As Breeders’ Cup returns, three notable moments from previous Keeneland visits
The 43rd annual Breeders’ Cup is headed to Lexington in 2026.
Wednesday’s announcement means Keeneland Race Course will host thoroughbred racing’s world championships for the fourth time next year.
The 2026 Breeders’ Cup will be held Oct. 30 and 31. Keeneland has hosted three times previously: 2015, 2020 and 2022.
The Breeders’ Cup began in 1984 as a season-ending championship of sorts for thoroughbred racing. The event features the best horses from America — and many of the best from around the world — competing for some of the richest purses of the year.
Fourteen Grade 1 races worth $33 million in purses were contested during the most recent Breeders’ Cup last fall at Del Mar, California.
Here are three notable moments from when the event has been held at Keeneland.
2015: American Pharaoh completes ‘grand slam’
When American Pharaoh won the Breeder’s Cup at Keeneland on Oct. 31, 2015, he made history by becoming the first to achieve the “grand slam” of American horse racing — winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Classic in the same year.
American Pharaoh is the only horse to complete that configuration of races in the same season. One other horse, Whirlaway, has completed a different grand slam, winning the Triple Crown and Travers Stakes in 1941.
The Breeders’ Cup was the final career start for American Pharaoh, who was a heavy favorite and lead the race from the start. He pulled away in the stretch to win by 6 1/2 lengths over Effinex.
2022: Flightline completes a perfect career
Flightline delivered one of the most electrifying performances in Breeders’ Cup history during the 2022 Classic at Keeneland.
He tracked the early leader, Life Is Good, before pulling away in the stretch to win by a commanding 8 1/4-lengths, drawing comparisons to legendary horses like Secretariat.
Flightline, who won all six of his races over a two-season career, was retired the next day at age 4 to enter stud duty at Lane’s End Farm in Versailles.
2020: COVID pandemic limited attendance
The COVID pandemic brought changes to the 2020 Breeders’ Cup — no fans were allowed to attend because of the restrictions. Attendance was limited strictly to essential personnel and race participants, and no tickets were made available to the general public.
By the time the race returned to Keeneland in 2022, however, things were back to normal with a two-day attendance total of 85,824.
An AI tool assisted with compiling this article, which was then edited by Herald-Leader journalists.
This story was originally published May 28, 2025 at 1:30 PM.