Horse Racing

Every year the good folks at the Breeders' Cup offer horseplayers the chance to win big cash prizes in their annual Betting Challenge handicapping contest. For 2017, there's up to $1 million in total prize money to be won, but time is running out to get in on the action.

The marquee event of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the 2017 Classic features a defending champion trying to prove he's still got it, the second-best horse of 2016 looking to claim the top spot this year, and a couple of young horses trying to upset their elders.

In what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive of the 2017 Breeders' Cup World Championships races, the Filly & Mare Turf is expected to draw a field of one solid favorite and several other strong contenders. The last ten winners have been evenly split between European and American horses.

The shortest of all the Breeders' Cup World Championships races, the BC Turf Sprint will be run at 5 furlongs for 2017 at Del Mar. In sharp contrast to the BC Turf, where European-based horses have dominated, the Turf Sprint has historically favored US-based runners.

It's all about speed in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, a 3/4 mile, go-for-broke dash from the gate on the dirt track. Historically one of the most exciting races on the Breeders' Cup card, the Sprint tends to produce very close finishes. Getting away from the gate is always key.

The longest of the Breeders' Cup World Championship races at 1 1/2 miles, the BC Turf has been dominated over the years by horses shipping over from Europe. And horses that have previously competed in the Turf tend to do well their second time around.

The second of two international stakes races on the Woodbine turf on Sunday is the $800,000 (G1) Pattison Canadian International. The race has drawn a solid field of 10 colts, set to race 1 1/2 miles.

Toronto's Woodbine Race Track plays host to a pair of international stakes races this Sunday, including the $500,000 (G1) E.P. Taylor Stakes for fillies and mares. The race has drawn an even field of nine, and they'll be racing 1 1/4 miles on the Woodbine turf course.

Typically one of the most competitive races on the Breeders' Cup World Championships card, the Filly & Mare Sprint is usually a tough handicapping race, but one where the right choices can lead to big payouts, particularly if you get it right in the exacta and trifecta wagers.