Record $13.44 Million Spring Meet Stakes Schedule at Churchill Downs

Mar 08, 2021

Led by America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 1, Churchill Downs will present 40 stakes races cumulatively worth a record $13.44 million during its 38-day Spring Meet that runs April 24-June 26.

Derby Week (April 24-May 1) kicks off the nine-week 147^th Spring Meet in style with 18 stakes events that total a record $10.14 million over the six-day stretch, culminating with the 147^th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) for 3-year-olds at 1 ¼ miles.

Half of the 14 races on Derby Day are stakes races, including four Grade I events: the Derby; $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic; $500,000 Churchill Downs presented by Ford and $500,000 Derby City Distaff. There also will be a trio of Grade II events: the $500,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile; $500,000 Pat Day Mile presented by LG&E and KU; and $500,000 American Turf.

One day earlier, Churchill Downs will host the Derby’s female counterpart, the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) at 1 1/8 miles – the nation’s most lucrative race for 3-year-old fillies. The six stakes that day total $3 million: the Oaks; $500,000 La Troienne (GI); $400,000 Alysheba (GII); $300,000 Eight Belles presented by Smithfield (GII); $300,000 Edgewood (GII); and $250,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint presented by Sysco (GII).

Derby Week stakes action that precedes Oaks and Derby days includes the $125,000 William Walker on Opening Night, Saturday, April 24; the newly-renamed $120,000 Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes on Champions Day, Tuesday, April 27, which honors the legendary African-American who was a three-time Derby winner and arguably the greatest jockey American racing has ever known; $125,000 Kentucky Juvenile on Wednesday, April 28; and the $150,000 Unbridled Sidney and $120,000 Opening Verse Overnight Night Stakes on Thurby, Thursday, April 29.

After Derby Week, there will be 22 stakes worth a total of $3.3 million.

Stephen Foster Preview Day is Saturday, May 29 with seven stakes that total $825,000: the $125,000 Matt Winn (GIII); $125,000 Regret (GIII); $125,000 Aristides (Listed); $125,000 Blame; $125,000 Shawnee; $100,000 Audubon; and $100,000 Douglas Park Overnight Stakes.

The $600,000 Stephen Foster (GII), which annually attracts some of the nation’s top older horses, is situated on closing day, Saturday, June 26, for a second consecutive year. The 1 1/8-mile race anchors a seven-race stakes bonanza that totals $1.6 million and includes the $250,000 Fleur de Lis (GII) for fillies and mares and $250,000 Wise Dan (GII) for turf horses.

The lucrative prize money is attributed to returns from historical horse racing at Derby City Gaming, Churchill Downs Incorporated’s $65 million facility that opened September 2018 at nearby 4520 Poplar Level Road.

The first condition book of scheduled races features $106,000 maiden races on Derby Week and $91,000 maiden races after Derby. The Churchill Downs stable area reopens Tuesday, March 16, and the first day of training is Friday, March 19.

2021 CHURCHILL DOWNS SPRING MEET STAKES SCHEDULE

Date	Running	Grade	Purse	Race	Conditions	Distance	Surface
Saturday, April 24	6th	Listed	$125,000	William Walker	3yo	5 ½ F	Turf
Tuesday, April 27	3rd		$120,000	Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes	4&up	1 ½ M	Dirt
Wednesday, April 28	27th		$125,000	Kentucky Juvenile	2yo	5 F	Dirt
Thursday, April 29	11th		$150,000	Unbridled Sidney	3&up, f&m	5 ½ F	Turf
Thursday, April 29	16th		$120,000	Opening Verse Overnight Stakes	4&up	1 M	Turf
Friday, April 30	147th	I	$1,250,000	Longines Kentucky Oaks	3yo f	1 1/8 M	Dirt
Friday, April 30	36th	I	$500,000	La Troienne	4&up, f&m	1 1/16 M	Dirt
Friday, April 30	18th	II	$400,000	Alysheba	4&up	1 1/16 M	Dirt
Friday, April 30	66th	II	$300,000	Eight Belles presented by Smithfield	3yo f	7 F	Dirt
Friday, April 30	37th	II	$300,000	Edgewood	3yo f	1 1/16 M	Turf
Friday, April 30	27th	II	$250,000	Twin Spires Turf Sprint presented by Sysco	3&up	5 ½ F	Turf
Saturday, May 1	147th	I	$3,000,000	Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve	3yo	1 ¼ M	Dirt
Saturday, May 1	35th	I	$1,000,000	Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic	4&up	1 1/8 M	Turf
Saturday, May 1	86th	I	$500,000	Churchill Downs presented by Ford	4&up	7 F	Dirt
Saturday, May 1	35th	I	$500,000	Derby City Distaff	4&up, f&m	7 F	Dirt
Saturday, May 1	36th	II	$500,000	Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile	4&up, f&m	1 M	Turf
Saturday, May 1	97th	II	$500,000	Pat Day Mile presented by LG&E and KU	3yo	1 M	Dirt
Saturday, May 1	30th	II	$500,000	American Turf	3yo	1 1/16 M	Turf
Saturday, May 8	2nd		$100,000	Mamzelle Overnight Stakes	3yo f	5 F	Turf
Saturday, May 15	84th	III	$125,000	Louisville	4&up	1 ½ M	Turf
Saturday, May 22	18th	III	$125,000	Winning Colors	4&up, f&m	6 F	Dirt
Saturday, May 22	8th		$100,000	Keertana Overnight Stakes	4&up, f&m	1 ½ M	Turf
Saturday, May 29	24th	III	$125,000	Matt Winn	3yo	1 1/16 M	Dirt
Saturday, May 29	52nd	III	$125,000	Regret	3yo f	1 1/8 M	Turf
Saturday, May 29	33rd	Listed	$125,000	Aristides	4&up	6 F	Dirt
Saturday, May 29	2nd		$125,000	Blame	4&up	1 1/8 M	Dirt
Saturday, May 29	2nd		$125,000	Shawnee	4&up, f&m	1 1/16 M	Dirt
Saturday, May 29	2nd		$100,000	Audubon	3yo	1 1/8 M	Turf
Saturday, May 29	1st		$100,000	Douglas Park Overnight Stakes	4&up	1 1/16 M	Turf
Saturday, June 5	5th		$100,000	Mighty Beau Overnight Stakes	3&up	5 F	Turf
Saturday, June 12	45th	III	$125,000	Old Forester Mint Julep	4&up, f&m	1 1/16 M	Turf
Saturday, June 19	11th		$100,000	Roxelana Overnight Stakes	3&up, f&m	6 ½ F	Dirt
Friday, June 25	11th		$100,000	Kelly’s Landing Overnight Stakes	3&up	7 F	Dirt
Saturday, June 26	40th	II	$600,000	Stephen Foster	4&up	1 1/8 M	Dirt
Saturday, June 26	46th	II	$250,000	Fleur de Lis	4&up, f&m	1 1/8 M	Dirt
Saturday, June 26	32nd	II	$250,000	Wise Dan	4&up	1 1/16 M	Turf
Saturday, June 26	120th	III	$125,000	Bashford Manor	2yo	6 F	Dirt
Saturday, June 26	120th	Listed	$125,000	Debutante	2yo f	6 F	Dirt
Saturday, June 26	2nd		$125,000	War Chant	3yo	1 M	Turf
Saturday, June 26	2nd		$125,000	Tepin	3yo f	1 M	Turf