Kentucky, New York to Host Upcoming Breeders’ Cup World Championships

Keeneland Race Course in Kentucky and Belmont Park in New York will be the respective host sites for the 2026 and 2027 Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

The 2026 running will mark the fourth time that Keeneland will host the World Championships (2015, 2020, 2022). Belmont Park will welcome the Breeders’ Cup in 2027 for a fifth time (1990, 1995, 2001, 2005). Del Mar will host the 2025 edition this fall.

“The Breeders’ Cup, Keeneland and Belmont Park share many core values, including a steadfast commitment to excellence and Thoroughbred racing, and there is no better way to showcase that partnership than through hosting the World Championships at these iconic venues in 2026 and 2027,” said Drew Fleming, president and chief executive officer of Breeders’ Cup Limited. “Enhanced by their latest capital improvements, both venues, each with their own unique legacy, will set the stage for our thrilling two-day festival that celebrates the pinnacle of Thoroughbred racing and everything the equestrian lifestyle has to offer.”

Keeneland is undergoing a $100 million-plus capital construction project, the largest in its 89-year history. Anchoring the development plan is the three-level Paddock Building, which is scheduled to open this fall. The building will provide new ticketed experiences for more than 1,000 fans during race meets, including dining, bar concepts and access to a Paddock Lawn on the north side of the Saddling Paddock. New jockeys’ quarters within the building will allows fans to see when riders walk through one of the dining venues before and after each race.

“Keeneland is honored to host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in 2026, and we’re thrilled to share this global racing celebration with fans from all over the world and with the Lexington community,” said Shannon Arvin, Keeneland president and chief executive officer. “We are especially excited to host guests in our new Paddock Building with further enhanced hospitality experiences.”

New York State and the New York Racing Association’s $455 million redevelopment of Belmont Park have centered around a 300,000-square foot, five-story building featuring modern amenities and hospitality offerings. The facility will unlock the Belmont Park infield to provide fans and the community with more green space. In addition, NYRA is renovating the existing main dirt track and two turf courses while adding an all-weather synthetic surface.

NYRA will open the new Belmont Park in September 2026. While NYRA has not yet announced a location for the 2026 Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown is set to return to its old home by 2027 at the latest, after a multiyear stint at historic Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York during renovations.

“A new Belmont Park is taking shape on Long Island because of the leadership and vision of Governor Kathy Hochul, whose support for horse racing and understanding of its positive economic impact have paved the way for the return of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships to New York in 2027,” said David O’Rourke, NYRA president and chief executive officer. “New York’s racing fans and participants have longed to host this event since it was last held at Belmont in 2005, and we thank the Breeders’ Cup for making that a reality.”