The 2020 Breeders' Cup Challenge series consists of horse races from around the world that provide the respective winners with an automatic "Win and You're In" Berth in the 2020 Breeders' Cup, to be held on November 6 and 7. Races are chosen by the Breeders' Cup organization and include key races in the various Breeders' Cup divisions. The Breeders' Cup organization pays the Breeders' Cup entry fee for the challenge race winners, provided they had been nominated as foals.

Summary The selected races vary somewhat from year to year as the Breeders' Cup attempts to attract the best horses in each division. The Breeders' Cup organization normally makes an announcement in April about the races that it will add or remove from the previous year's schedule for the new year. Because of the disruption to the racing schedule caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Breeders' Cup organization instead made several adjustments to the normal series throughout 2020.

The 2019 Breeders' Cup Challenge series consisted of 86 races from across 11 countries. New races for 2020 include the Victoria Mile at Tokyo Racecourse (Filly & Mare Turf), Carter Handicap at Belmont Park (Sprint), Alabama Stakes at Saratoga (Distaff) and the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico (Classic).

The following races were removed from the 2020 series: Gran Premio Criadores, Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella, Gran Premio Pamplona, Princess Rooney Handicap, John A. Nerud, Beverly D., Arlington Million, Jockey Club Derby, Cotillion and Sprinters Stakes.

On October 28, a total of 201 pre-entries were taken for the Breeders' Cup races, of which 48 horses were automatic qualifiers through the Challenge series races.

Five winners from the challenge series went on to win at the 2020 Breeders' Cup: Aunt Pearl won the Juvenile Fillies Turf after qualifying in the Jessamine Essential Quality won the Juvenile after taking the Breeders' Futurity Glass Slippers won the Turf Sprint after earning a berth in the Flying Five Tarnawa won the Turf after qualifying for the Filly & Mare Turf in the Prix de l'Opéra Authentic won the Classic after qualifying in the Haskell

Challenge Series races The following table shows the Breeders' Cup Challenge races for 2020 and the respective winners. The status column shows if the winner was entered at the Breeders' Cup, and if so, whether they finished in the top three. MonthRaceTrackLocationDivisionWinnerStatusDecemberGran Premio Internacional Carlos PellegriniSan IsidroArgentinaBreeders' Cup TurfNao Da Mais (BRZ)bypassJanuaryPaddock StakesKenilworthSouth AfricaBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare TurfQueen Supreme (IRE)bypassJanuaryQueen's PlateKenilworthSouth AfricaBreeders' Cup MileVardy (SAF)bypassFebruaryFebruary StakesTokyoJapanBreeders' Cup ClassicMozu Ascot (JPN)bypass MayVictoria MileTokyo RacecourseJapanBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare TurfAlmond Eye (JPN)bypass May Shoemaker Mile Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Mile Raging Bull (FR)entered June Carter Handicap Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Sprint Vekoma scratched June Yasuda Kinen Tokyo Japan Breeders' Cup Mile Gran Alegria (JPN)bypassJune Ogden Phipps Stakes Belmont Park New YorkBreeders' Cup DistaffShe's a Julieretired JuneQueen Anne StakesRoyal Ascot EnglandBreeders' Cup MileCircus Maximus (Ire)second JunePrince of Wales's StakesRoyal Ascot EnglandBreeders' Cup TurfLord North (IRE)entered JuneNorfolk StakesRoyal Ascot EnglandBreeders' Cup Juvenile Turf SprintThe Lir Jetentered in Juvenile Turf JuneDiamond Jubilee StakesRoyal Ascot EnglandBreeders' Cup Turf Sprint Hello Youmzain (FR)retiredJuneJaipur Invitational Belmont Park New YorkBreeders' Cup Turf Sprint Oleksandra (AUS)entered JuneFleur de Lis HandicapChurchill Downs KentuckyBreeders' Cup Distaff Midnight BisouretiredJuneStephen Foster Handicap Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Classic Tom's d'Etatentered JuneTakarazuka KinenHanshin JapanBreeders' Cup TurfChrono Genesis (JPN)bypass July Metropolitan Handicap Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Vekoma scratched from the Sprint July Haskell InvitationalMonmouth New JerseyBreeders' Cup ClassicAuthenticentered JulyKing George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Ascot EnglandBreeders' Cup TurfEnable (GB)retired July Sussex Stakes Goodwood EnglandBreeders' Cup MileMohaather (GB)retiredAugustPersonal Ensign StakesSaratoga New YorkBreeders' Cup DistaffVexatiousinjured AugustWhitney HandicapSaratoga New YorkBreeders' Cup ClassicImprobablesecond AugustBing Crosby Handicap Del Mar California Breeders' Cup SprintCollusion Illusionentered AugustClement L. Hirsch Stakes Del Mar CaliforniaBreeders' Cup Distaff Fighting MadbypassAugustBallerina Stakes Saratoga New YorkBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare SprintSerengeti EmpresssecondAugustAlabama Stakes Saratoga New YorkBreeders' Cup DistaffSwiss Skydiverentered AugustPrix Jacques Le MaroisDeauville France Breeders' Cup MilePalace Pierbypass AugustJuddmonte InternationalYork EnglandBreeders' Cup ClassicGhaiyyath (IRE)retired AugustYorkshire Oaks York England Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare TurfLove (IRE)bypassAugustNunthorpe StakesYork EnglandBreeders' Cup Turf SprintBattaash (IRE)bypassAugustDel Mar Handicap Del Mar CaliforniaBreeders' Cup TurfRed Kingentered August Fourstardave HandicapSaratoga New YorkBreeders' Cup MileHalladayenteredAugustPacific Classic Del Mar CaliforniaBreeders' Cup ClassicMaximum SecurityenteredAugustPrix Morny Deauville FranceBreeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Campanelleentered Juvenile Fillies TurfAugust Sword Dancer Saratoga New YorkBreeders' Cup TurfChannel MakerthirdAugustPat O'Brien Stakes Del Mar California Breeders' Cup Dirt MileC Z Rocketsecond SeptemberPocahontas Stakes Churchill Downs Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Girl DaddythirdSeptemberIroquois StakesChurchill Downs KentuckyBreeders' Cup Juvenile Sittin on Goentered September Juvenile Stakes Leopardstown Ireland Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Cadillacentered SeptemberMatron Stakes Leopardstown Ireland Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Champers Elyseesbypass SeptemberIrish Champion Stakes Leopardstown IrelandBreeders' Cup Turf Magicalsecond SeptemberTurf Sprint Kentucky Downs KentuckyBreeders' Cup Turf Sprint Imprimisentered September Moyglare Stud Stakes Curragh Ireland Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Shalebypass September Flying Five Stakes Curragh Ireland Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Glass Slipperswon SeptemberWoodbine Mile Woodbine Canada Breeders' Cup Mile Starship Jubileeentered in the Filly & Mare Turf SeptemberNatalma Stakes Woodbine Canada Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Lady Speightspeare injured SeptemberSummer Stakes Woodbine CanadaBreeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Gretzky the GreatenteredSeptemberRockfel Stakes Newmarket England Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Isabella Gilesbypass SeptemberRoyal Lodge Stakes Newmarket EnglandBreeders' Cup Juvenile Turf New MandateenteredSeptemberVosburgh Stakes Belmont Park New YorkBreeders' Cup Sprint Firenze FirethirdSeptemberSpeakeasy Stakes Santa Anita CaliforniaBreeders' Cup Juvenile Turf SprintAmanzi Yimpilo (IRE) scratchedSeptemberRodeo Drive Stakes Santa Anita California Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Mucho UnusualenteredSeptemberAmerican Pharoah Stakes Santa Anita CaliforniaBreeders' Cup Juvenile Get Her NumberinjuredSeptemberChandelier Stakes Santa Anita CaliforniaBreeders' Cup Juvenile FilliesPrincess Noor enteredSeptemberAwesome Again Stakes Santa Anita CaliforniaBreeders' Cup Classic ImprobablesecondSeptemberGrande Premio Brasi Hipódromo da Gávea BrazilBreeders' Cup Turf Pimper's Paradise (BRZ)bypassSeptemberSanta Anita Sprint Championship Santa Anita CaliforniaBreeders' Cup Sprint C Z RocketsecondSeptemberZenyatta Stakes Santa Anita CaliforniaBreeders' Cup Distaff Harvest MoonenteredOctoberPhoenix Stakes Keeneland KentuckyBreeders' Cup Sprint Diamond Oopsentered OctoberAlcibiades Stakes Keeneland KentuckyBreeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Simply Ravishingentered OctoberPreakness Stakes Pimlico Race Course MarylandBreeders' Cup ClassicSwiss Skydiverentered in Distaff OctoberFirst Lady Stakes Keeneland KentuckyBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Uni entered in Mile OctoberThoroughbred Club of America Stakes Keeneland KentuckyBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Inthemidstofbizscratched OctoberShadwell Turf Mile Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Mile Ivarentered OctoberBreeders' Futurity Stakes Keeneland KentuckyBreeders' Cup Juvenile Essential Qualityentered OctoberBelmont Derby Belmont Park New YorkBreeders' Cup TurfGufo bypassOctoberPrix de l'Abbaye de LongchampLongchamp FranceBreeders' Cup Turf Sprint WoodedbypassOctoberPrix de l'OpéraLongchamp FranceBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Tarnawawon the Turf OctoberPrix Jean-Luc Lagardère Longchamp FranceBreeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sealiwayentered OctoberPrix Marcel Boussac Longchamp France Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Tiger TanakabypassOctoberPrix de l'Arc de TriompheLongchamp FranceBreeders' Cup Turf SottsassretiredOctoberIndian Summer Stakes Keeneland KentuckyBreeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint BodenheimerenteredOctoberBourbon Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf MutasaabeqenteredOctoberSpinster Stakes Keeneland KentuckyBreeders' Cup Distaff Valiancesecond OctoberJessamine Stakes Keeneland Kentucky Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Aunt Pearl (IRE)wonOctoberBelmont Futurity Belmont Park New YorkBreeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Second of JulyenteredOctoberFrizette Stakes Belmont Park New YorkBreeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Dayoutoftheofficesecond OctoberFlower Bowl Belmont Park New York Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf Civil UnionenteredOctoberChampagne Stakes Belmont Park New YorkBreeders' Cup JuvenileJackie's Warrior entered SeptemberJockey Club Gold Cup Belmont Park New YorkBreeders' Cup Classic Happy Saverbypass

Television coverage Most of the Challenge Series races were televised, either by NBC, NBC Sports, TVG or Fox Sports.

See also 2020 British Champions Series

References