DEL MAR, Calif. — Halloween is the ideal day to get the horse racing extravaganza known as the Breeders’ Cup World Championships underway, as agonizing defeats, shocking surprises and maybe some tasty treats await horseplayers who choose to test their handicapping skills on some of the most challenging races of the year.

Over the course of two days, the Breeders’ Cup will hand out more than $34 million in purses and awards in 14 races on dirt and turf, all Grade 1s. In many cases, the races at Del Mar will decide year-end divisional championships and likely the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year.

Day one — known as “Future Stars Friday” — features five races for 2-year-olds, beginning with the Juvenile Turf Sprint (estimated post time 2:45 p.m.) and concluding with the Juvenile Turf (5:

See Full Page