BC Racebook December Newsletter
Dawn’s Picks for The Pippin Stakes (Oaklawn - Dec. 26) &
The Queens County Stakes (Aqueduct - Dec. 27)
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Thoroughbred Racing Calendar: A Year of Global Highlights
by Dawn Lupul
The 2026 Thoroughbred racing season promises excitement across the world’s premier tracks, beginning early in the year with the Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park on January 24. Known for its rich purse and star-studded fields, the Pegasus sets the tone for the season ahead.
International attention quickly shifts to Riyadh for the Saudi Cup on February 14, currently the world’s richest race, attracting elite runners from multiple continents. Back in the United States, the path to the Triple Crown heats up with the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 1, followed by a major prep-race cluster on March 21: the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds and the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park.
Late March delivers three critical events on the same day. On March 28, Gulfstream hosts the Florida Derby, Oaklawn features the Arkansas Derby, and halfway around the globe, Meydan stages the prestigious Dubai World Cup, one of international racing’s crown jewels.
April opens with a powerful trio of Kentucky Derby prep races—the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, the Santa Anita Derby in California, and the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct—each on April 4. Oaklawn’s historic Oaklawn Handicap follows on April 18.
The American Triple Crown once again commands global attention. The Kentucky Derby runs on May 2 at Churchill Downs, followed by the Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park on May 16, and concluding with the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga on June 6, continuing its temporary relocation during renovations at Belmont Park.
Autumn brings Europe’s grandest turf race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, at Longchamp on October 4. The season’s grand finale, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, returns to Keeneland on October 30–31 before Australia’s iconic Melbourne Cup closes the major international circuit on November 3.
Together, these landmark events make 2026 a thrilling year for racing fans worldwide.
