Kentucky Downs to Offer Three $1 Million Stakes

For the first time in its 31-year history, Kentucky Downs is offering three $1 million races during its six-day 2021 meet. Kentucky Downs' rich trio is the track's signature Calumet Turf Cup (G2T), which had its purse first raised to seven figures in 2019, along with the Turf Sprint Stakes (G3T) and WinStar Mint Million Stakes (G3T).  

Kentucky Downs will stage 16 stakes worth a track-record total of $10 million, including $4.85 million in purse supplements for registered Kentucky-bred horses. The all-grass meet runs Sept. 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, and 12 over Kentucky Downs' undulating, kidney-shaped 1 5/16-mile racecourse.

The WinStar Mint Million, formerly the Tourist Mile, presently is the United States' second-richest eight-furlong grass stakes behind the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T). The race was worth $750,000 last year, while the six-furlong Turf Sprint was worth $700,000.

Kentucky Downs for the first time has a pair of grade 2 stakes in the Calumet Turf Cup for older horses at 1 1/2 miles and the Franklin-Simpson Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters, now worth $600,000.

"Purses are the economic engine of the racing industry, and Kentucky Downs is proud to be a leader helping Kentucky stamp itself as the premier racing circuit in America," said Ron Winchell, Kentucky Downs' co-owner and managing partner with Marc Falcone. "We're only six days, but winning one of our stakes—or even one of our overnight races—can make the entire year for an owner. Many horsemen tell us that the money they earn at our meet gets promptly reinvested in the industry the next week at Keeneland's September Yearling Sale. Such investment impacts countless small businesses that are part of Kentucky's equine agribusiness."

A total of nine Kentucky Downs stakes received purse hikes. They include the Ladies Turf Stakes (G3T) jumping from $500,000 to $750,000. Each of Kentucky Downs' six graded stakes is worth at least $600,000, with the Ladies Sprint Stakes (G3T) joining the Franklin-Simpson Stakes in getting $100,000 increases to reach $600,000. The Music City Stakes for 3-year-old fillies and Untapable Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, worth $400,000 in their inaugural runnings last year, now offer $500,000 purses.

The Kentucky Downs' stakes purses reflect contributions of up to 50% from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund for horses born in and sired by stallions in the Commonwealth, which accounts for a majority of the horses racing in Kentucky and easily the largest group running in America. The 2021 meet's Kentucky-bred stakes supplements were approved April 6 by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission's KTDF Advisory Committee.

"The KTDF Advisory Committee aspires to be good stewards of the funds entrusted to their approval and direction," said Bill Landes, the long-time chair of the KTDF committee and general manager of Oldham County's Hermitage Farm. "As such we applaud Kentucky Downs' proposed KTDF supplement to their 2021 stakes, allowance, and maiden race program. Their program enhances the value of Kentucky-bred racehorses not only at the Kentucky Downs meet but also enhances the value of Kentucky-bred yearlings that will sell in Central Kentucky following their meet."  

Horses that aren't registered Kentucky-breds still can compete in some of the most lucrative stakes in North America and beyond. For example, the $1 million races have a base purse of $550,000 for which all horses run.

The increases were possible because the Kentucky General Assembly in February passed legislation that for the first time amended the definition of pari-mutuel wagering to include Historical Horse Racing, which allows wagering on the outcomes of previously run races in an electronic game format.

"We can't thank the Kentucky Legislature enough," Falcone said. "We are able to offer among the highest purses in the world because they understood the importance of Historical Horse Racing and passed legislation that ensures a bright future for live horse racing and the Commonwealth's signature industry. The lawmakers' leadership and members of both parties in both chambers saw the big picture and how higher purses lead to a lot of good things happening. That includes increased jobs, economic development, enhanced tourism opportunities, and more dollars to the General Fund that ultimately benefit all Kentuckians."

The lowest stakes purse Kentucky Downs will offer is $400,000 each for the Tapit Stakes and the One Dreamer Stakes for fillies and mares, both restricted to horses that have not previously won a stakes in 2021. Those races received $100,000 increases.

The condition book for Kentucky Downs' 2021 meet will be available later this month.