Churchill Downs Press Release/Edited
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Eleven stakes races cumulatively worth $3,575,000 will be offered during the 14-day September Meet at Churchill Downs, which runs Sept. 12-29.
The 12th annual September Meet, which runs for three weeks, will offer horsemen plenty of opportunities to prep for the Nov. 1-2 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar, led by the $500,000 Lukas Classic (Grade II) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles and the $400,000 Ack Ack (GIII) for 3-year-olds and up at one mile – a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” race for the Dirt Mile – on Saturday, Sept. 28.
Additionally, the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks series will kick-off Saturday, Sept. 14 with the $300,000 Iroquois (GIII) and $300,000 Pocahontas (GIII), respectively. Both races for 2-year-olds will be run at the one turn, one-mile distance.
Two changes have been made to the stakes schedule compared to last year’s lineup. The distance of the $300,000 Open Mind (Listed) for fillies and mares, one of five stakes on Sept. 14, has been increased from six furlongs to 6 ½ furlongs. Additionally, the $200,000 Jefferson Cup for 3-year-olds at one mile on turf has been placed on hiatus because all races during this year’s September Meet will be run on dirt to ensure the turf course reaches its maximum performance for the Oct. 27-Dec. 1 Fall Meet and into next year’s Spring Meet.
Churchill Downs’ 14-day meet will be staged over three weeks from Thursday, Sept. 12 through Sunday, Sept. 29 with racing on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Outside of the three Twilight Thursdays (5 p.m. ET) and Downs After Dark on Sept. 28 (6 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 10-race programs on Fridays and Sundays. Eleven races will be showcased each Saturday.
Tickets for the September Meet are on sale at https://www.churchilldowns.com/day-at-the-races/, and there are plenty of special events and entertainment to complement the world-class racing.
2024 CHURCHILL DOWNS SEPTEMBER MEET STAKES SCHEDULE
| Date | Running | Grade | Purse | Race | Conditions | Distance | Surface |
| Saturday, Sept. 14 | 40th | II | $400,000 | Fasig-Tipton Locust Grove | 3&up, f&m | 1 1/16 M | Dirt |
| Saturday, Sept. 14 | 43rd | III | $300,000 | Iroquois | 2yo | 1 M | Dirt |
| Saturday, Sept. 14 | 56th | III | $300,000 | Pocahontas | 2yo f | 1 M | Dirt |
| Saturday, Sept. 14 | 15th | Listed | $300,000 | Open Mind | 3&up, f&m | 6 ½ F | Dirt |
| Saturday, Sept. 14 | 4th | $300,000 | Louisville Thoroughbred Society | 3&up | 6 F | Dirt | |
| Saturday, Sept. 21 | 49th | III | $300,000 | Dogwood | 3yo f | 7 F | Dirt |
| Saturday, Sept. 21 | 4th | $300,000 | Bourbon Flight | 3yo | 1 3/16 M | Dirt | |
| Saturday, Sept. 21 | 4th | $300,000 | Harrods Creek | 3yo | 7 F | Dirt | |
| Saturday, Sept. 21 | 4th | Listed | $175,000 | Seneca Overnight Stakes | 3yo f | 1 1/16 M | Dirt |
| Saturday, Sept. 28 | 11th | II | $500,000 | Lukas Classic | 3&up | 1 1/8 M | Dirt |
| Saturday, Sept. 28 | 32nd | III | $400,000 | Ack Ack (Win & You’re In Dirt Mile Division) | 3&up | 1 M | Dirt |
Purse offerings for the September Meet are pending approval from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.
