Vergara, right, won last year’s Ladies Marathon, whose purse for 2024 will double to $2 million for Kentucky-breds, pending regulatory approval. (Courtney Snow/Past The Wire)
- Renamed G3 Nashville Derby now $3.1 million
- G3 Ladies Marathon doubles to $2 million
- All four 2-year-old stakes go to $1 million
- G2 Ladies Turf Sprint upped to $1.5 million
- Dueling Grounds Oaks goes to $1.6 million
- Gun Runner for 3-year-olds increases to $1.5 million
- 15 stakes overall worth at least $1 million
*pending regulatory approval & including KTDF supplements
Kentucky Downs Release
FRANKLIN, Ky. — Kentucky Downs plans to increase purses for nine of its 18 stakes by a total of $3.7 million from what was originally announced, pending regulatory approval.
Heading the way is the Grade 3 Nashville Derby Invitational, bumped from $2.5 million to $3.1 million. That would make the 1 5/16-mile stakes North America’s second-richest race, for Kentucky-breds, behind only the $5 million Kentucky Derby among races held at one track. The Nashville Derby already was America’s richest turf race for Kentucky-breds outside the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, whose location moves around with the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
The nine requested purse hikes are a combination of increasing the association money that forms a race’s base purse for which every horse runs and supplements from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) restricted to registered Kentucky-breds. For instance, the Nashville Derby would increase to a base purse of $1.9 million, with $1.2 million in KTDF, if approved.
Kentucky Downs’ seven-day meet runs Aug. 29 and 31 and Sept. 1, 5, 7, 8 and 11, featuring nine graded stakes. If approved, total purse money offered at the meet would exceed $39 million, including seven stakes worth at least $2 million with the KTDF supplements. The number of stakes worth at least $1 million for Kentucky-breds will reach 15, with the restricted Tapit and One Dreamer stakes and the new Nashville Gold Cup $500,00 apiece. In addition, the National Thoroughbred League Overnight Handicap will have a $500,000 purse.
The Nashville Derby, formerly the Dueling Grounds Derby, was announced in April as increasing from $1 million to $2.5 million, including Kentucky-bred purse supplements.
Other requested increases:
- The Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon purse would double from $1 million to $2 million, giving the Sept. 7 showcase card six stakes worth $2 million apiece for Kentucky-breds.
- The track’s four 2-year-old stakes each received a $250,000 increase to $1 million with the Kentucky-bred supplements.
- The Grade 2 Ladies Turf Sprint on Aug. 31 would increase to $1.5 million from $1 million in total purse money offered.
- The closing-day Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational would go to $1.6 million; the requested $100,000 increase in base purse means 3-year-old fillies foaled outside of Kentucky still will compete for a cool $1 million.
- The Gun Runner for 3-year-olds at a mile would receive a $500,000 increase to $1.5 million for Kentucky-breds.
The KTDF increases must be approved by the newly formed Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation (previously the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission) after first getting a favorable recommendation from its KTDF advisory committee. Base purses are set in consultation with the Kentucky HBPA, which represents owners and trainers at Kentucky Downs.
The deadline is Aug. 19 to make free nominations to the stakes held on Aug. 29 and 31 and Sept. 1; nominations are due by Aug. 21 for the remaining stakes. Requests for invitations to the Nashville Derby are due by Aug. 17; requests for invitations to the Dueling Grounds Oaks are due by Aug. 27.
Kentucky Downs 2024 Stakes Schedule
All on turf; all include KTDF purse supplements for Kentucky-breds
(KTDF money, which is included in the total purse, listed after stakes name)
Thursday Aug. 29 — $500,000 Tapit Stakes ($250,000 KTDF), 3-year-olds & up, mile and 70 yards. Restricted to horses that have not won a stakes in 2024.
Saturday Aug. 31 — $3.1 million G3 Nashville Derby Invitational ($1.2 million KTDF), 3-year-olds, 1 5/16 miles; $1.5 million G2 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Sprint ($600,000 KTDF), fillies & mares 3 years old & up, 6 1/2 furlongs; $1.5 million G3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf ($600,000 KTDF), fillies & mares 3 years old & up, mile.
Sunday Sept. 1 — $1 million Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint ($500,000 KTDF), 2-year-olds, 6 1/2 furlongs.
Thursday Sept. 5 — $500,000 One Dreamer ($250,000 KTDF), fillies & mares 3 years old & up, mile and 70 yards. Restricted to fillies and mares that have not won a stakes in 2024.
Saturday Sept. 7 — $2 million G1 Franklin-Simpson Stakes ($1 million KTDF), 3-year-olds, 6 1/2 furlongs; $2 million G2 Kentucky Downs Turf Cup ($1 million KTDF), 3-year-olds & up, 1 1/2 miles. “Win and You’re In” for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1); $2 million G2 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint ($1 million KTDF), 3-year-olds & up, 6 furlongs. “Win and You’re In” for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1); $2 million G2 Music City ($1 million KTDF), 3-year-old fillies, 6 1/2 furlongs; $2 million G3 Mint Millions ($1 million KTDF), 3-year-olds & up, mile; $2 million G3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon ($1 million KTDF), fillies & mares 3 years old & up, 1 5/16 miles.
Sunday Sept. 8 — $1.5 million Gun Runner Stakes ($500,000 KTDF), 3-year-olds, mile; $1 million Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile ($500,000 KTDF), 2-year-olds, mile; $1 million Untapable Stakes ($500,000 KTDF), 2-year-old fillies, 6 1/2 furlongs; $1 million Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies ($500,000 KTDF), 2-year-old fillies, mile.
Wednesday Sept. 11 — $1.6 million Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational ($600,000 KTDF), 3-year-old fillies, 1 5/16 miles; $500,000 Nashville Gold Cup ($250,000 KTDF), 2 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds & up.
Click here for the complete 2024 Kentucky Downs condition book (doesn’t reflect pending purse increases)
* Pending regulatory approval, Kentucky Downs would offer $37 million in purses and Kentucky-bred supplements at the meet.
