Historical Racing Machines Boost Churchill Purses

Churchill Downs announced record prize money for horsemen will be distributed at its 145th spring meet as a result of early returns from historical racing machines at Derby City Gaming.

The first condition book, which covers the first half of the 38-day spring meet, was released Feb. 27, and purses for the 189 offered races total $20.1 million—an unprecedented 46% increase from last spring's $13.7 million. The daily average is $1,056,842 compared with $722,579 in 2018, or $106,243 per race versus $72,640. All purses include prize money from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.

The meet will begin Saturday, April 27, and continue through Saturday, June 29. The stable area will reopen Tuesday, March 19, and the first scheduled day of training is Friday, March 22.

Purses for all six days of racing during Kentucky Derby Week (April 27-May 4) have been supercharged. In years past, only the purses on Oaks and Derby days were boosted. Maiden special weight races will be $100,000. Allowance races will range from $103,000 to $110,000. Total purses on Oaks Day will exceed $3.6 million, and Derby Day prize money will be worth a record $6.9 million.

After Derby Week, maiden special weight races will be worth $85,000 (up from $53,000 in 2018), and allowance races will range from $87,000 to $94,000 (up from $55,000 to $61,000 in 2018). The daily prize money post-Derby Week will average $525,308 compared with $356,769 in 2018, or $55,975 per race versus $38,016 a year ago.

In a change from last year, the winner's share of the purse in all overnight races will be 56% (previously 60%) and 1.5% of the purse will be distributed to the sixth- through last-place finishers (previously 0.5%) to encourage more starts and reward owners who run their horses.

More than $30 million in total prize money—$12 million in stakes races and another $18 million in overnight races—is expected to be offered during this year's spring meet. Last year, total purses paid during the 372-race spring meet was $22.2 million.

"This is such an exciting time to be a part of Kentucky racing," said Churchill Downs Racetrack president Kevin Flanery. "Our investment into Derby City Gaming, which opened just five months ago, continues to pay immediate dividends to Kentucky horsemen. We have reinforced our Derby Week festival concept, solidified our lucrative stakes program and tremendously strengthened our overnight racing product. We truly believe this growth and methodology will benefit all owners, trainers and jockeys that participate at Churchill Downs and make for an extremely exciting and competitive meet."

With 75 total racing dates in 2019, Churchill Downs will increase its purses with more than $10 million as a result of handle generated by Derby City Gaming's initial year of operation. The $65 million facility opened in mid-September at nearby 4520 Poplar Level Road.

For the full stakes schedule, click here.

Earlier this year, Churchill Downs announced a record 34-race, $12.2 million spring meet stakes schedule that included a $1 million boost to the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) Saturday, May 4, making it worth a guaranteed $3 million. Also among the 15 stakes races that received significant increases were the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), which was raised to $1.25 million, and the Old Forester Turf Classic (G1T), which was doubled to $1 million.