The culmination of the 2024 horse racing season is just around the corner as the 41st Breeders’ Cup World Championship takes place this weekend.

This weekend, the 2024 Breeders’ Cup will be held at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California. It will be a two-day event with Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic as the main event.

In total, 14 races will be held between Friday and Saturday. Here you will find everything you need to know.

Breeders’ Cup 2024 schedule, prizes and predictions

5:45 pm ET: Youth Grass Sprint ($1 million), Big Mojo (4-1)

6:25 pm ET: Juvenile Fillies ($2 million), Immersive (3-1)

7:05 pm ET: Juvenile Fillies Turf ($1 million), thought process (5-2)

7:45 pm ET: Juvenile ($2 million), Jonathan’s Way (9-2)

8:25 pm ET: Juvenile Turf ($1 million), Zulu Kingdom (8-1)

3 pm ET: Filly & Mare Sprint ($1 million), Sociedad (3-1)

3:41 pm ET: Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint ($1 million), Cogburn (7-5)

4:21 pm ET: Breeders’ Cup Distaff ($2 million), Thorpedo Anna (4-5)

5:01 pm ET: Breeders’ Cup Turf ($5 million), Far Bridge (8-1)

5:41 pm ET: Breeders’ Cup Classic ($7 million), Fierceness (3-1)

6:25 pm ET: Filly & Mare Turf ($2 million), Cinderella’s Dream (4-1)

7:05 pm ET: Breeders’ Cup Sprint ($2 million), remake (8-1)

7:45 pm ET: Breeders’ Cup Mile ($2 million), Porta Fortuna (4-1)

8:25 pm ET: Breeder’s Cup Dirt Mile ($1 million), Muth (9-2)

2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic Preview

While all 14 races will thrill fans who attend and watch on television, the Breeders’ Cup Classic is the race to see if you can only see one.

The $7 million event will air on NBC and Peacock and has a scheduled release time of 5:41 p.m. ET.

NBC/Peacock will also broadcast the Turf Sprint, Distaff and Turf races prior to the Classic. Most other races will air on NBC, while 13 of the 14 races, not including the Classic, will air on FanDuel TV.

The Breeders’ Cup Classic, of course, is the main event of the weekend and arguably the biggest race of the season other than the Triple Crown. It is set to feature a star-studded field packed with Triple Crown series contenders.

The list includes Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Forever Young (6-1), Kentucky Derby second-place finisher Sierra Leone (12-1), Belmont 2023 third-place finisher Tapit Trice (30-1) and runner-up of the Derby 2024 Fierceness (3-1).

Irish entrant City of Troy is the early favorite at 5-2. The Aidan P. O’Brien-trained horse has won six of seven races, including last month’s Juddmonte International Stakes. The son of Triple Crown winner Justify earned a favorable tie for the No. 3 spot and has a strong chance to take center stage on Saturday.

“We’re excited to see what will happen,” O’Brien said:

Next (8-1) and the Japanese horse Ushba Tesoro (12-1) are also among the early favorites.

While City of Troy is getting most of the early attention, the prediction here is that fierceness will prevail. A disappointing 15th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby left a not-so-favorable impression, but Fierceness has won two races in a row since then.

For Fierceness and jockey John Velazquez, the goal will be to avoid traffic and find an open lane early.

“If Fierceness gets the same ride in the Classic as Jim Dandy and Travers, I 100% expect a similar performance from Fierceness,” said NBC’s Randy Moss. Tom Pedulla of the best races in the United States.

Velázquez is an experienced jockey with six Triple Crown race wins and a victory in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Classic on his resume. He and coach Todd Pletcher should be well prepared to navigate a field loaded with talent on Saturday.

Fierceness, who won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, should also be ready.

However, it should be a very close race and regardless of who wins, it should be a memorable experience for the fans.