The 2016 Breeders' Cup World Championships was the 33rd edition of the premier event of the North American thoroughbred horse racing year.

The Breeders' Cup is generally regarded as the end of the North America racing season, although a few Grade I events take place in later November and December.

Winners of the Challenge races are given automatic entries, while other pre-entries were ranked by a points system and the judgement of a panel of experts.

Frosted, who qualified for both the Dirt Mile and Classic, took the more challenging option and was the most highly regarded east coast contender.

Stellar Wind, the 2015 three-year-old champion filly, qualified for the Breeders' Cup by beating Beholder in two "Win and You're In" races, the Clement L. Hirsch and Zenyatta.

Songbird fought back and the two reached the wire together – a photo finish determined that Beholder had won by "barely more than a whisker.

[13] The Classic was run in similar fashion to the Distaff, with California Chrome setting the pace and Arrogate stalking him a few lengths behind.

California Chrome maintained that margin until mid-stretch, then Arrogate started to close, eventually winning by half a length.

"Deep down, I really wasn't sure if we could beat California Chrome, because I still have total respect for the horse", said Arrogate's trainer Bob Baffert.

The Filly & Mare Turf was won by Queen's Trust, who held off a late run by Lady Eli by a nose.

He won three races (the Dirt Mile on Tamarkuz, the Filly & Mare Sprint on Finest City and the Classic on Arrogate) and finished second in three others.