KY Tracks to Run Six-Figure Maiden Races in September

Six-figure maiden purses are forecasted during September race meets in Kentucky, Kentucky Downs and Churchill Downs representatives revealed during an Aug. 3 meeting of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund Advisory Committee.

Kentucky Downs senior vice president and general manager Ted Nicholson said the Franklin all-turf track plans to contest maiden races with purses of $135,000, while also raising purses across the board (excluding stakes races) an additional 8% from when the condition book was released in the spring. 

The six-day meet at Kentucky Downs will take place Sept. 5-12. In 2020, the track's maiden races were worth $90,000, down from $130,000 the previous year due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Churchill Downs will pick up live racing Sept. 16 and conduct its 12-day meet through Oct. 3. Ben Huffman, director of racing and racing secretary at the Louisville track, said maiden race purses are currently in the $125,000 range with the condition book still to be finalized.

Last September, Churchill's maiden purses were $75,000 during most of its September dates, but $97,000 during a postponed Kentucky Derby Week the first week of the month. The 2019 levels were $95,000 throughout the meet.

Huffman, also racing secretary at Keeneland, said maiden purses at the Lexington track during its Oct. 8-30 fall meet will be $78,000, compared to $70,000 last October and $71,000 in October 2019.