Churchill Downs News Release: Racing Returns to Churchill Downs Thursday at 5 p.m. for Action-Packed 14-Day September Meet

Sep 08, 2025

Horse racing on the Kentucky horse racing circuit shifts to Churchill Downs on Thursday with the first of three Twilight Thursday programs at 5 p.m. (all times Eastern) as the famed Louisville racetrack opens its 13th annual September Meet for an action-packed 14-date run through Sunday, Sept. 28.

Thursday’s eight-race opener lured 89 entries (84 in the body plus five also eligible runners) for an average of 10.5 horses per race. A field of 10 fillies and mares was entered for the featured seventh race, a $141,000 allowance/optional claiming event at 6 ½ furlongs. The Chris Hartman-trained Fibber, winner of last year’s $173,500 Audubon Oaks at Ellis Park, is the mild 4-1 morning line favorite against fellow stakes winners Legadema and Lady Moscato.

The opening day program also has a $134,000 second-level allowance/optional claimer for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on turf (Race 5) led by the Cherie DeVeaux-trained Depiction, who narrowly missed winning last fall’s $591,625 Bryan Station (Grade III) at Keeneland.

The card also includes a $127,000 first-level allowance for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs (Race 4) and a $120,000 maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs (Race 6).

Opening day doubles as First Responders Day as Churchill Downs salutes the service of local heroes, including firefighters, police officers, EMTs, paramedics and emergency dispatchers. There will be emergency vehicle displays, interactive activities with local police and fire departments and a special presentation of colors by the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) Color Guard. All first responders will receive free general admission with a valid ID and can purchase discounted dining tickets in Millionaires Row or Skye Terrace by calling (502) 636-4450.

Horsemen will compete for $14.927 million (all purses include prize money from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund) offered in Vice President of Racing Ben Huffman’s September Meet condition book, which features 134 races including an 11-race stakes schedule cumulatively worth $3.575 million.

Average daily purses are $1,066,214 and the average race is worth $111,396. Maiden special weight races have a $120,000 purse while allowance races range from $127,000 to $141,000.

Five stakes races, including two important fixtures for juveniles that could produce starters in this year’s Breeders’ Cup and next spring’s Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) and the Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI), will be showcased Saturday afternoon. Total prize money for the 11-race program is a hefty $2.189 million – the most lucrative day of the boutique meet.

The $300,000 Iroquois (GIII) kicks off the Road to the 152nd Kentucky Derby series, while the $300,000 Pocahontas (GIII) starts the Road to the 152nd Kentucky Oaks. Additionally, both races are part of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen Bonus Series program that awards a tiered bonus bankroll which can be utilized towards pre-entry and entry fees at the Breeders’ Cup for horses that finish first, second or third.

Comport, the Eddie Kenneally-trained two-length winner of the $198,000 Ellis Park Juvenile, heads the one-mile Iroquois. Dazzling Dane, two-length winner of the $100,000 Sorority at Monmouth Park for high-percentage trainer Brittany Russell, invades from Maryland to challenge the Pocahontas.

The stakes-laden program also includes the $300,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society, an open sprint for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs, as well as two stakes for fillies and mares, the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Locust Grove (GII) over 1 1/16 miles and the $300,000 Open Mind (Listed) at 6 ½ furlongs.

Other marque events during the September Meet include a stakes quartet on Saturday, Sept. 20: the $300,000 Dogwood presented by Resolute Racing (GIII) for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs; $300,000 Bourbon Flight for 3-year-olds at 1 3/16 miles; $300,000 Harrods Creek for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs; and $175,000 Seneca Overnight Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.

Closing weekend is anchored by the $500,000 Lukas Classic (GII) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on Saturday, Sept. 27 and honors the late Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who passed away earlier this summer. The Lukas Classic serves as a prep for the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) five weeks in advance of the Nov. 1 race at Del Mar.

Also run on Sept. 27 is the $400,000 Ack Ack (GIII) for 3-year-olds and up at one mile.

Five-Day Racing Weeks

Churchill Downs’ 14-day meet will be staged over three weeks from Thursday, Sept. 11 through Sunday, Sept. 28 with racing on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Outside of the three Twilight Thursdays (5 p.m. ET), the first race for all other race days will be 12:45 p.m. ET. Nine races are scheduled on Wednesdays, eight races are scheduled on Thursdays with mostly 10-race programs on Fridays and Sundays. Eleven races will be showcased each Saturday.

Popular 5 p.m. ‘Twilight Thursdays’ Return With $2 Beer, Live Music, Food Trucks

Churchill Downs will host three Twilight Thursdays from 5-8 p.m. in the Paddock Plaza. Weekly features include $2 select domestic beer, live music (Piper Madison on Sept. 11; Ben Bernhard on Sept. 18; and Kevin Neihoff on Sept. 25), food trucks and yard games.

The Food Truck lineup includes All Thai’d Up (Sept. 25), Bamba Egg Roll Company (Sept. 18 and Sept. 25), Black Rock Grille (Sept. 18), Con Aji y Café (Sept. 11 and Sept. 25), Drake’s (Sept. 11 and Sept. 25), Gringos Food Trucks (Sept. 25), HurriKanes (Sept. 11 and Sept. 18), Lil Cheezers (Sept. 11), Ramiro’s Cantina (Sept. 11 and Sept. 18) and Red Top Dogs (Sept. 18).

General admission is $10 or just $5 for college students with a student ID or .edu email address.

College Day Featuring $20,000 in Scholarship Giveaways is Saturday, Sept. 13

Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association will award $20,000 in scholarships during College Day on Saturday, Sept. 13, highlighted by student activities and a meet-and-greet with the Bellarmine men’s basketball team.

College students who present a valid student ID will receive free admission and be eligible for $20,000 in scholarships, including one $10,000 award and five $2,000 awards. One of the scholarships is reserved for children of backstretch employees.

Students can also enter to win VIP paddock tours provided by Amplify Horseracing, exclusive Churchill Downs merchandise and gift cards to The Outlet Shoppes of the Bluegrass.

The Bellarmine men’s basketball team will join Kentucky State University’s track and field team along with the cheer and dance squads from both schools for photos and autographs. The day also includes a mascot stick pony race in the paddock.

College students will receive a 15% discount in the Churchill Downs Store and can learn about various equine programs from the University of Louisville Equine Business Program, Kentucky Equine Management Internship Program and Ed Brown Society.

Stakes Room Brunch Every Sunday

On Sundays during the September Meet, Churchill Downs is offering a Stakes Room Brunch. The $87 package for adults and $34 package for children includes a seat in the Stakes Room on the fourth floor of the Clubhouse and all-you-can-eat access to the brunch menu that includes scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, French toast, carved pork tenderloin, herb-rubbed chicken, southern short ribs, bacon, sausage, home-fried breakfast potatoes, cream cheese grits, vegetables, salads and assorted cookies, brownies, cakes and specialty desserts.

Senior Day on Friday, Sept. 19

The lone Senior Day of the September Meet at Churchill Downs is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 19. Guests 60 and up can enjoy lunch and a day at the races in Millionaires Row for only $45. Senior Day tickets can be purchased by calling (502) 636-4450.

Family Adventure Day Scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 21

Family Adventure Day is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 21 with a “Purple Takeover” that includes meet-and-greet appearances with star players from professional soccer teams Louisville City FC and Racing Louisville FC.

Families are encouraged to bring the kids to Churchill Downs for a day of racing and more than 15 kid-friendly activities including face painting, inflatables, arts and crafts and more. Up to two children may attend for free per paying adult.

In partnership with Blessings in a Backpack, Churchill Downs encourages guests to bring two non-perishable food items to the Paddock Gate to enter for a chance to meet track bugler Steve Buttleman.

Thoroughbred Aftercare Day Set for Saturday, Sept. 27

Churchill Downs will host Thoroughbred Aftercare Day on Saturday, Sept. 27 to honor organizations and individuals that are dedicated to retired racehorses.

Eight aftercare organizations will be on-site to give guests an opportunity to learn more about rehoming and retraining efforts for retired Thoroughbreds. Participating groups include Friends of Ferdinand Inc., Kentucky Equine Adoption Center, New Vocations, Old Friends, Second Stride, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Thoroughbred Charities of America and Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.

Each organization will share a special Thoroughbred Aftercare Day ticket link on their social media channels. A portion of each ticket purchased through those links will be donated to support their aftercare efforts. To purchase reserved seating tickets through the official link, fans can visit: www.gofevo.com/group/Thoroughbredaftercareday.

Guests also will be able to meet Golden Strike, the dam of 2022 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike, and learn about her post-racing life. A horse snack station will be available for guests to feed her horse-friendly treats, along with other activities throughout the day.

Betting Menu Features New $3 Late Pick 3

Churchill Downs will debut a special $3 Late Pick 3 during its September Meet. The wager, which carries a horseplayer-friendly 15% takeout, will be offered on the final three races of each card. All other Pick 3s will remain unchanged at their 50-cent base denomination.

Aside from the new $3 Late Pick 3, the wagering menu mirrors the Spring Meet and includes the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot on the last six races each day (15% takeout). The Derby City 6 jackpot will be paid only if there is a single winning wager with six winners placed at the required minimum bet value. If there are multiple winning wagers with six winners in the six-race sequence, 90 percent of the net money wagering into the pool will be paid, and the remaining 10 percent will carry to the Derby City 6 jackpot. If there are no tickets will all six winners, 100 percent of the pool will carry to the Derby City 6 jackpot. There will be a mandatory payout on closing day.

The daily betting menu also features 50-cent Pick 5s with a low 15-percent takeout and 50-cent Pick 4s. Win, Place, Show, Exacta, 50-cent Trifecta, 10-cent Superfecta, Daily Double, 50-cent Pick 3 wagers (except for the $3 Late Pick 3) and rolling $1 Super Hi-5s will be offered every race (on all races that qualify under Kentucky statutes for minimum field size).

Free Workout Videos for Horseplayers

Thanks to the support of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, horseplayers and horsemen can view workouts of select horses at Churchill Downs free-of-charge throughout the year. The workouts are available at https://www.kentuckybred.org/workout-videos/.

Gaffalione, Cox, Rigney Defend September Titles

Tyler Gaffalione had the hot hand during last year’s September Meet with 24 wins, seven more than Luis Saez. Brad Cox was last September’s champion trainer with nine wins, two more than Steve Asmussen. Richard Rigney’s Rigney Racing LLC was the leading owner with four trips to the winner’s circle, one more than Gervais Racing LLC and Godolphin LLC.

Odds and Ends

Travis Stone will describe the racing action throughout the September Meet for the 11th straight year. Veteran odds maker Mike Battaglia has morning line odds duty for the 51st consecutive year.

‘Churchill Downs Today’ Airs One-Hour Before First Race

Horseplayers can get the latest advice and a preview of the day’s card by watching “Churchill Downs Today” one hour prior to first post. Join Joe Kristufek, Tony Calo, Kaitlin Free and Kevin Kilroy as they handicap the program, give ticket-structure advice and insight for horseplayers betting the racing program. Churchill Downs Today will be shown on www.TwinSpires.com.

Churchill Downs Racing Televised on FanDuel TV

The racing action from Churchill Downs throughout the September Meet will be broadcast on FanDuel TV and the FanDuel+ app.

Wager on Churchill Downs Racing via TwinSpires.com

Racing fans are encouraged to wager on racing from Churchill Downs via www.TwinSpires.com, the official advance-deposit wagering service for Churchill Downs Incorporated and its family of racetracks. Past performance information can be purchased online at www.Brisnet.com.

For more information, call (502) 636-4400 or visit www.churchilldowns.com.