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First Stakes Noms Out; Deadline Today For Remaining Stakes
NTL Adds Sept. 2 Launch Party Admission To Sept. 3 Tickets
Kentucky Downs Press Release
FRANKLIN, Ky. – Among the sizable numbers that Kentucky Downs posts every meet (purses, betting, field sizes) are stakes nominations. Big purses + free nominations = scores of horses made eligible. Nominations don’t equate to entries, but a broader pool of horses only enhances quality of the ultimate field.
The nominations were released today (Wednesday) for the first group of Kentucky Downs stakes, the six stakes spread of Aug. 31 and Sept. 2 and 3, along with the $500,000 National Thoroughbred League Handicap, for which weights will be out Thursday Aug. 24. There were 478 nominations for the seven races, which reflects some horses being nominated for multiple races, and drawing from stables across the country.
The most popular race as far as nominations was the $1 million, Grade 3 Big Ass Fans Music City for 3-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs with 80 nominations. The fewest nominations were a very healthy 47 horses made eligible for the $1 million Dueling Grounds Oaks, also for 3-year-old fillies.
The other stakes: The $500,000 FanDuel TVG Tapit Stakes for horses that haven’t won a stakes in 2023 (77 nominees); $1 million Gun Runner for 3-year-olds at a mile (73); $2 million, Grade 3 Mint Millions for older horses at a mile (71); and the $1 million, Grade 3 Dueling Grounds Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 5/16 miles (59). The NTL Handicap, for older horses at a mile, also proved popular with 71 horses made eligible.
The nominations and past performances for the stakes are available at this Equibase link.
Reminder to horsemen: Today (Aug. 23) is the deadline to nominate for Kentucky Downs’ final 11 stakes. Email stakes nominations to tylerpicklesimer@kentuckydowns.com or call the Kentucky Downs racing office at 270-598-9821 or fax to 270-253-3301.
Nominations and the Equibase past performances for the stakes and the NTL Handicap during the first three days of racing are now on line here.
NTL adds kickoff concert to Sept. 3 reserved-seating tickets
The National Thoroughbred League wants to share its launch party the evening of Saturday Sept. 2 with racegoers on Sunday Sept. 3.
As part of its sponsorship with Kentucky Downs, included with the purchase of Sept. 3 FanDuel VIP Chalet or Finish Line Pavilion tickets will be free VIP Admission to the NTL Launch Party at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon featuring DJ Pee Wee (aka Anderson Paak) on Saturday Sept. 2. Additional details will be provided via email after purchase.
The National Thoroughbred League is the title sponsor of the $1 million, Grade 3 NTL Dueling Grounds Derby and the $500,000 NTL Handicap on the Sept. 3 card.
Reserved seating tickets for Sept. 3 and other days can be purchased online at kentuckydowns.ticketspice.com/tickets2023.
The VIP Chalet is sold out for Sept. 9, when Kentucky Downs is staging six graded stakes worth at least $1 million for Kentucky-breds, but limited tickets remain for the Finish Line Pavilion.
