Record $13.44 Million Spring Meet Stakes Schedule at Churchill Downs

Mar 08, 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.

2021 CHURCHILL DOWNS SPRING MEET STAKES SCHEDULE

Date

Running

Grade

Purse

Race

Conditions

Distance

Surface

Saturday, April 24

6th

Listed

$125,000

William Walker

3yo

5 ½ F

Turf

Tuesday, April 27

3rd

$120,000

Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes

4&up

1 ½ M

Dirt

Wednesday, April 28

27th

$125,000

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

$120,000

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

4&up, f&m

1 1/16 M

Dirt

Friday, April 30

18th

II

$400,000

Alysheba

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

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

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

3yo

1 1/16 M

Turf

Saturday, May 8

2nd

$100,000

Mamzelle Overnight Stakes

3yo f

5 F

Turf

Saturday, May 15

84th

III

$125,000

Louisville

4&up

1 ½ M

Turf

Saturday, May 22

18th

III

$125,000

Winning Colors

4&up, f&m

6 F

Dirt

Saturday, May 22

8th

$100,000

Keertana Overnight Stakes

4&up, f&m

1 ½ M

Turf

Saturday, May 29

24th

III

$125,000

Matt Winn

3yo

1 1/16 M

Dirt

Saturday, May 29

52nd

III

$125,000

Regret

3yo f

1 1/8 M

Turf

Saturday, May 29

33rd

Listed

$125,000

Aristides

4&up

6 F

Dirt

Saturday, May 29

2nd

$125,000

Blame

4&up

1 1/8 M

Dirt

Saturday, May 29

2nd

$125,000

Shawnee

4&up, f&m

1 1/16 M

Dirt

Saturday, May 29

2nd

$100,000

Audubon

3yo

1 1/8 M

Turf

Saturday, May 29

1st

$100,000

Douglas Park Overnight Stakes

4&up

1 1/16 M

Turf

Saturday, June 5

5th

$100,000

Mighty Beau Overnight Stakes

3&up

5 F

Turf

Saturday, June 12

45th

III

$125,000

Old Forester Mint Julep

4&up, f&m

1 1/16 M

Turf

Saturday, June 19

11th

$100,000

Roxelana Overnight Stakes

3&up, f&m

6 ½ F

Dirt

Friday, June 25

11th

$100,000

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

$250,000

Fleur de Lis

4&up, f&m

1 1/8 M

Dirt

Saturday, June 26

32nd

II

$250,000

Wise Dan

4&up

1 1/16 M

Turf

Saturday, June 26

120th

III

$125,000

Bashford Manor

2yo

6 F

Dirt

Saturday, June 26

120th

Listed

$125,000

Debutante

2yo f

6 F

Dirt

Saturday, June 26

2nd

$125,000

War Chant

3yo

1 M

Turf

Saturday, June 26

2nd

$125,000

Tepin

3yo f

1 M

Turf

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