“Win and You’re In” Race for Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Featured Along with King’s Plate and Paddock Stakes at Kenilworth Racecourse as Automatic Qualifiers for 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland Race Course
A trio of world-class races at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse in South Africa will anchor a blockbuster qualifying day Jan.10 for the 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
Horses from around the globe will qualify for the 43rd running of the World Championships through the Win and You’re In program, which will enter its 20th year in 2026. Consisting of 14 Grade 1 races run during a two-day festival worth purses and awards of more than $34 million, the 2026 World Championships will be held Oct. 30-31 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, the Horse Capital of the World.
The Cape Flying Championship (G1), a 1,000-meter (5/8 mile) weight for age race, will serve as an automatic qualifier for the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1). The race joins the King’s Plate (G1), a one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up which provides a free berth to the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), and the Paddock Stakes (G1), a 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares 3-year-olds & up that is an automatic qualifier for the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the winners of the three South African races to start in the respective Breeders’ Cup divisions.
“Breeders’ Cup Limited is pleased to continue the expansion of our international Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series with the addition of the Cape Flying Championship,” said Dora Delgado, Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer of Breeders’ Cup Limited. “We’re grateful for the collaborative efforts that brought this partnership to fruition and look forward to welcoming top South African contenders to the World Championships.”
“The inclusion of the World Pool Cape Flying Championship in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is a landmark moment for South African racing,” said Justin Vermaak, Executive Racing & Bloodstock, Race Coast. “Hollywoodbets Kenilworth has long showcased some of the sport’s most thrilling performances, and we are honored that our flagship sprint now serves as a gateway to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. This partnership reflects the growing stature of South African racing on the world stage, and we look forward to seeing our horses compete at Keeneland alongside the best in the world.”
Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 19, 2026, to receive the rewards.
-breederscup.com
Image: Candiese Lenferna
1 Comment
I’m just a ordinary person I live in Scotland and what I’m about to say is very true fact, south African horse racing is in my opinion grade 1 in the world , horses I’ve seen in races in 2025 are of fantastic top class , the jockies I’ve watched are in my opinion are better than UK. This last year 2025 and there is one lady jockey in my mind who would definitely hold her own anywhere in the world Rachel veniger if I’ve spelt her name right, and lastly trainers everyone who has anything do with racing stable staff . commentators are of the utmost versatile in getting the best out of trainers when they are interviewed , in UK they are not as good, where in the world do you get jockies riding 3,4, and more winners in a day, nearly 2,3 times a week I take my hat of to them this is what punters want to see, and lastly the people at your big race meetings are well dressed and happy to make the best of all attraction to African racing