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.

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