The Breeders’ Cup, Thoroughbred racing’s most prestigious international festival, has named Keeneland Race Course in Lexington and Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., as respective host sites for the 2026 and 2027 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, it was announced Wednesday. Both venues are currently undergoing extensive capital construction projects, demonstrating their dedication to remaining at the forefront of the sport.
The multi-year announcement underscores an ongoing commitment from the Breeders’ Cup to promote horse racing and invest in its future. Since its founding in 1984, the non-profit has given back more than $1 billion in purses and awards to participants throughout the industry while conducting the World Championships at 12 racetracks across North America.
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“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 & CEO 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 Getting Makeover
Keeneland is undergoing a $100+ million capital construction project, the largest in its 89-year history, that exemplifies the track’s commitment to the future. Anchoring the development plan is the three-level Paddock Building, which extends the entire length of the Saddling Paddock and Walking Ring and is scheduled to open this fall. The Paddock Building will provide new ticketed experiences for more than 1,000 fans during race meets, including traditional sit-down dining, new bar concepts and access to a Paddock Lawn on the north side of the Saddling Paddock. New Jockeys Quarters within the building will give patrons a unique experience when riders walk directly through one of the dining venues before and after each race. A reconfigured Saddling Paddock, with saddling stalls housed on the lower floor of the Paddock Building, will provide the safest environment possible for horses and human participants and give fans an unmatched view of the pre-race pageantry.
“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,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “We are especially excited to host guests in our new Paddock Building with further enhanced hospitality experiences. In addition, we look forward to holding our third annual Championship Sale the Wednesday before Breeders’ Cup, a dynamic way to help kick off the week’s festivities. Keeneland and Breeders’ Cup share a strong commitment to showcasing the very best of Thoroughbred racing, and we look forward to helping deliver another spectacular event.”
Belmont Park Under Complete Renovation
New York State and the New York Racing Association’s $455 million redevelopment of Belmont Park will result in a world-class racing and entertainment destination on Long Island. Centered around a 300,000-square foot, five-story building featuring the modern amenities and hospitality offerings sports fans have come to expect, the new facility will unlock the massive Belmont Park infield to provide fans and the community with more green space than ever before. In addition, NYRA is completely 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.
“A new Belmont Park is taking shape on Long Island because of the leadership and vision of Gov. 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 & CEO. “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.”
The 2026 running will mark the fourth time that Keeneland will host the World Championships after 2015, 2020, and 2022. In a return more than 20 years in the making, Belmont Park will welcome the Breeders’ Cup in 2027 for a fifth time after hosting in 1990, 1995, 2001, and 2005. The Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland will take place Oct. 30-31, 2026, while the Belmont Park edition will be held Oct. 29-30, 2027. All race dates are pending approval by the host tracks’ respective states.
