The Breeders’ Cup Classic offers a $6 million purse — one of the richest races in the world. This year there are eight entries. The winner will take home $3,120,000; second place collects $1,020,000; third place $540,000 all the way down to $60,000 for eighth place. But there’s an opportunity for racing fans to share in the spoils.
Let’s face it — betting on the favorites in the race won’t give you enough to retire on. A $2 bet on the current favorite, Flightline (3:5) will make you $3.20; betting on Epicenter, (5:1) would give you $11; and the same $2 on Life is Good (6:1) would result in a $16 payoff. To add some excitement to the race, the Breeders’ Cup has launched a new “Classic Pick ‘Em” Contest in which fans can compete for a $10,000 grand prize by selecting their pick to win the 2022 GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic this Saturday, Nov. 5. The winner of the $10,000 cash prize will be randomly selected from among those who choose the correct horse. Additional winners will be selected for a $5,000 and $2,500 prize.
“We’re always looking to engage our fans in innovative ways and to bring the fun and passion of racing to new audiences. This new contest will provide another element of excitement and raise the stakes for fans ahead of the 2022 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.”
Breeders’ Cup Chief Marketing Officer Justin McDonald.
You can select your entry up until post time for the Classic at 5:40 p.m. ET. Even better? You don’t have to pay for your bet. As of this evening, the odds are as shown below.
Um….I really doubt that anyone is going to beat Flightline. He’s just so tremendous. So I guess if I were so inclined to bet on second, I’d go with Olympiad. Although, in a race like this, with a ton of quality horses, betting on the jock is always a good idea, and in this case, Mike Smith on Taiba has been around the track a time or two. I just wish Baffert wasn’t in the mix… I cannot stand the man, he cheats, and I have seen how he treats the other trainers in the shedrow. I don’t think Rich Strike will come through, he’s a “horse for the course” and Keeneland isn’t Churchill downs. Happy Saver has a left rear quarter crack, he might just be scratched. Hot Rod Charlie is game as hell, but again…I don’t know. Gosh, there’s a ton of talent in this race. It’s going to be a good one.