1st November 2022 - America’s most prestigious race meeting - the Breeders’ Cup – has once again secured widespread global attention. In total, 21 international broadcasters will showcase the event with their accumulative reach spanning six continents and over 170 territories.
Taking place on Friday 4th November and Saturday 5th November, the Breeders’ Cup Championships will return to Keeneland, Kentucky this year and will be headlined by the $6million Longines Classic and the $4 million Longines Turf.
Host broadcasters NBC will produce coverage showcasing all 14 championship races across the two days. ITV will continue to champion the event in the UK, with the free-to-air broadcaster returning stateside to deliver fans more international racing. Their commitment will be complemented by additional UK-based broadcasters - Virgin Media, Sky Sports Racing and Racing TV – all transmitting the full Breeders’ Cup weekend.
Across South America and the Caribbean, ESPN will give increased exposure to the Breeders’ Cup by broadcasting both days of the Championships. ESPN’s OTT platform, Star+, has hosted multiple Breeders’ Cup Challenge races throughout the year to give greater exposure to the event.
This year, a bespoke ‘Golden Hour’ production for international audiences has led to heightened interest from broadcasters worldwide. Across Europe, heavyweight Viaplay will broadcast the event across Scandinavia, with Setanta (Balkans and Eurasia), Polsat (Poland), Setanta (Balkans and Eurasia), Sport TV (Portugal), WeDoTV (Germany, Switzerland, Austria), Kanal 75 (Sweden) and Silknet (Georgia) also servicing fans across the continent.
Eclat / SPOTV will broadcast the flagship race to their subscribers across South-East Asia for the very first time following a strong Asian performance from competitors at the 2021 Championships. Newcomer Entain will also broadcast the event across Australia, where fans will also be given access by Racing.com.
SuperSport will bring the action to 48 territories across the African continent. Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) will promote the event across the Indian Subcontinent for the first time. Sport24 will ensure the event is widely available in flight and on-ships. Longstanding supporters DMI will bring both days of the event to their audience in the Middle East.
This year, an expected nine-runner field will contest the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, headlined by Flightline – the world’s best racehorse who has taken the season by storm. He will be challenged by Life is Good, who has previously held that title. Former Kentucky Derby winner - Rich Strike - will be looking to upset the contenders again, with the globe-trotting Hot Rod Charlie also staking a credible claim.
Frank Sale, Managing Director of HBA Media, said: “We have seen an increased international audience yet again for the Breeders’ Cup, with our partnership now extending into a second decade. The event sits as one of the most anticipated race meetings within our global horseracing portfolio and we have six new sports broadcasters who will showcase the spectacle for the very first time. The collaborative efforts from both parties have ensured that the Breeders’ Cup continues to receive the worldwide recognition it deserves.”
Justin McDonald, Senior Vice President of Marketing for the Breeders’ Cup, said: “ Breeders’ Cup was founded in 1984 with the goal of bringing high-quality racing to an international audience, and we’re proud that the Breeders’ Cup World Championships continues to be one of the most anticipated events on the Thoroughbred racing calendar each year. We are grateful to our broadcasting partners for all they do to ensure that the Breeders’ Cup is accessible to all our amazing fans around the world.”
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