Churchill Downs Releases Record Spring Stakes Schedule

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, led by the May 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).

Derby Week (April 24-May 1) kicks off the nine-week 147th Spring Meet 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 for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles.

The 2020 Spring Meet at Churchill Downs got off to a delayed started without spectators in mid-May and ran through late June due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Kentucky Derby and most of the traditional Derby Week stakes were pushed back to the first weekend of September.

Half of the 14 races on Derby Day this year are stakes races, including four grade 1 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 2 events: the $500,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile; $500,000 Pat Day Mile Presented by LG&E and KU; and the $500,000 American Turf.

One day earlier, Churchill Downs will host the Derby's female counterpart, 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 April 30 stakes total $3 million: the Oaks; $500,000 La Troienne (G1); $400,000 Alysheba (G2); $300,000 Eight Belles Presented by Smithfield (G2); $300,000 Edgewood (G2T); and $250,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint Presented by Sysco (G2T).

Derby Week stakes action that precedes Oaks and Derby days includes the $125,000 William Walker on opening night, the newly-renamed $120,000 Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes on Champions Day April 27—which honors the legendary African-American who was a three-time Derby winner—the $125,000 Kentucky Juvenile April 28, and the $150,000 Unbridled Sidney, and $120,000 Opening Verse Overnight Night Stakes April 29.

The Churchill Downs Stakes for dirt sprinters, William Walker Stakes for 3-year-old turf sprinters, and Kentucky Juvenile Stakes were not run in 2020. The decision to not run the Churchill Downs Stakes came in discussion with the New York Racing Association, which conducted the Forego Stakes Presented by America's Best Racing (G1), also for dirt sprinters, in late August at Saratoga Race Course.

After Derby Week, there will be 22 stakes worth a total of $3.3 million.

Stephen Foster Preview Day is May 29 with seven stakes that total $825,000: the $125,000 Matt Winn (G3); the $125,000 Regret (G3T); the $125,000 Aristides; $125,000 Blame; $125,000 Shawnee; $100,000 Audubon; and $100,000 Douglas Park Overnight Stakes.

The $600,000 Stephen Foster (G2), which annually attracts some of the nation's top older horses, is situated on closing day 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 (G2) for fillies and mares and $250,000 Wise Dan (G2T) for turf horses.

The lucrative prize money is attributed to returns from historical horse racing at Churchill Downs Inc.'s Derby City Gaming.

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 March 16, and the first day of training is March 19.