German-bred Goliath won the 2024 edition of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. (JTW Equine Images)
2025 Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Fact Sheet
Breeders’ Cup Release
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In is an international series of 93 stakes races in 15 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. The full schedule may be viewed at BreedersCup.com/races/challenge-series.
The European leg of the 2025 Challenge Series consists of 14 races in England, five in Ireland, and six in France. A total of 49 Challenge Series race will be held outside of the United States.
Ascot Racecourse will host six Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races this year: the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) (Docklands, GB), King Charles III Stakes (G1) (American Affair, GB), Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) (Ombudsman, IRE), Norfolk Stakes (G2) (Charles Darwin, IRE), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) on July 26, and the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) on Oct. 18.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series was inaugurated in 2007.
In 2024, five Breeders’ Cup World Championships winners earned automatic berths via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series: Lake Victoria (IRE) (John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf), Citizen Bull (FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile), Immersive (NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies), Soul of an Angel (PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint), and Moira (ON) (Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf).
The next three editions of the Breeders’ Cup will be held at the following host tracks: Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif. (2025), Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. (2026), and Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. (2027).
£1.5 million King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1), 1 ½ Miles (Turf), 3YO & Up
Winner Receives: Automatic starting position in the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), $125,000 entry fee waived, $10,000 awarded to Breeders’ Cup nominator (where applicable). All Championship starters based outside of California receive a travel allowance.
Recent Winner Highlights: Goliath (GER) (2024) did not contest the 2024 Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Enable (GB) (2017), (2019), (2020) won the 2018 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs. Highland Reel (IRE) (2016) won the 2016 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita Park and finished third in the 2017 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar. Conduit (IRE) (2009) won the 2009 Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita Park, successfully defending his 2008 Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf title, also won at Santa Anita.
2025 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf Division – Challenge Series Races
| Race Date | Track | Race Name | Distance | Age | Winner |
| 12/14/2024 | SIS | Gran Premio International Carlos Pellegrini Stakes (G1) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Intense for Me (ARG) |
| 4/5/2025 | MEY | Longines Dubai Sheema Classic Presented by Longines (G1) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Danon Decile (JPN) |
| 6/15/2025 | HSN | Takarazuka Kinen (G1) | 1 3/8 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | Meisho Tabaru (JPN) |
| 6/18/2025 | ASC | The Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 4 YO & UP | Ombudsman (IRE) |
| 6/22/2025 | GVA | Grande Premio Brasil (G1) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | Sinsel (BRZ) |
| 7/26/2025 | ASC | King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | |
| 8/9/2025 | SAR | The Sword Dancer (G1) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 4 YO & UP | |
| 8/30/2025 | DMR | Del Mar Handicap Presented By The Japan Racing Association (G2) | 1 3/8 Mile (T) | 3 YO & UP | |
| 9/6/2025 | KD | FanDuel TV Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational (G2) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | |
| 9/13/2025 | LEO | The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | |
| 10/5/2025 | LCH | Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) | 1 1/2 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP | |
| 10/18/2025 | ASC | QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) | 1 1/4 Miles (T) | 3 YO & UP |
