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The event, which has occurred annually since 1984, was created as a year-end championship for North American thoroughbred racing, and also attracts top horses from other parts of the world, especially Europe.

Currently, there are eight races on the Breeders' Cup card, all classified as Grade I races. The races are listed below in their order on the 2004 race card; the order of the first five listed races varies from year to year, but the 'Juvenile', 'Turf', and 'Classic' are traditionally the last three races. All races, unless otherwise indicated, are for any horse, regardless of sex, 3 years old and up, and are held on a dirt track .

• Breeders' Cup Distaff: A 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares, 3 years old and up. Current purse is $2 million.
• Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies: A 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-old fillies. Current purse is $1 million.
• Breeders' Cup Mile: A 1-mile race on grass. Current purse is $1.5 million.
• Breeders' Cup Sprint: A 3/4-mile race. Current purse is $1 million.
• Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf: A 1 3/8-mile race on grass for fillies and mares, 3 years old and up. Current purse is $1 million.
• Breeders' Cup Juvenile: A 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-old colts and geldings. Current purse is $1.5 million.
• Breeders' Cup Turf: A 1 1/2-mile race on grass. Current purse is $2 million.
• Breeders' Cup Classic: A 1 1/4-mile race. Current purse is $4 million.

1 Race Tracks

The 2005 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championship will be held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Previous championships have been held at the following tracks:

• 2004 - Lone Star Park
• 2003 - Santa Anita ParkSanta Anita Park in Arcadia, California opened in 1934 and is the oldest and most prestigious horse racetrack in Southern California. Founded by the Los Angeles Turf Club, its success was built on the Santa Anita Handicap, whose $100,000 purse made it the
• 2002 - Arlington Park
• 2001 - Belmont Park
• 2000 - Churchill DownsChurchill Downs is a horse racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky, most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby the same year. The track is named for John and Henry Churchill, who leased the 80 acr
• 1999 - Gulfstream Park
• 1998 - Churchill DownsChurchill Downs is a horse racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky, most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby the same year. The track is named for John and Henry Churchill, who leased the 80 acr
• 1997 - Hollywood Park
• 1996 - WoodbineWoodbine Racetrack in northwest Toronto, Ontario is the only horseracing track in North America which stages, or is capable of staging, thoroughbred and standardbred horseracing programs on the same day. It is owned by Woodbine Entertainment Group, former
• 1995 - Belmont Park
• 1994 - Churchill DownsChurchill Downs is a horse racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky, most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby the same year. The track is named for John and Henry Churchill, who leased the 80 acr
• 1993 - Santa Anita ParkSanta Anita Park in Arcadia, California opened in 1934 and is the oldest and most prestigious horse racetrack in Southern California. Founded by the Los Angeles Turf Club, its success was built on the Santa Anita Handicap, whose $100,000 purse made it the
• 1992 - Gulfstream Park
• 1991 - Churchill DownsChurchill Downs is a horse racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky, most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby the same year. The track is named for John and Henry Churchill, who leased the 80 acr
• 1990 - Belmont Park
• 1989 - Gulfstream Park
• 1988 - Churchill Downs
• 1987 - Hollywood Park
• 1986 - Santa Anita Park
• 1985 - Aqueduct
• 1984 - Hollywood Park