Purses Receive $3.1 Million Increase From Robust Derby City Gaming Business

Apr 22, 2021

Before the first race is run Saturday on Opening Night of the 38-day Spring Meet, Churchill Downs Racetrack has announced that purses will be raised an additional $3.1 million thanks to robust business from state-of-the-art historical racing machines at Derby City Gaming.

Total purses offered in the first condition book for horsemen, which covers 190 races over 19 dates through Thursday, May 27, have grown to $22,822,100 for a daily average of $1,201,163. That represents a 5.9% percent increase from the previously published $21,544,000.

Maiden special weight races are now worth $115,000 during Kentucky Derby Week and $100,000 post-Derby, which is up from the previously published $106,000 and $91,000, respectively. Kentucky Derby Week allowance races will range from $118,000 to $125,000 and $102,000 to $109,000 after Derby. They were $109,000 to $116,000 and $93,000 to $100,000, respectively.

Additionally, the purses for 25 stakes races were boosted. A trio of stakes received $50,000 increases: the $150,000 Audubon for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf on May 29; Grade II, $300,000 Fleur de Lis for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on June 26; and Grade II, $300,000 Wise Dan for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on turf on June 26. Fourteen stakes originally worth $125,000 were boosted $25,000 to $150,000 and eight overnight stakes races received $10,000 increases.

The 40-race Spring Meet stakes schedule now totals $14.02 million.

The growth has been driven by handle on historical racing machines at Derby City Gaming, which is located at 4520 Poplar Level Road.

“Over the last 10 years, historical horse racing has allowed our equine industry to flourish, increasing purses and creating a more competitive racing circuit,” said Churchill Downs Racetrack President Mike Anderson. “It has led to new jobs, economic growth and tourism.

“Despite the challenges of the last year, we have a bright future ahead – one of growth, innovation, new jobs and development. Recently we opened our $8 million Equine Medical Center and Quarantine Facility. This summer, we’re investing $10 million to install a new turf course to improve the overall racing product. In northern Kentucky, our sister track Turfway Park saw handle grow 32.9% after we installed a new Tapeta surface, and recently we broke ground on a $145 million state-of-the-art Thoroughbred and historical horse racing venue. All of this will strengthen and bring innovation to our equine industry and ensure Kentucky remains the horse capital of the world.”

2021 CHURCHILL DOWNS SPRING MEET STAKES SCHEDULE

Date	Running	Grade	Purse	Race	Conditions	Distance	Surface
Saturday, April 24	6th	Listed	$150,000	William Walker	3yo	5 ½ F	Turf
Tuesday, April 27	3rd		$130,000	Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance	4&up	1 ½ M	Dirt
Wednesday, April 28	27th		$150,000	Kentucky Juvenile	2yo	5 F	Dirt
Thursday, April 29	11th		$150,000	Unbridled Sidney	3&up, f&m	5 ½ F	Turf
Thursday, April 29	16th		$130,000	Opening Verse Overnight Stakes	4&up	1 M	Turf
Friday, April 30	147th	I	$1,250,000	Longines Kentucky Oaks	3yo f	1 1/8 M	Dirt
Friday, April 30	36th	I	$500,000	La Troienne presented by TwinSpires.com	4&up, f&m	1 1/16 M	Dirt
Friday, April 30	18th	II	$400,000	Alysheba presented by Sentient Jet	4&up	1 1/16 M	Dirt
Friday, April 30	66th	II	$300,000	Eight Belles presented by Smithfield	3yo f	7 F	Dirt
Friday, April 30	37th	II	$300,000	Edgewood presented by Newport Racing & Gaming	3yo f	1 1/16 M	Turf
Friday, April 30	27th	II	$250,000	Twin Spires Turf Sprint presented by Sysco	3&up	5 ½ F	Turf
Saturday, May 1	147th	I	$3,000,000	Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve	3yo	1 ¼ M	Dirt
Saturday, May 1	35th	I	$1,000,000	Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic	4&up	1 1/8 M	Turf
Saturday, May 1	86th	I	$500,000	Churchill Downs presented by Ford	4&up	7 F	Dirt
Saturday, May 1	35th	I	$500,000	Derby City Distaff presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery	4&up, f&m	7 F	Dirt
Saturday, May 1	36th	II	$500,000	Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile	4&up, f&m	1 M	Turf
Saturday, May 1	97th	II	$500,000	Pat Day Mile presented by LG&E and KU	3yo	1 M	Dirt
Saturday, May 1	30th	II	$500,000	American Turf presented by Derby City Gaming	3yo	1 1/16 M	Turf
Saturday, May 8	2nd		$110,000	Mamzelle Overnight Stakes	3yo f	5 F	Turf
Saturday, May 15	84th	III	$150,000	Louisville	4&up	1 ½ M	Turf
Saturday, May 22	18th	III	$150,000	Winning Colors	4&up, f&m	6 F	Dirt
Saturday, May 22	8th		$110,000	Keertana Overnight Stakes	4&up, f&m	1 ½ M	Turf
Saturday, May 29	24th	III	$150,000	Matt Winn	3yo	1 1/16 M	Dirt
Saturday, May 29	52nd	III	$150,000	Regret	3yo f	1 1/8 M	Turf
Saturday, May 29	33rd	Listed	$150,000	Aristides	4&up	6 F	Dirt
Saturday, May 29	2nd		$150,000	Blame	4&up	1 1/8 M	Dirt
Saturday, May 29	2nd		$150,000	Shawnee	4&up, f&m	1 1/16 M	Dirt
Saturday, May 29	2nd		$150,000	Audubon	3yo	1 1/8 M	Turf
Saturday, May 29	1st		$110,000	Douglas Park Overnight Stakes	4&up	1 1/16 M	Turf
Saturday, June 5	5th		$110,000	Mighty Beau Overnight Stakes	3&up	5 F	Turf
Saturday, June 12	45th	III	$150,000	Old Forester Mint Julep	4&up, f&m	1 1/16 M	Turf
Saturday, June 19	11th		$110,000	Roxelana Overnight Stakes	3&up, f&m	6 ½ F	Dirt
Friday, June 25	11th		$110,000	Kelly’s Landing Overnight Stakes	3&up	7 F	Dirt
Saturday, June 26	40th	II	$600,000	Stephen Foster	4&up	1 1/8 M	Dirt
Saturday, June 26	46th	II	$300,000	Fleur de Lis	4&up, f&m	1 1/8 M	Dirt
Saturday, June 26	32nd	II	$300,000	Wise Dan	4&up	1 1/16 M	Turf
Saturday, June 26	120th	III	$150,000	Bashford Manor	2yo	6 F	Dirt
Saturday, June 26	120th	Listed	$150,000	Debutante	2yo f	6 F	Dirt
Saturday, June 26	2nd		$150,000	War Chant	3yo	1 M	Turf
Saturday, June 26	2nd		$150,000	Tepin	3yo f	1 M	Turf

ABOUT CHURCHILL DOWNS RACETRACK

Churchill Downs Racetrack (“CDRT”), the world’s most legendary racetrack, has been the home of The Kentucky Derby, the longest continually held annual sporting event in the United States, since 1875. Located in Louisville, CDRT features a series of themed race days during Derby Week, including the Kentucky Oaks, and conducts Thoroughbred horse racing during three race meets in the Spring, September, and the Fall. CDRT is located on 175 acres and has a one-mile dirt track, a 7/8-mile turf track, a stabling area, and provides seating for approximately 60,000 guests. The saddling paddock and the stable area has barns sufficient to accommodate 1,400 horses and a 114-room dormitory for backstretch personnel. CDRT also has a year-round simulcast wagering facility. www.ChurchillDowns.com.