2022 Breeders' Cup Classic Betting Tips, Best Bookmakers & Free Bets
The Breeders' Cup Classic is a year-ending event to crown the best in North American thoroughbred racing.
Held at Churchill Downs in November, the $6 million race is run on dirt and features some of the world's best middle-distance horses in the world.
Considered the premier horse race in the US, the Breeders' Cup Classic has been taken out by the likes of Arrogate, Zenyatta and Unbridled.
Punters love betting on the Breeders' Cup Classic, which highlights the Breeders' Cup series at the end of the year.
Breeders' Cup Classic Key Facts
Date
Saturday November 5, 2022
Track
Keeneland
Distance
2000m
Class
Group 1
Race Type
Set weights
Prize money
$6 million
Age
3YO+
2021 Breeders' Cup Classic Tips
When the final field has been confirmed and the draw has been made, we'll publish our tips for the 2020 Breeders' Cup Classic.
Breeders' Cup Classic betting card
There are 12 races for punters to bet on during the Breeders' Cup Classic on Saturday.
The Saturday features nine races worth more than $1 million and it's one of the best betting days anywhere in the world.
With high class horses on show, the 2018 Breeders' Cup Classic race card can't be missed.
7:05pm
Filly & Mares Sprint
Grade 1
Dirt
7f
7:40pm
Turf Sprint
Grade 1
Turf
5f
8:19pm
Dirt Mile
Grade 1
Dirt
1m
8:59pm
Filly & Mare Turf
Grade 1
Turf
1m3f
9:38pm
Breeders' Cup Sprint
Grade 1
Dirt
6f
10:20pm
Breeders' Cup Mile
Grade 1
Turf
1m
11:00pm
Breeders' Cup Distaff
Grade 1
Dirt
1m1f
11:40pm
Breeders Cup Turf
Grade 1
Turf
1m4f
12:40pm
Breeders' Cup Classic
Grade 1
Dirt
1m2f
Breeders' Cup Classic history
The Breeders' Cup Classic was first run in 1984 and is now considered the fourth leg of US racing's Grand Slam, which encompasses the Triple Crown.
American Pharoah became the first horse to win the Grand Slam and the phrase has been popular since.
The first winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic was 30/1 long shot Wild Again, which held on for a narrow victory in one of the most thrilling finishes in racing history.
The 1993 Breeders' Cup Classic resulted in the biggest upset in the race's history with 133/1 chance Arcangues taking the honours.
The French-based horse wasn't given a chance by local bookmakers and the international form had stood up for the first time at Churchill Downs.
Also, the 1990's featured Cigar – a cult hero which rattled off eight consecutive Group 1 victories, culminating in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Cigar ran the quickest time of that period and it came on a rain-affected track.
One of the more popular recent winners at Zenyatta, which came into the race with a perfect 13-from-13 record.
The field in the 2009 Classic included names such as Gio Ponti, Rip Van Winkle, Twice Over and Summer Bird, but it was Zenyatta with her typical come from behind style that excited the big crowd on track.
Tiznow (2000, 2001) is the only horse to have won the race twice and the biggest margin of victory (6.5 lengths) is shared by American Pharoah and Volponi.
Bob Baffert is a good trainer to follow, having scored in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Breeders' Cup Classic betting guide
It takes a good horse to win the Breeders' Cup Classic and punters often get good odds for the champion runners.
2017 winner Gun Runner paid $6.80 to win when beating Collected and West Coast. The best-backed runner in the field was Arrogate, which produced a disappointing effort after winning in 2016.
Former Best Racehorse in the World, Arrogate paid $5.40 to win in 2016 and that was another great result for punters.
The field included California Chrome but the best from around the world were missing on this occasion.
American Phoroah looked unstoppable in 2015 and that proved correct in the Breeders' Cup Classic, with the Bob Baffert-trained colt winning by 6.5 lengths.
It was the final start for the stud-bound colt and it was the first time any horse had won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes and Breeders Cup Classic in history.
The $3.40 on offer from bookmakers was met with plenty of interest from punters.
There has been the odd upset in recent history with Bayern winning at odds of $14.20 at Santa Anita in 2014.
Another runner from the Baffert stable, Bayern defeated a talented field as a three-year-old, which included California Chrome.
Breeders' Cup Classic qualifying races
There are seven automatic qualifying positions up for grabs for the Breeders' Cup Classic.
These are run from February through to October and cover the likes of Japan and the US.
