Churchill Downs spring meet: 40 stakes worth $13.44 million
Churchill Downs press release (Coady Photography photo)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Monday, March 8, 2021) – Led by America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 1, Churchill Downs will present 40 stakes races cumulatively worth a record $13.44 million during its 38-day Spring Meet that runs April 24-June 26.
Derby Week (April 24-May 1) kicks off the nine-week 147th Spring Meet in style with 18 stakes events that total a record $10.14 million over the six-day stretch, culminating with the 147th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) for 3-year-olds at 1 ¼ miles.
Half of the 14 races on Derby Day are stakes races, including four Grade I events: the Derby; $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic; $500,000 Churchill Downs presented by Ford and $500,000 Derby City Distaff. There also will be a trio of Grade II events: the $500,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile; $500,000 Pat Day Mile presented by LG&E and KU; and $500,000 American Turf.
One day earlier, Churchill Downs will host the Derby’s female counterpart, the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) at 1 1/8 miles – the nation’s most lucrative race for 3-year-old fillies. The six stakes that day total $3 million: the Oaks; $500,000 La Troienne (GI); $400,000 Alysheba (GII); $300,000 Eight Belles presented by Smithfield (GII); $300,000 Edgewood (GII); and $250,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint presented by Sysco (GII).
Derby Week stakes action that precedes Oaks and Derby days includes the $125,000 William Walker on Opening Night, Saturday, April 24; the newly-renamed $120,000 Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes on Champions Day, Tuesday, April 27, which honors the legendary African-American who was a three-time Derby winner and arguably the greatest jockey American racing has ever known; $125,000 Kentucky Juvenile on Wednesday, April 28; and the $150,000 Unbridled Sidney and $120,000 Opening Verse Overnight Night Stakes on Thurby, Thursday, April 29.
After Derby Week, there will be 22 stakes worth a total of $3.3 million.
Stephen Foster Preview Day is Saturday, May 29 with seven stakes that total $825,000: the $125,000 Matt Winn (GIII); $125,000 Regret (GIII); $125,000 Aristides (Listed); $125,000 Blame; $125,000 Shawnee; $100,000 Audubon; and $100,000 Douglas Park Overnight Stakes.
The $600,000 Stephen Foster (GII), which annually attracts some of the nation’s top older horses, is situated on closing day, Saturday, June 26, for a second consecutive year. The 1 1/8-mile race anchors a seven-race stakes bonanza that totals $1.6 million and includes the $250,000 Fleur de Lis (GII) for fillies and mares and $250,000 Wise Dan (GII) for turf horses.
The lucrative prize money is attributed to returns from historical horse racing at Derby City Gaming, Churchill Downs Incorporated’s $65 million facility that opened September 2018 at nearby 4520 Poplar Level Road.
The first condition book of scheduled races features $106,000 maiden races on Derby Week and $91,000 maiden races after Derby. The Churchill Downs stable area reopens Tuesday, March 16, and the first day of training is Friday, March 19.
