The Breeders’ Cup and Topps NOW will launch an exclusive trading card collection celebrating four winners from the 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, held on October 30–31 at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky. Announced by Breeders’ Cup Limited on November 2, the partnership will commemorate the achievements of Sovereignty, Nitrogen, Benvenuto Cellini (IRE) and Hughes through officially licensed cards, while directing 100 per cent of the royalties received by Breeders’ Cup towards charitable initiatives supporting the Thoroughbred industry.
The collaboration will mark the first official Breeders’ Cup trading card programme with Topps NOW and the first time the collectibles brand will feature horse racing. The collection will bring together four notable Championship performances, offering racing fans and collectors an opportunity to preserve memories of the 2026 event.
The four cards will recognise winners of some of the meeting’s leading Grade 1 contests. Sovereignty will feature following his victory in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), while Nitrogen will be commemorated for winning the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).
Benvenuto Cellini (IRE) will also feature after claiming the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), with Hughes completing the collection following his success in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).
The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile card was launched on October 31 through the official Topps website, with its 48-hour online sales window closing on November 2. The remaining three cards, featuring the Classic, Turf and Distaff winners, became available on November 2 and will remain on sale for 48 hours, closing on Wednesday, November 4.
Alongside the standard commemorative editions, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic offerings will include special limited-edition chase cards. These versions will incorporate authentic autographs from the winning jockeys and pieces of the winning owners’ race-worn silks, adding exclusive memorabilia connected to the Championship victories.
Breeders’ Cup and Topps NOW Partnership Supports Racing Charities
A central part of the partnership will be its contribution to the Thoroughbred industry. Breeders’ Cup Limited will donate 100 per cent of the royalties it receives from the Topps NOW programme to Breeders’ Cup Charities.
Founded in 2008, the organisation serves as the official charitable outreach programme of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. Its work covers five key areas: Thoroughbred aftercare, jockey health and wellness, backstretch and industry workers, equine research, and wider community initiatives.
Justin McDonald, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Breeders’ Cup Limited, said the partnership would create a new way to celebrate Championship achievements and recognise the horses and people behind them.
He added that the collection would connect Thoroughbred racing with a new generation of collectors and sports fans while supporting the individuals and organisations that contribute to the sport.
Topps NOW is known for producing trading cards that capture significant sporting achievements shortly after they take place. The new collection will extend that approach to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, bringing four performances from the 2026 meeting into the sports collectibles market.
McDonald said the charitable element would ensure the programme delivered benefits beyond commemorating Championship performances, helping support the horses and people who made the sport possible.
The Breeders’ Cup Topps NOW collection will feature Sovereignty, Nitrogen, Benvenuto Cellini (IRE) and Hughes in an exclusive trading card programme. The partnership will also direct all royalties received by Breeders’ Cup towards charitable initiatives supporting the Thoroughbred industry.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to RaceBuzz.