| Date | Race | Track | Purse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 3 | Jerome Stakes | Aqueduct | $150,000 |
| Jan 3 | Smarty Jones | Oaklawn Park | $250,000 |
| Jan 3 | Mucho Macho Man Stakes | Gulfstream Park | $150,000 |
| Jan 11 | Las Cienegas Stakes | Santa Anita Park | $100,000 |
| Jan 17 | Sunshine Sprint | Gulfstream Park | $75,000 |
| Jan 24 | Pegasus World Cup Invitational | Gulfstream Park | $3,000,000 |
| Jan 24 | Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational | Gulfstream Park | $1,000,000 |
| Feb 7 | Endeavour Stakes | Tampa Bay Downs | $175,000 |
| Feb 15 | San Vicente Stakes | Santa Anita Park | $200,000 |
| Feb 21 | Risen Star Stakes | Fair Grounds | $400,000 |
| Feb 28 | Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes | Gulfstream Park | $400,000 |
| Mar 1 | Rebel Stakes | Oaklawn Park | $1,000,000 |
| Mar 8 | San Felipe Stakes | Santa Anita Park | $400,000 |
| Mar 14 | Virginia Derby | Colonial Downs | $500,000 |
| Mar 21 | Jeff Ruby Steaks | Turfway Park | $777,000 |
| Mar 21 | Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby | Fair Grounds | $1,000,000 |
| Mar 28 | Arkansas Derby | Oaklawn Park | $1,250,000 |
| Mar 28 | Curlin Florida Derby | Gulfstream Park | $1,000,000 |
| Apr 4 | Santa Anita Derby | Santa Anita Park | $1,000,000 |
| Apr 11 | The Grand National | Aintree (UK) | $1,300,000 |
| Apr 12 | Blue Grass Stakes | Keeneland | $1,000,000 |
| Apr 12 | Wood Memorial | Aqueduct | $750,000 |
| May 2 | Kentucky Derby | Churchill Downs | $5,000,000 |
| May 16 | Preakness Stakes | Laurel Park | $2,000,000 |
| May 30 | Hollywood Gold Cup | Santa Anita Park | $400,000 |
| Jun 6 | Belmont Stakes | Saratoga Race Course | $2,000,000 |
| Jun 14 | Stephen Foster | Churchill Downs | $1,000,000 |
| Jun 21 | Queen’s Plate Stakes | Woodbine | $1,000,000 |
| Jul 5 | United Nations Stakes | Monmouth Park | $600,000 |
| Jul 26 | Haskell Invitational | Monmouth Park | $1,000,000 |
| Jul 27 | Bing Crosby Stakes | Del Mar | $400,000 |
| Aug 2 | Whitney Stakes | Saratoga | $1,000,000 |
| Aug 8 | Arlington Million | Colonial Downs | $1,000,000 |
| Aug 23 | Travers Stakes | Saratoga | $1,250,000 |
| Aug 30 | Pacific Classic | Del Mar | $1,000,000 |
| Sep 5 | Woodbine Mile | Woodbine | $1,000,000 |
| Oct 3 | Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe | Longchamp (France) | $5,000,000 |
| Nov 6–7 | Breeders’ Cup World Championships | Del Mar | $31,000,000 (total) |
| Dec 26 | Malibu Stakes | Santa Anita Park | $300,000 |