Churchill Revamps Record Spring Meet Stakes Schedule

A repositioning of the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) to closing day, June 27, and the creation of a new Stephen Foster preview night midway through the meet highlight a record 41-race, $14 million stakes schedule for the upcoming 38-day spring meet at Churchill Downs April 25 through June 27.

Additionally, there are seven new stakes for the nine-week season, and 13 spring meet stakes received purse hikes that range from $25,000 to $100,000.

"It's extremely gratifying to continue to supercharge purses through our investment into historical racing machines and watch the overall growth of the Churchill Downs and Kentucky horse racing and breeding product," Churchill Downs racetrack president Kevin Flanery said. "We've meaningfully raised purses in the last year, and the results were an extremely competitive racing product with more entries and high-quality horses that appealed to bettors nationwide. We believe this exciting new 'big event' series created by our racing team will help keep the momentum moving forward and be embraced around the country by both horsemen and horseplayers alike." 

The 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster, downgraded from a grade 1 to a grade 2 prior to last year's running, received a $100,000 boost to $700,000 and was moved back two weeks on the calendar to June 27. The race anchors a seven-race stakes card that totals $1.85 million and includes the $300,000 Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) for fillies and mares and the $300,000 Wise Dan Stakes (G2T) for turf horses. 

New on the closing-day lineup are two one-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds, each worth $150,000: the War Chant (named for the 2000 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) winner at Churchill Downs) and the Tepin (named for the Churchill Downs-based 2015-16 champion female turf horse) for fillies. The $125,000 Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) and the $125,000 Debutante Stakes also will be run that day for 2-year-olds and 2-year-old fillies, respectively. All closing-day races will be run during an afternoon program, in contrast to previous years when the Stephen Foster and supporting races were run a couple of weeks earlier and at night.

The track has created a new Stephen Foster Preview Night, featuring seven stakes events May 30 cumulatively worth $975,000 in conjunction with Downs After Dark presented by Budweiser under the lights at 6 p.m. ET. The new $150,000 Blame Stakes at 1 1/8 miles, named in honor of the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner at Churchill Downs, comes four weeks after the $400,000 Alysheba Stakes (G2) on Kentucky Oaks Day and four weeks in advance of the repositioned Stephen Foster.

Other stakes added that night are the $150,000 Shawnee Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles; the $150,000 Audubon Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf; and the $100,000 Douglas Park Overnight Stakes for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on turf. The evening program will include the $150,000 Matt Winn Stakes (G3), the $150,000 Regret Stakes (G3), and the $125,000 Aristides Stakes.

Derby week (April 25-May 2) kicks off the 146th spring meet with 18 stakes events totaling a record $10.18 million over the six-day stretch, which culminates with the 146th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) May 2. 

Derby Day again features seven stakes, including four grade 1 tests: the Derby; the $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1T); the $500,000 Churchill Downs (G1), and the $500,000 Derby City Distaff (G1), formerly known as the Humana Distaff. The other three stakes, all grade 2, each received $100,000 increases: the $500,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2T); the $500,000 Pat Day Mile Stakes presented by LG&E and KU (G2); and the $500,000 American Turf Stakes (G2T).

One day earlier, Churchill will host the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at 1 1/8 miles—the nation's most lucrative race for 3-year-old fillies. The six stakes May 1 total $3 million.

Significant increases in prize money are attributed to returns from state-of-the-art HHR machines at Derby City Gaming, Churchill Downs Incorporated's $65 million facility that opened in September 2018 in Louisville, about five miles away from Churchill Downs. Last year's 34-race stakes schedule totaled more than $12 million. Two years ago, a 32-race stakes lineup was worth $8.8 million.

Counting overnight purses, more than $32 million in total prize money is expected to be offered during this year's spring meet, up nearly $10 million from the $22.2 million paid in 2018. The first condition book is being finalized by vice president of racing Ben Huffman and is expected to be published in early March. Stall applications are due March 6.

New stakes races

•        $150,000 Blame for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles Saturday, May 30

•        $150,000 Shawnee for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles Saturday, May 30

•        $150,000 Audubon for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf Saturday, May 30

•        $100,000 Douglas Park Overnight Stakes for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on turf Saturday, May 30

•        $150,000 Limousine Liberal for 3-year-olds at six furlongs Saturday, June 20

•        $150,000 War Chant for 3-year-olds at one mile on turf Saturday, June 27

•        $150,000 Tepin for 3-year-old fillies at one mile on turf Saturday, June 27

Repositioned Stakes Races

•        Matt Winn up two weeks to Saturday, May 30

•        Regret up two weeks to Saturday, May 30

•        Mighty Beau Overnight Stakes back one week to Saturday, June 6

•        Old Forester Mint Julep back one week to Saturday, June 13

•        Stephen Foster back two weeks to Saturday, June 27

•        Fleur de Lis back two weeks to Saturday, June 27

•        Wise Dan back two weeks to Saturday, June 27

Upgraded stakes by American Graded Stakes Committee

•        Edgewood presented by Forcht Bank from grade 3 to grade 2

•        Pat Day Mile presented by LG&E and KU from grade 3 to grade 2

Stakes races increased by $100,000

•        $500,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2T) for fillies and mares at one mile on turf Saturday, May 2

•        $500,000 Pat Day Mile presented by LG&E and KU (G2) for 3-year-olds at one mile Saturday, May 2

•        $500,000 American Turf (G2T) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles Saturday, May 2

•        $700,000 Stephen Foster (G2) for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles Saturday, June 27

Stakes races increased by $50,000

•        $300,000 Eight Belles presented by Smithfield (G2) for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs Friday, May 1

•        $300,000 Edgewood presented by Forcht Bank (G2T) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles turf on Friday, May 1

•        $300,000 Fleur de Lis (G2) for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles Saturday, June 27

•        $300,000 Wise Dan (G2T) for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles turf on Saturday, June 27

Stakes races increased by $25,000

•        $150,000 William Walker (Listed) for 3-year-olds at five furlongs on turf on Saturday, April 27

•        $150,000 Kentucky Juvenile for 2-year-olds at five furlongs on Wednesday, April 29

•        $150,000 Unbridled Sidney for fillies and mares at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf on "Thurby," April 30

•        $125,000 Louisville (GIII) for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/2 miles on turf on Saturday, May 16

•        $125,000 Winning Colors (GIII) for fillies and mares at six furlongs on Saturday, May 23

Click here for full stakes schedule.