Breeders’ Cup 2026 sees record pre-entries and early withdrawals

The 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course have reached a record-breaking 255 pre-entries, representing 222 individual horses. The lineup includes 79 international contenders bred in 10 different countries across six continents. Among the headliners is Japan’s Forever Young, the defending Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, who is set to return for a repeat victory.

Following the announcement of pre-entries, several horses have already withdrawn from the scheduled races. Phileas Fogg will miss the Breeders’ Cup Classic due to a sore foot, reducing that field to 10 horses. Other notable withdrawals include Ten Bob Tony from the Mile, as well as Drazinda and Nabati from the Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Additional defections include Lambourn and Minnie Hauk from the Turf, and Gstaad and Constitution River from the Mile. In the Juvenile, the exit of Net Par leaves the field at eight horses, led by Bob Baffert’s undefeated Hughes. The event features 14 Grade 1 races with total purses exceeding $34 million.