Wild. Unpredictable. Chaotic. Definitive. All these words and more come to mind when thinking of this year's Breeders' Cup. There was something for everyone. In this article, we will break down the good, the bad, and the ugly of Breeders' Cup 2024.

HORSE OF THE YEAR

First, the good! It feels fitting that Thorpedo Anna won the Distaff and locked up Horse of the Year. She was the story of the year and did the most for racing. Her one loss came when she stepped out of her division and took on the boys in a Travers for the ages. She gave all race fans a thrill that day and lost by a head. So many top horses did not show up on the big days. She did. That's the sign of a champion.

JAPAN STRIKES OUT
Japan didn't live up to the hype. They looked poised to win big. They shipped their best group of horses in Breeders' Cup history. In the end, they failed to win a single race. However, they will be back. Count them out at your own risk.

THREE-YEAR-OLD MALE
CAPTION: Sierra Leone wins the Breeders’ Cup Classic

The 3-year-old males can hold their heads high. They finished one, two, and three in the Breeders' Cup Classic. That's not always the case. In the 40-year history of the Breeders' Cup, 3-year-olds have only won the Classic 14 times. More often than not, Horse of the Year comes down to the Classic race. In the end, Sierra Leone won the big race and might have snatched the championship from top-rated 3-year-old Fierceness.

REST IN PEACE
Jayarbee was a European star who came to race in the Breeders' Cup turf. He finished 7th. On the gallop out, he suffered a cardiac event and passed away. Our thoughts and prayers are with the horse and his connections. There are those athletes who go all out trying to win. They push themselves too far. They are willing to lay it all on the line for a victory. Jayarbee may have been cut from that ilk. May the horse with the heart of a champion rest in peace.

CITY OF TROY - THE WORLD'S BEST TURF HORSE
Many City of Troy fans were at this year's Breeders' Cup. They came to see if arguably the world's best turf horse could win his first start on dirt. Unfortunately, it was not to be. He ended up 8th in the Classic. It would have increased the horse's legacy and stud value if they had won. As it stands, he will be a top prospect for turf breeders in Europe.

COGBURN - THE FASTEST HORSE IN THE WORLD
Cogburn had been called the fastest horse in the world. Many people felt he was the lock of the Breeders' Cup. Instead, he finished 5th. It was the final start of his career. What cost the horse a victory? Some blame his jockey. Others say it simply wasn't his day. Whatever it was, the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint was not meant to be for him. 

THE CINDERELLA HORSE
It is a shame there was no Breeders' Cup Marathon race. Had there been one, Next would have likely won for fun. Instead, Next ran in the Breeders' Cup Classic. The distance was shorter than the horse wanted to run. The field he faced was about the toughest field you could line up against all year. In the end, he finished last. He was a great story this year. He had a chance to be a champion if he won. It was a respectable try. The longer the race, the better
Next looks. His fans still love him and look forward to watching him do what he wants to do at the distance he loves.

THE PEOPLE'S HORSE
Seize the Grey again showed that MyRacehorse can take you to the promised land in racing this year. The horse ran nine times, won the Preakness Stakes, and made 2,570 owners' dreams come true. He had become the people's horse. When he got to the Breeders' Cup, his legion of owners and fans had come to see him as an all-star. His clothing line was everywhere. His fans were up early to watch him work. His entire team had become rock stars. Win or lose, this Breeders' Cup was potentially going to be his last dance. Seeing the Grey horse round the track one last time and attempt to win a championship was nice. Ultimately, he lost the race but won the hearts of the masses. He was retired to Gainesway Farm in Kentucky. He went out the people's champion.

STRAIGHT NO CHASER

CAPTION: Straight No Chaser wins the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

MyRacehorse had a banner year. Straight No Chaser was the cherry on top. When Dan Blacker's lightning-fast son of Speightster turned for homes and switched leads, he hit another gear and powered to the finish. Del Mar erupted. It was the loudest moment of the entire Breeders' Cup. His owners had stood by the horse through five years of setbacks. In the end, this was his moment to shine. He finally proved once, and for all that, he was the best dirt sprinter on the planet. He became the first 100% owned MyRacehorse Breeders' Cup winner.

CONCLUSION
That puts a bow on the Breeders' Cup. The exciting news is that so many of the top horses in training are coming back to race again next year. 2025 looks to be even more exciting. Thorpedo Anna, Sierra Leone, Fierceness, Next, and Straight No Chaser are all sticking around. Who knows what we could see if all these horses can stay healthy, mature, and take a step forward?

CAPTION: Thorpedo Anna wins the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Distaff.