The Breeders’ Cup has come to Lexington 3 times. What was the impact on the city?
Editor’s Note: As Lexington celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, the Herald-Leader and kentucky.com each day throughout 2025 will share interesting facts about our hometown. Compiled by Liz Carey, all are notable moments in the city’s history — some funny, some sad, others heartbreaking or celebratory, and some just downright strange.
The Breeders’ Cup first came to Lexington in 2015 — marking a significant achievement for Keeneland and the city.
The two-day event serves as the world championships of thoroughbred racing and brings together horses from around the world to compete for money, titles and other awards. The event features 14 different races, each designed to crown a champion in a specific division, with the ultimate race, the Breeders’ Cup Classic, helping determine the American Horse of the Year.
The Breeders’ Cup attracts an international field, with horses, trainers and jockeys coming in from all over the globe.
Oct. 30 and 31, 2015, marked the first time Keeneland hosted the prestigious event.
The highlight of that event was American Pharoah’s victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. That win made him the first horse in history to complete the American Grand Slam of thoroughbred racing — winning the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, the Belmont Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup Classic in the same year.
The event was considered a success for Lexington, with record crowds and a substantial economic impact on the city. The event returned to Keeneland in 2020 and 2022, and another return is planned for 2026.
The 2022 event was estimated have a nearly $82 million economic impact on the city, including $30.5 million in on-track spending; $33.6 million in off-track spending, like hotels, retailers and transportation vendors; $900,000 in state and local tax revenue; and $7.7 million in payroll for on-track jobs.
It attracted visitors from all 50 states and 18 countries, and marked the second-highest economic impact in the Breeders’ Cup history at the time.
Next year’s event is planned for Oct. 30 and 31, with tickets set to go on sale next year. In the past, tickets have ranged in price from $75 to $504 on Friday, between $125 to $689 on Saturday, and between $200 and $1,568 for both days.
More information on the event is available at breederscup.com.
Have a question or story idea related to Lexington’s 250-year history? Let us know at 250LexKy@gmail.com.