Our weekend horse racing preview covers three days and five tracks. Ascot stages British Champions Day on Saturday morning with five Group 1 races and about $5.7 million in prize money. Keeneland runs the Raven Run and the Perryville that afternoon, two weeks before it hosts the Breeders’ Cup. The harness stars head to Eldorado Scioto Downs in Ohio for two nights of Breeders Crown eliminations. Belmont Park, Woodbine and a Sunday turf marathon at Keeneland round out the schedule.
We run through every feature below, day by day, with post times in Eastern Time, the key contenders and our best bets.
This Weekend’s Racing at a Glance
Saturday carries the weight of this weekend horse racing preview. Ascot opens at 7:55am ET, Belmont Park goes from 12:05pm ET, Keeneland from 1:00pm ET, and the Breeders Crown eliminations take over from 6:00pm ET. That gives us live racing from breakfast to late evening on one day. Sunday is quieter, with the Dowager at Keeneland and two juvenile stakes at Woodbine.
| Day | Track | Race | Grade | Purse (USD) | Post Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri Oct 16 | Scioto Downs | Breeders Crown two year old eliminations | Elims | Finals $700,000 | From 6:00pm |
| Sat Oct 17 | Ascot | Long Distance Cup | G1 | $660,000 | 8:30am |
| Sat Oct 17 | Ascot | Champions Sprint | G1 | $660,000 | 9:05am |
| Sat Oct 17 | Ascot | Fillies and Mares Stakes | G1 | $660,000 | 9:40am |
| Sat Oct 17 | Ascot | Queen Elizabeth II Stakes | G1 | $1,452,000 | 10:20am |
| Sat Oct 17 | Ascot | Champion Stakes | G1 | $1,716,000 | 11:00am |
| Sat Oct 17 | Belmont Park | Fall Starter Championships (11 races) | Starter allowances | $1,085,000 total | From 12:05pm |
| Sat Oct 17 | Keeneland | Perryville | G3 | $350,000 | 4:12pm |
| Sat Oct 17 | Keeneland | Lexus Raven Run | G2 | $400,000 | 5:16pm |
| Sat Oct 17 | Woodbine | Ontario Derby | G3 | $123,000 | TBC |
| Sat Oct 17 | Woodbine | Ontario Fashion | G3 | $123,000 | TBC |
| Sat Oct 17 | Scioto Downs | Breeders Crown three year old and Open eliminations | Elims | Finals $400,000 to $600,000 | From 6:00pm |
| Sun Oct 18 | Keeneland | Rood and Riddle Dowager | G3 | $350,000 | 4:44pm |
| Sun Oct 18 | Woodbine | Frost King and South Ocean (Ontario sired) | Stakes | $105,000 each | TBC |
Friday: Breeders Crown Eliminations Begin at Scioto Downs
The Breeders Crown moves to Eldorado Scioto Downs near Columbus, Ohio, for 2026. The two year old divisions race their eliminations on Friday, October 16, with live racing from 6:00pm ET. Divisions with more entries than one final can hold split into eliminations, and the leading finishers advance to the finals on Friday, October 23. Harness fans get the first leg of this weekend horse racing preview, and our guide to harness racing covers the basics.
The prize money explains the urgency. Two year old finals carry $700,000 each, so every elimination counts as a ticket into one of the richest juvenile races of the harness year. Twelve championship finals across October 23 and 24 add up to more than $7 million.
Saturday Morning: British Champions Day at Ascot
British Champions Day crowns the British flat season with seven races, five of them Group 1s, worth about $5.7 million in total. The first race goes at 7:55am ET and the Champion Stakes, the richest race on the card at about $1.7 million, goes at 11:00am ET. Ascot gives this weekend horse racing preview its richest card, and a trainers’ title rides on the day as well. Andrew Balding leads Aidan O’Brien in the British championship, and O’Brien holds 20 entries across the weekend. We convert all Ascot prize money from sterling at about $1.32 to the pound.
| Race | Grade | Distance | Prize Money (USD, approx.) | UK Time (BST) | Post Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two Year Old Conditions Stakes | Class 2 | 6f | $330,000 | 12:55pm | 7:55am |
| Long Distance Cup | G1 | 2m | $660,000 | 1:30pm | 8:30am |
| Champions Sprint | G1 | 6f | $660,000 | 2:05pm | 9:05am |
| Fillies and Mares Stakes | G1 | 1m 4f | $660,000 | 2:40pm | 9:40am |
| Queen Elizabeth II Stakes | G1 | 1m | $1,452,000 | 3:20pm | 10:20am |
| Champion Stakes | G1 | 1m 2f | $1,716,000 | 4:00pm | 11:00am |
| Balmoral Handicap | Class 2 | 1m | $264,000 | 4:35pm | 11:35am |
Champion Stakes Betting: Calandagan vs Ombudsman
Eleven horses stayed in the Champion Stakes (1 1/4 miles) at Monday’s confirmation stage, and the betting splits two ways. Calandagan, the defending champion for Francis Henri Graffard, and Ombudsman, trained by John and Thady Gosden, share favoritism at 9/4 with the UK bookmakers. Calandagan beat Ombudsman by more than two lengths in this race last year, with Almaqam third. Christophe Soumillon rides Calandagan for the first time because regular rider Mickael Barzalona is suspended.
Bay City Roller sits next at 4/1, then Ed Walker’s Almaqam at 7/1. Hotazhell (12/1) won the Irish Champion Stakes at 50/1 last time and makes his final start before he retires to stud. Aidan O’Brien’s Gstaad (8/1) runs here only if he skips the QEII. All Ascot prices in this preview are UK fixed odds from Monday, October 12, and work as a guide to the market only. The MyWinners pool sets what your ticket pays.
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes 2026: Odds, Field and Preview
The QEII over a mile, worth about $1.5 million, goes at 10:20am ET with 13 entries. Godolphin supplemented Charlie Appleby’s Talk Of New York after his Joel Stakes win at Newmarket, and he heads the market at 3/1. Rayif, the French Guineas and Prix Jacques Le Marois winner for Graffard, sits at 7/2. Aidan O’Brien also paid to add Constitution River, who trades at 4/1.
British Champions Sprint, Fillies and Mares and Long Distance Cup 2026 Preview
William Haggas’s Almeraq is the shortest priced favorite on the card, around even money for the Champions Sprint (9:05am ET). He won the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee at Royal Ascot and then the Sprint Cup at Haydock on soft ground.
Andrew Balding’s Kalpana chases a hat trick in the Fillies and Mares Stakes (9:40am ET), with Sparan Nua and Irish Oaks winner Johanna Walsh likely to take her on. The Long Distance Cup (8:30am ET) brings back Scandinavia and Caballo De Mar after their close finish in the Prix du Cadran, and Joseph O’Brien has supplemented St Leger winner Highwayman.
Saturday at Keeneland: Raven Run and Perryville
Keeneland’s Saturday card has 10 races from 1:00pm ET, with two seven furlong dirt stakes for three year olds. Both drew full fields of 12, and they give this weekend horse racing preview its strongest dirt racing. Keeneland hosts the Breeders’ Cup on October 30 and 31 (our Win and You’re In tracker shows who has already qualified), so this card gives us a final look at the surface before the big weekend. Our Keeneland race track guide covers the track in full.
Lexus Raven Run (G2) Preview
The $400,000 Raven Run for three year old fillies goes as Race 9 at 5:16pm ET. Percy’s Bar is the only Grade 1 winner in the field after her Ashland win in the spring, and she drew post 6 for Ben Colebrook and Jose Ortiz. She ran 12th in a turf sprint at Kentucky Downs last time, so she returns to dirt with something to prove.
Two fillies come in on winning streaks. Brad Cox’s Conceit has won three straight, including the Dogwood (G3) at Churchill Downs, and Irad Ortiz Jr. rides from post 8. Brendan Walsh’s Mashallah has also won three straight, including the Prioress (G3) at Saratoga, and drew post 9 for Tyler Gaffalione.
| PP | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Army’s Marauder | Christopher Davis | Luis Saez | TBC |
| 2 | Mythical | Jorge Delgado | Emisael Jaramillo | TBC |
| 3 | Hen Party | Eoin Harty | Rafael Bejarano | TBC |
| 4 | Coco Connect | John Ennis | Edgar Morales | TBC |
| 5 | Yo Fancy | Ian Wilkes | Cristian Torres | TBC |
| 6 | Percy’s Bar | Ben Colebrook | Jose Ortiz | TBC |
| 7 | A Fine Chardonnay | Ian Wilkes | Brian Hernandez Jr. | TBC |
| 8 | Conceit | Brad Cox | Irad Ortiz Jr. | TBC |
| 9 | Mashallah | Brendan Walsh | Tyler Gaffalione | TBC |
| 10 | With a Kiss | Todd Pletcher | John Velazquez | TBC |
| 11 | Movie Night | William Walden | Flavien Prat | TBC |
| 12 | Star Actress | Bill Mott | Junior Alvarado | TBC |
Perryville (G3) Preview
The $350,000 Perryville goes as Race 7 at 4:12pm ET. Brad Cox’s Deep Flame won the Maxfield (G3) at Churchill Downs by 5 3/4 lengths and then ran second in the H. Allen Jerkens (G1) at Saratoga. He has finished first or second in all five starts, but he drew the outside post 12 with Irad Ortiz Jr.
Bill Mott’s Chief Wallabee ran fourth in the Kentucky Derby and finished within a length of Commandment in both the Fountain of Youth and the Florida Derby. He has just one win from his career, and it came at this seven furlong trip. Junior Alvarado rides from post 3. Steve Asmussen’s Obliteration adds Flavien Prat from post 11.
| PP | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solitude Dude | Joe Sharp | Jose Ortiz | TBC |
| 2 | Trouble Calling | Greg Foley | Luis Saez | TBC |
| 3 | Chief Wallabee | Bill Mott | Junior Alvarado | TBC |
| 4 | Roscoe’s Brother | Mark Glatt | Emisael Jaramillo | TBC |
| 5 | American Man | Dallas Stewart | Cristian Torres | TBC |
| 6 | Dr. Kapur | Saffie Joseph Jr. | Tyler Gaffalione | TBC |
| 7 | Mo Koko | Francisco Rodriguez | Jaime Torres | TBC |
| 8 | I C Light | Mark Casse | Axel Concepcion | TBC |
| 9 | Street Beast | Ben Colebrook | Luan Machado | TBC |
| 10 | Doublecents | Brett Creighton | Francisco Arrieta | TBC |
| 11 | Obliteration | Steve Asmussen | Flavien Prat | TBC |
| 12 | Deep Flame | Brad Cox | Irad Ortiz Jr. | TBC |
Saturday at Woodbine: Ontario Derby and Ontario Fashion
Woodbine adds two Grade 3 races to the weekend horse racing preview, each worth $175,000 and run on its Tapeta main track. The Ontario Derby for three year olds goes 1 1/8 miles. Toronto Cup winner Chaos Agent, Prince of Wales runner up Brachetto and Manitoba Derby winner Western Warrior all appear among the expected runners.
The Ontario Fashion for fillies and mares sprints six furlongs. Mark Casse’s Creed’s Gold won the Hendrie (G3) as the favorite in July and has won three of her four starts on synthetic.
Saturday at Belmont Park: Fall Starter Championships
Belmont Park brings a full card of starter allowances to our weekend horse racing preview. The track runs 11 races worth $1.085 million, with first post at 12:05pm ET. Horses qualify by starting for a claiming price since July 1, 2025, and six of the races carry $110,000 purses. Linda Rice sends out 16 runners across 10 of the 11 races. Race 10, the Voodoo Song over 1 1/16 miles on turf, looks the deepest, with Rice’s Urgency facing Todd Pletcher’s Highlands Way and Chad Brown’s Unit Economics.
Saturday Night: Breeders Crown Three Year Old and Open Eliminations
Scioto Downs hosts the three year old and Open eliminations on Saturday, October 17, from 6:00pm ET. Three year old finals carry $600,000, as do the Open Trot and Open Pace. The Mare Trot and Mare Pace finals carry $400,000 each.
Six horses were supplemented for this year’s Breeders Crown: Best Chip (Open Pace), Francent N (Mare Pace), Little Road (three year old filly trot), Miss Jum Jabber (three year old filly pace), Redland Rocket Man (three year old colt and gelding pace) and Strobe Lite (three year old colt and gelding trot). Supplementing a three year old costs $72,000, so these connections expect to compete.
Sunday: Keeneland Dowager and Woodbine Juvenile Stakes
Sunday closes our weekend horse racing preview at Keeneland, where the $350,000 Rood and Riddle Dowager (G3) goes as Race 8 at 4:44pm ET on Sunday, October 18, with 12 fillies and mares over 1 1/2 miles on turf. Brad Cox’s Fionn brings the best form. She won six of eight starts in 2025, including the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1), where she beat Nitrogen, the eventual champion, and her fifth in the Flower Bowl (G2) last time earned a 91 Beyer that matched her career best. She has not won in three starts this year, so the class edge has to carry her through the stiffer 1 1/2 mile test.
| PP | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massarat | Brendan Walsh | Danny Sheehy | TBC |
| 2 | Malibu Smart | Mike Maker | Ben Curtis | TBC |
| 3 | Sky Low Low | Adrianne DeVaux | Katie Davis | TBC |
| 4 | Pretty Tapit | Joe Sharp | Jose Ortiz | TBC |
| 5 | Fionn | Brad Cox | Irad Ortiz Jr. | TBC |
| 6 | Snipsnippitysnip | Brendan Walsh | Brian Hernandez Jr. | TBC |
| 7 | Poppy the Princess | Troy Newton | Axel Concepcion | TBC |
| 8 | Golden Sunshine | Eoin Harty | Luis Saez | TBC |
| 9 | Speed Shopper | William Walden | John Velazquez | TBC |
| 10 | Somethinabouther | Brendan Walsh | Tyler Gaffalione | TBC |
| 11 | Venencia (FR) | Saffie Joseph Jr. | Jaime Torres | TBC |
| 12 | Modarosa | Riley Mott | Junior Alvarado | TBC |
Brendan Walsh saddles three: Massarat, Snipsnippitysnip and Somethinabouther. Woodbine adds the Frost King and the South Ocean, two stakes worth about $105,000 each for Ontario sired two year olds at seven furlongs.
Our Weekend Horse Racing Preview Best Bets
- Champion Stakes: Calandagan. He beat Ombudsman by more than two lengths in this race last year, yet the UK market cannot split the pair.
- Queen Elizabeth II Stakes: Rayif. He has won two Group 1 races at a mile in France this year, and the market still rates him behind Talk Of New York.
- Raven Run: Conceit. Three straight wins, a Cox and Irad Ortiz Jr. team and a good draw in post 8.
- Perryville: Deep Flame. Never worse than second, and his Jerkens second is the best form in the race. Post 12 is the only worry.
- Dowager: Fionn. She brings Grade 1 class into a Grade 3, and her last Beyer makes her the one to beat if she stays the trip.
Bet the Weekend With MyWinners
From Calandagan at Ascot on Saturday morning to the Breeders Crown eliminations under the lights in Ohio, this weekend horse racing preview covers three days and five tracks. Next week the Breeders Crown finals and the final Breeders’ Cup preps take over, and we will preview those too.
Bet online at app.mywinners.com, on the MyWinners: Racing & Sports app on iOS or Android, or go here to find your nearest MyWinners or Winners venue in CT.
Image by Paolo Camera. Licensed by CC by 2.0.
