KTDF Purses Climb for Breeders' Cup Undercard Races

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approved Aug. 16 a request from Keeneland to increase Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund purses for eight races supporting the Breeders' Cup at the Lexington track Nov. 4-5.

KTDF purses, which have risen sharply in recent years due to growth in historical horse racing revenue, provide added money to horses bred in the state.

The increase in KTDF purses, initially proposed during a KTDF Advisory Committee meeting, raise KTDF purses $260,000 to give Keeneland $5.2 million in KTDF purses this fall, announced Drew Conners, KHRC Director of Incentives and Development.

"And I also like to add that those races will be (run) without race day medication, per Breeders' Cup policy," Conners said of the undercard races.

Also during the Tuesday meeting, the KHRC expectedly approved Kentucky Downs' request to transfer $1 million of KTDF funds to Keeneland for its fall meet after the proposal received a KDTF Advisory Committee recommendation.

Meanwhile, KHRC chief veterinarian Dr. Nick Smith told commissioners that Churchill Downs had six equine fatalities during its spring meet April 30-July 4 from 3,227 starts, five as a result of musculoskeletal injuries and the other from sudden death. That translates to 1.86 equine fatalities per 1,000 starts, above The Jockey Club's Equine Injury Database North American average of 1.39 from 2021.

Three horses died during training, two from musculoskeletal injuries and one from sudden death, Smith added.