At the top is the renamed $2.5 million GIII Nashville Derby on August 31, Kentucky Downs will host six races worth at least $2 million each, including additions to registered Kentucky breeds, at this year's seven-day race taking place on August 29 and 31 and September 1, 5, 7, 8 and 11, the song said in Wednesday's release.
Kentucky Downs' condition book has expected purses totaling $35 million, including $16 million in Kentucky-bred money. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on Tuesday approved Kentucky Downs' request for a purse boost from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF), which is limited to registered horses bred in the Commonwealth common and bred by a Kentucky stallion.
Formerly known as Dueling Grounds Derby, Nashville The Derby became the richest race in track history and the most lucrative turf race in North America other than the $5 million GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf. The only American races that offer more money for Kentucky breeds on any surface than the Breeders' Cup are the GI Kentucky Derby and the GI Pegasus World Cup.
“We want to build Nashville Ron Winchell, co-managing partner of Kentucky Downs with Marc Falcone, said: “The Derby has become a race that American and European horsemen both look forward to and buy horses for. “The name change reflects our proximity to one of America's great cities, which we see as an added incentive to come. Even non-Kentucky horses will still be in the race for $1.5 million and we've located Nashville Derby so it fits into a big-money circuit for 3-year-old turf horses with stakes from Keeneland and Churchill Downs as well as the New York Belmont Derby, Saratoga Derby and Jockey Club Derby.”
The Kentucky Downs meet will feature a total of 11 stakes worth at least $1 million (including the KTDF supplement) for a total of 18 stakes. Nine stakes enjoy graded status, including the track's first Grade I stakes in the $2 million Franklin-Simpson for 3-year-old sprinters. The six graded stakes of the September 7 showcase card carry a total purse of $10 million, including a quartet of $2 million races.
Kentucky Downs | Coady Photography
Also raised to $2 million this year is Franklin-Simpson; GII Kentucky Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles for older horses; GII Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint for sprinters and GII Music City S. for 3-year-old sprinters. The Kentucky Turf Cup raised $1.7 million last year; others from 1 million USD, including KTDF.
Other races received purse increases: the $1.5 million GIII Ladies Turf and the $1.5 million Dueling Grounds Oaks (both $1 million last year). The four Kentucky Downs stakes for 2-year-olds were increased to $750,000 from $500,000 for Kentucky-bred fillies.
An 18th bet has been added: 500,000 USD Nashville The Gold Cup at 2 1/16 miles is set for the September 11 closing card.
The winners of the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint and Kentucky Downs Turf Cup will receive an entry into the respective Breeders' Cup race.
The overnight wallet of Kentucky Downs, the richest company in America, was also mobilized. The maiden races, already the richest in the world, increased from $150,000 to $170,000, with subsidy races worth up to $220,000 for Kentucky-breds for a total of 75 races offered Schedule the race.
To enhance its international standing, Kentucky Downs has added director of racing operations Martin Panza to its staff. He has 30 years of experience, including serving as senior vice president of racing operations at the New York Racing Association from 2013-2021.
Another addition included the services of the International Racing Bureau, which planned and/or launched the Breeders' Cup, Dubai World Cup, Japan Cup and Arlington Million. The organization recruits foreign horses for major races around the world, working with horsemen and tracks on logistics.
