2019 Breeders’ Cup schedule: Post times, races, TV channel

By Mia ZanzucchiOct 31, 2019, 1:20 PM EDT

The Breeders’ Cup Classic pits the top horses from around the world against each other in the ultimate showdown to finish out the year in horse racing. Here’s everything you need to know about racing’s grand finale this weekend at Santa Anita:

What is the Breeders’ Cup World Championships? The Breeders’ Cup is horse racing’s last hurrah of the year. Horses from around the globe will compete in 14 races over two days, with the Breeders’ Cup Classic closing out the weekend. Friday will see some of the most promising young horses run in 5 juvenile races. On Saturday, many of the richest horses, trainers and jockeys face off in 9 championship races, including the weekend’s marquee race, the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The Breeders’ Cup originated in 1984 as a year-end championship for North American Thoroughbred horses and their breeders. The brainchild of the late John Gaines, the former owner of Gainesway Farm, the Breeders’ Cup was built by Thoroughbred breeders, for Thoroughbred breeders.

2019 Breeders’ Cup Classic post positions, early odds

Who runs in the Breeders’ Cup? The “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is a series of Breeders’ Cup qualifying races that gives the winner an automatic entry into the relevant Breeders’ Cup race (with entry fees paid).

Horses who didn’t get in through a Challenge Series race accumulate points throughout the season by finishing graded races in the money, and the horses with the most points at the end of the season will fill the remaining spots.

How to watch the Breeders’ Cup Classic

Where is the Breeders’ Cup? The Breeders’ Cup changes tracks every year, with California’s Santa Anita hosting in 2019 for a record-10th time.

When is the Breeders’ Cup? The Breeders’ Cup runs from November 1-2. Friday’s coverage runs from 4-8 p.m. ET, and Saturday’s coverage runs from

How can I watch the Breeders’ Cup live? NBC Sports is home to the 2019 Breeders’ Cup, providing comprehensive race coverage and analysis live on TV, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app before, during and after. Coverage kicks off with Future Stars Friday on November 1, from 4-8 p.m. on NBCSN, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. NBC Sports will resume coverage the following day on NBCSN, NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET, with the Classic hour jumping to NBC from 8-9 p.m. ET.

What to know about the 2019 Breeders’ Cup

When does each Breeders’ Cup race begin? Below is every Breeders’ Cup World Championships race in the order they will be run, along with approximate post times.

Friday, Nov. 1 schedule

Race #5 – Juvenile Turf Sprint (Post time: 4:12 p.m. ET)
Race #6 – Juvenile Turf (Post time: 4:52 p.m. ET)
Race #7 – Juvenile Fillies (Post time: 5:32 p.m. ET)
Race #8 – Juvenile Fillies Turf (Post time: 6:12 p.m. ET)
Race #9 – Juvenile (Post time: 7:03 p.m. ET)

Saturday, Nov. 2 schedule

Race #4 – Filly and Mare Sprint (Post time: 2:55 p.m. ET)
Race #5 – Turf Sprint (Post time: 3:33 p.m. ET)
Race #6 – Dirt Mile (Post time: 4:10 p.m. ET)
Race #7 – Filly and Mare Turf (Post time: 4:54 p.m. ET)
Race #8 – Sprint (Post time: 5:36 p.m. ET)
Race #9 – Mile (Post time: 6:20 p.m. ET)
Race #10 – Distaff (Post time: 7 p.m. ET)
Race #11 – Turf (Post time: 7:40 p.m. ET)
Race #12 – Classic (Post time: 8:44 p.m. ET)

Watch NBC Sports’ coverage of the 2019 Breeders’ Cup starting with Future Stars Friday on Nov. 1 from 4-8 p.m. ET (NBCSN) and continuing with Championship Saturday on Nov. 2 from 3:30-9 p.m. ET (NBCSN until 8, NBC from 8-9).

Forte works out, waits for Belmont Stakes clearance

Associated PressMay 27, 2023, 3:14 PM EDT

Matt Stone/USA TODAY NETWORK

NEW YORK — Forte, the early Kentucky Derby favorite who was scratched on the day of the race, worked out in preparation for a possible start in the Belmont Stakes on June 10.

Under regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr., Forte worked five-eighths of a mile for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. It was the colt’s second workout since being scratched from the Derby on May 6.

“It seems like he’s maintained his fitness level,” Pletcher said. “It seems like everything is in good order.”

Forte was placed on a mandatory 14-day veterinary list after being scratched from the Derby because of a bruised right front foot. In order to be removed from the list, the colt had to work in front of a state veterinarian and give a blood sample afterward, the results of which take five days.

“There’s protocols in place and we had to adhere to those and we’re happy that everything went smoothly,” Pletcher said. “We felt confident the horse was in good order or we wouldn’t have been out there twice in the last six days, but you still want to make sure everything went smoothly and we’re happy everything did go well.”

Pletcher said Kingsbarns, who finished 14th in the Kentucky Derby, will miss the Belmont. The colt is showing signs of colic, although he is fine, the trainer said.

Another Pletcher-trained horse, Prove Worthy, is under consideration for the Belmont. He also has Tapit Trice, who finished seventh in the Derby, being pointed toward the Belmont.

Judge grants Churchill Downs’ request for summary judgment to dismiss Bob Baffert’s lawsuit

Associated PressMay 25, 2023, 9:36 PM EDT

Abbey Cutrer/USA TODAY NETWORK

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A federal judge has granted Churchill Downs’ motion for summary judgment that dismisses Bob Baffert’s claim the track breached due process by suspending the Hall of Fame trainer for two years.

Churchill Downs Inc. suspended Baffert in June 2021 after his now-deceased colt, Medina Spirit, failed a postrace drug test after crossing the finish line first in the 147th Kentucky Derby. The trainer’s request to lift the discipline was denied in February, keeping him out of the Derby for a second consecutive May.

U.S. District Court Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings ruled in a 12-page opinion issued Wednesday that Churchill Downs’ suspension of Baffert did not devalue his Kentucky trainer’s license. It cited his purse winnings exceeding $1 million at Keeneland in Lexington and stated that his argument “amounts to a false analogy that distorts caselaw.”

Jennings denied CDI’s motion to stay discovery as moot.

The decision comes less than a week after Baffert-trained colt National Treasure won the Preakness in his first Triple Crown race in two years. His record eighth win in the second jewel of the Triple Crown came hours after another of his horses, Havnameltdown, was euthanized following an injury at Pimlico.

Churchill Downs said in a statement that it was pleased with the court’s favorable ruling as in Baffert’s other cases.

It added, “While he may choose to file baseless appeals, this completes the seemingly endless, arduous and unnecessary litigation proceedings instigated by Mr. Baffert.”

Baffert’s suspension is scheduled to end on June 2, but the track’s release noted its right to extend it “and will communicate our decision” at its conclusion.