Ellis Park stakes schedule: 18 races total $3.7M
An Ellis Park press release by Kevin Kerstein (Coady Media Group photo of Hozier winning last year’s Kentucky Downs Preview Mint Millions Turf Mile)
HENDERSON, Ky. (Thursday, May 9, 2024) – Record stakes purses await this summer at Ellis Park, where an impressive $3.7 million is available across 18 races beginning Thursday, July 4 for the 25-day season.
Ellis Park’s stakes lineup is led by the $400,000 Pucker Up (Grade III), one of seven races across Kentucky Downs Preview Weekend, Aug. 3-4. This stellar weekend of racing also includes the $300,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Cup (Listed), $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Mint Millions Turf Mile (Listed), $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Sprint (Listed), $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Mile, $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Nashville Derby and $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Sprint.
Two other featured stakes events scheduled are the $275,000 Ellis Park Derby (Listed) and $175,000 Groupie Doll (Listed), taking place Sunday, Aug. 11. The Ellis Park Derby and Groupie Doll are two of six stakes contests held that day. The others are the $175,000 Ellis Park Juvenile, $175,000 Ellis Park Debutante, $175,000 Audubon Oaks and $150,000 R. A. “Cowboy” Jones Memorial.
The Ellis Park season will begin on a Thursday-Sunday schedule but will shift to Saturday-Monday from July 13-Aug. 26.
Here is the full stakes calendar (purses include funds from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund):
| Date | Race | Grade | Distance | Conditions | KTDF |
| Thursday, July 4 | $125,000 Dade Park Dash | 5 ½ furlongs (turf) | 3yo | $25,000 | |
| Saturday, July 6 | $125,000 Pea Patch | 5 ½ furlongs (turf) | 3yo fillies | $25,000 | |
| Sunday, July 21 | $125,000 Jeff Hall Memorial | 6 ½ furlongs | 3yo and up | $25,000 | |
| Monday, July 22 | $125,000 Twin Bridges | 6 furlongs | 3yo and up fillies & mares | ||
| Saturday, Aug. 3 | $250,000 Ky Downs Preview Mint Millions Turf Mile | 1 mile (turf) | 3yo and up | $125,000 | |
| Saturday, Aug. 3 | $250,000 Ky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Sprint | 5 ½ furlongs (turf) | 3yo and up fillies & mares | $125,000 | |
| Saturday, Aug. 3 | $250,000 Ky Downs Preview Nashville Derby | 1 1/8 miles (turf) | 3yo | $125,000 | |
| Sunday, Aug. 4 | $400,000 Pucker Up | Grade III | 1 1/8 miles (turf) | 3yo fillies | $150,000 |
| Sunday, Aug. 4 | $300,000 Ky Downs Preview Turf Cup | Listed | 1 ¼ miles (turf) | 3yo and up | $150,000 |
| Sunday, Aug. 4 | $250,000 Ky Downs Preview Turf Sprint | Listed | 5 ½ furlongs (turf) | 3yo and up | $125,000 |
| Sunday, Aug. 4 | $250,000 Ky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Mile | Listed | 1 mile (turf) | 3yo and up fillies & mares | $125,000 |
| Sunday, Aug. 11 | $275,000 Ellis Park Derby | Listed | 1 mile | 3yo | $125,000 |
| Sunday, Aug. 11 | $175,000 Groupie Doll | Listed | 1 mile | 3yo and up fillies & mares | $75,000 |
| Sunday, Aug. 11 | $175,000 Ellis Park Juvenile | 7 furlongs | 2yo | $75,000 | |
| Sunday, Aug. 11 | $175,000 Ellis Park Debutante | 7 furlongs | 2yo fillies | $75,000 | |
| Sunday, Aug. 11 | $175,000 Audubon Oaks | 7 furlongs | 3yo fillies | $75,000 | |
| Sunday, Aug. 11 | $150,000 R. A. “Cowboy” Jones Memorial | 1 mile | 3yo and up | $50,000 | |
| Monday, Aug. 26 | $150,000 Ellis Park Turf Stakes | 1 1/16 miles (turf) | 3yo and up fillies & mares | $50,000 |
