it here. It can feel like a foreign competition for those living in Europe and the rest of the world outside of North America, as it has only reached peak levels of popularity in terms of mainstream appeal in the last few seasons.
However, the two-day event has been staged annually since 1984, celebrating the best horses in the sport over a range of differences and on different surfaces. The competition was created by John Gaines, and it stands out as a major event on the racing schedule due to the huge purses that are on offer.
The Breeders’ Cup Classic is the most lucrative race on the schedule, but $30 million is dished out across the two days. Interestingly, the Breeders’ Cup moves to a new track every year, making it harder for returning champions to successfully defend their title. However, that may not be an issue in 2024 and 2025, with each of the next two editions taking place at Del Mar.
Differences Between The Races
With 14 championship races spread across the two days, it isn’t uncommon for horses to have two potential entries before the official declarations are made. For the most part, this is down to fillies or mares holding entries in both the female-only races as well as having an entry to take on their male counterparts.
For example, at this stage, Thorpedo Anna could line up in either the Distaff or Classic, but the odds would suggest that the former is the most likely outcome. Each race is slightly different, whether that is down to the surface, distance, or the sex of the contest.
For example, the Breeders’ Cup Mile and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile are both run over the same distance, with the big difference being the surface on which the race is run. Understanding the differences between the championship races is vitally important for bettors, especially when it comes to making early wagers on the ante-post market.
Study The Form
As is the case when betting on any race, the form makes for important reading before making a wager on any race at the Breeders’ Cup. This includes examining the highest grade in which runners have won at, which could be vitally important when assessing high-quality fields that are likely at Del Mar this year.
Horses with proven winning records in Grade/Group One company over the distance that they are competing over will always stand a better chance than runners that have typically come up short at the top table.
Bettors should also examine the latest records of trainers and jockeys, as yards and riders in poor recent form could find it challenging to overturn their fortunes at a high-caliber event such as the Breeders’ Cup. Official ratings should also be considered before making bets on the racing action at Del Mar, as this could point to a likely winner based on previous performances.
It could also be sensible to assess these, as many horses in Breeders’ Cup fields will bring different international form lines to the table that can often be challenging to work out.
Assess International Raiders
While the Breeders’ Cup has always been held in North America, there have been countless victories for non-American trainers at the event throughout recent history.
In fact, it isn’t a rarity for the away nations to claim big race victories, with European runners typically being hard to bet against in the turf races. Japanese raiders have also been common in the last five editions of the Breeders’ Cup, with Derma Sotogake coming the closest for the nation in terms of a Classic victory.
For Japanese runners on the dirt, it could be worth considering their efforts at tracks such as Meydan, as this will be one of the only opportunities in the season to see them come up against international rivals.
Meanwhile, there could be a fascinating contender in the Classic from Europe this term, as Aidan O’Brien chases a first victory in the major race with City of Troy, who is a son of Triple Crown winner Justify. Assessing progenies is very important when it comes to the Breeders’ Cup, as it could open up potential avenues for betting if runners are making a first start on the dirt despite having competed on the turf throughout their campaign.
