Churchill Downs Stakes to Provide Entry at Epsom, Ascot

Churchill Downs has announced a new partnership with the British Jockey Club and Ascot Racecourse to offer a program in which horses competing during Kentucky Derby week can receive an entry and travel incentive for races at Epsom Downs Racecourse and the Royal Ascot meeting. 

"This is a really special partnership that will give owners and trainers a great opportunity to run in some of our marquee races during Kentucky Derby week and, in exchange, they could receive entries into some of Europe's most prestigious turf races," said Gary Palmisano Jr., executive director of racing for Churchill Downs Inc. "The Kentucky Derby was born after Colonel Meriwether Lewis Clark visited Europe for the Epsom Derby in 1872. With this being the 150th Kentucky Derby, it is a great chance to revisit history.

"More recently, we've annually seen some of our country's top turf horses compete on the undercard of the Kentucky Derby, and this partnership will give owners and trainers based in Europe a good incentive to bring some of their top horses over to experience Kentucky Derby week. Not only is this a great opportunity for connections based in Europe, but this will give our owners and trainers here in North America a shot to compete on the international stage."

Two races on Kentucky Derby day, May 4, will offer horses an entry and travel incentive to run at Royal Ascot in mid-June. The winner of the Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) will receive a berth to either the one-mile Queen Anne Stakes (G1) or the 1 1/4-mile Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1). Earlier on the Kentucky Derby day program, the winner of the Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes (G2T) will receive an entry to the King Charles Stakes (G1), a race formerly known as the King's Stand.

"We are very excited to be working with Churchill Downs and the UK Jockey Club on this exciting new initiative," said Nick Smith, director of racing and public affairs at Ascot Racecourse. "We were very pleased to play our part hosting the Churchill team at Royal Ascot last year, with the Kentucky Derby trophy on display as they built up to this important 150th running of the world's greatest dirt race. We have a rich modern history of American runners at Royal Ascot and their success always adds hugely to the meeting—with NBC covering the event all week, the Saturday on the main network channel, hopefully, this new link-up of races will add a new dimension to their and ITV's coverage."

Three-year-old turf specialists in the American Turf Stakes (G2T) and Edgewood Stakes (G2T) can receive their entry to either the Epsom Derby (G1) or Epsom Oaks (G1). The winner of the American Turf on Kentucky Derby Day will receive an entry and travel stipend to compete in the Epsom Derby, while one day earlier, on Kentucky Oaks Day, the winner of the Edgewood will receive the same benefits for the Epsom Oaks.

The new initiative follows a challenging fall meet of turf racing at Churchill Downs, in which the course was scarcely used over the second half of November. The current course, which was laid down with sod in 2021, as well as the prior one, has withstood more usage in early spring.

"We're delighted to develop these links with races at the Kentucky Derby meeting in its 150th year," said Matt Woolston, assistant racing and international director at The Jockey Club in the United Kingdom. "A trip to Churchill Downs is one that should be on the bucket list for every racing fan, the world over. The Kentucky Derby itself can trace its origin back to Epsom Downs in 1780 when Diomed won the very first Derby and we are proud to reinforce this historic link.

"We look forward to welcoming American runners to the Betfred Oaks and Betfred Derby. Runners who perform well in the Edgewood Stakes and the American Turf will come to Epsom Downs with a fighting chance, and it will be fascinating to see how they fare. These historic races already have an international reputation, and we want to welcome more and more international runners in the years to come."

In return for the above incentives for horses on Kentucky Derby weekend, a runner from both the Prince of Wales's Stakes and Queen Anne Stakes will receive an entry and a travel incentive to run in the Arlington Million Stakes (G1T) in mid-August at Colonial Downs. In addition, a runner from the Falmouth Stakes (G1) at Newmarket's July Festival will receive an entry and travel incentive to run in the Beverly D. Stakes (G1T) on the same day as the Arlington Million.