| Grade I race | |
| Location | United States |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 2008 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | Official Breeders' Cup website |
| Race information | |
| Distance | from 5 furlongs (0.63 mi) to 6.5 furlongs (0.81 mi) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-years-old & up |
| Weight | Weight for Age |
| Purse | US$1,000,000 |
The Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint is a Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up. As its name implies, it is a part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the de facto year-end championship for North American thoroughbred racing. The distance of the race will vary depending on the host track's turf course requirements.[1]
The race was run for the first time in 2008 during the second day of Breeders' Cup racing at that year's host track, Santa Anita Park. The 2008 race was held at a distance of 6+1⁄2 furlongs and was contested on Santa Anita's signature El Camino Real "downhill" turf course. Besides Santa Anita, the only tracks in North America capable of contesting turf sprints at 6+1⁄2 furlongs are Woodbine[2] and Belmont.[3] Churchill Downs, which has hosted the Breeders' Cup eight times, can only conduct turf sprints at five furlongs.[4] The 2015 race at Keeneland was held at approximately 5+1⁄2 furlongs.
Because of technical requirements, it was not eligible for classification as a graded stakes race in its first two runnings.[5] Starting in 2010, it was a Grade II race,[6] and was upgraded to Grade I for 2012.[7]