Racing Returns to Churchill Downs

Churchill Downs. Coady Photography

First Race Sunday At 1 P.M. For 21-Day Fall Meet

Darren Rogers/Churchill Downs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Thoroughbred racing in Kentucky shifts from Keeneland to Churchill Downs on Sunday as the home of the Kentucky Derby readies to open its 134^th Fall Meet with an 11-race program – all for promising 2-year-old Thoroughbreds – at 1 p.m. (all times Eastern).

The popular 21-day stand covers a four-week stretch every Wednesday-Sunday through Nov. 26.

The Fall Meet kicks off in style Sunday with the 19^th annual “Stars of Tomorrow I” program, which is entirely devoted to hopeful 2-year-olds with aspirations of trail-blazing their way to next year’s Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) and Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI).

Sunday’s 11-race opening day card is headlined by the 11^th runnings of two 1 1/16 miles, $200,000 stakes – the open-company Street Sense (GIII) and Rags to Riches for fillies. Those races serve as local steppingstones to the two Grade II, $400,000, 1 1/16-mile counterparts on the Saturday, Nov. 25 “Stars of Tomorrow II” program – the open Kentucky Jockey Club and Golden Rod for fillies. Each race is a part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks series which award points to the Top 5 finishers (10-5-3-2-1).

A whopping 143 juveniles, including 22 also-eligible runners, were entered for Sunday’s opener, which is a compelling average of 11 horses per race for horseplayers. 

Moonlight, an Audible colt trained by Todd Pletcher who broke his maiden by eight lengths, is the 5-2 morning line favorite in the Street Sense. Pocahontas (GIII) winner and Alcibiades (GI) runner-up V V’s Dream, who also was pre-entered in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies to be run Nov. 3 at Santa Anita, is the 6-5 choice in the Pocahontas. 

Inaugurated in 2005, Churchill Downs’ “Stars of Tomorrow” programs have helped launched the careers of numerous graded stakes winners, including more than 50 future Grade I winners led by Horse of the Year champions Gun Runner (2017) and Rachel Alexandra (2009); Kentucky Derby winners Super Saver (2010) and Mandaloun (2021); Kentucky Oaks winners Rachel Alexandra (2009), Believe You Can (2012), Monomoy Girl (2018), Secret Oath (2022) and Pretty Mischievous (2023); Preakness winners Rachel Alexandra (2009), Shackleford(2011),  War of Will (2019) and Swiss Skydiver (2020); Belmont winner Creator (2016) as well as 2012 Breeders’ Cup Classic and 2013 Stephen Foster hero Fort Larned and 2013 champion 3-year-old Will Take Charge.

Horsemen will compete for $22.89 million offered in Vice President of Racing Ben Huffman’s Fall Meet condition book of 218 races, including a 15-race stakes schedule cumulatively worth $4.75 million.

Average daily purses are $1,090,000. Maiden special weight races have a $120,000 purse while allowance races range from $127,000 to $141,000. All purses, including claiming races, include prize money from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (pending Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approval).

Sunday’s card features $1,466,000 in prize money

The lucrative stakes schedule is anchored by the 149^th running of the $600,000 Clark presented by Norton Healthcare (GI). The 1 1/8-mile test for 3-year-olds and up on “Black Friday,” Nov. 24 annually lures some of the top horses in North America and is the centerpiece of nine stakes races scheduled over Thanksgiving weekend.

2023 CHURCHILL DOWNS FALL MEET STAKES SCHEDULE

Luis Saez had the hot hand during last year’s Fall Meet with 23 wins, two more than Tyler Gaffalione’s 21. Mike Maker led all trainers during the 2022 Fall Meet with 12 victories, one more than Steve Asmussen. 

Trick-or-Treat at the Track at Family Adventure Day on Sunday

Sunday’s opener comes two days before Halloween and Churchill Downs will present Family Adventure Day: Trick-or-Treat at the Track.

Kids 12 and under are encouraged to wear costumes and visit 10 “Trick-or-Treat Boo Stations” near the Grove, which is located just inside the Clubhouse and VIP Gates, as Churchill Downs hands out candy between 12:30-4 p.m. 

There will be more than 15 activities for children to enjoy including a pumpkin patch,face painting (1-4:30 p.m.), arts and crafts stations, bounce houses including a haunted maze, bubble station, and games such as pumpkin bowling, cornhole, giant Jenga, giant checkers, giant Connect 4 and Tic-Tac-Toe.

Also, the DonutNV food truck will be on hand for guests to craft custom mini donuts by selecting their favorite glaze and toppings.

General admission is $9 and up to two children are free per paying adult. For access to Family Adventure Day activities, guests must check in at the Family Adventure Day tent located near the VIP Gate. 

Other Special Fall Meet Events __________________

Other special events during the Fall Meet include a free 2024 Churchill Downs Calendar sponsored by Humana to the first 5,000 guests in attendance on Saturday, Nov. 25.

Other events: Senior Days on Wednesday, Nov. 1 and Wednesday, Nov. 15; First Responders Day on Sunday, Nov. 5; Military Appreciation Day on Saturday, Nov. 11; Sunday Brunch in the Stakes Room every Sunday; and a special visit by Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus on Friday, Nov. 24 and Saturday, Nov. 25. 

Racing Wednesday-Sunday; First Race 1 p.m. Most Days

After Sunday’s opener, live racing will be conducted on a Wednesday-Sunday schedule with dark days on Mondays and Tuesdays. Most race days feature 10 live races. There will be 11 on Sunday’s opener plus three Saturdays: Nov. 4, 11 and 18. Nine-race cards will be held Nov. 5-10. Twelve-race cards are scheduled over the final four days, Nov. 23-26.

Post time will be 1 p.m. (all times Eastern) on most racing days with admission gates open at noon. There will be an early 11:30 a.m. start (gates 10:30 a.m.) on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov. 23) – a Louisville tradition at Churchill Downs since 1969 where more than 7,000 turkey dinners are served with all the trimmings, making it the largest number anywhere in the region.

General Admission, Reserved Seating Options

General admission to Churchill Downs is $10. Reserved third-floor box seats are $15 and indoor dining options start at $44. Children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ChurchillDowns.com/Tickets or by calling (502) 636-4400.

Betting Menu Features 20-Cent Derby City 6 Jackpot

The betting menu is the same as recent meets and includes the 20-cent minimum “Derby City 6” jackpot, which is offered on the last six races each day with a low 15-percent takeout. The Derby City 6 jackpot will be paid only if there is a single winning wager with six winners placed at the required minimum bet value. If there are multiple winning wagers with six winners in the six-race sequence, 90 percent of the net money wagering into the pool will be paid, and the remaining 10 percent will carry to the Derby City 6 jackpot. If there are no tickets will all six winners, 100 percent of the pool will carry to the Derby City 6 jackpot. There will be a mandatory payout on closing day.

The daily betting menu also features 50-cent Pick 5s with a low 15-percent takeout and 50-cent Pick 4s. Win, Place, Show, Exacta, 50-cent Trifecta, 10-cent Superfecta, Daily Double, 50-cent Pick 3 wagers and rolling $1 Super Hi-5s will be offered every race (on all races that qualify under Kentucky statutes for minimum field size).

Wager on Churchill Downs Racing via TwinSpires.com

Racing fans are encouraged to wager on racing from Churchill Downs via www.TwinSpires.com, the official advance-deposit wagering service for Churchill Downs Incorporated and its family of racetracks. TwinSpires.com boasts an improved wagering experience and mobile app combining the latest technology with the ability to wager on virtually every quarter, harness and thoroughbred horse race from venues across the globe. TwinSpires.com also offers access to unmatched insight and analysis from our horse racing experts, handicappers, insiders, educators and Bloodstock Research Information Services (Brisnet).

Free Workout Videos for Horseplayers

Thanks to the support of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, horseplayers and horsemen can view workouts of select horses at Churchill Downs free-of-charge throughout the year. The workouts are available at https://www.kentuckybred.org/workout-videos/.

ODDS/ends 

Travis Stone will describe the racing action throughout the Fall Meet for the ninth straight year. Veteran odds maker Mike Battaglia has morning line odds duty for the 49^th consecutive year.

‘Churchill Downs Today’ Airs One-Hour Before First Race

Horseplayers can get the latest expert advice and a preview of the day’s card by watching “Churchill Downs Today” one hour prior to first post. Join Joe Kristufek, Scott Shapiro, Kaitlin Free and others as they handicap the program, give crucial ticket-structure advice and inside information for horseplayers betting the racing program. Churchill Downs Today will be shown on www.TwinSpires.com and the Churchill Downs LIVE app on Smart TVs.

The Churchill Downs LIVE app is available free of charge on streaming services such as Amazon, Apple TV and Roku. Fans can download the Churchill Downs LIVE app for full access to a free HD live stream of the Churchill Downs simulcast signal.

Churchill Downs Racing Televised on FanDuel TV

The racing action from Churchill Downs throughout the September Meet will be broadcast on FanDuel TV and the FanDuel+ app. Several FanDuel TV hosts and handicappers will be live on-site throughout the September Meet including Matt Bernier, Andie Biancone, Caton Bredar, Matt Carothers, Scott Hazleton, Caleb Keller and Geena Lucille.  

‘Inside Churchill Downs’ Airs Fridays 6-7 p.m. on ESPN 680/105.7

“Inside Churchill Downs,” the weekly horse racing radio show co-hosted by Churchill Downs Racetrack’s Kevin Kerstein and Darren Rogers, airs Fridays at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN 680/105.7 through Nov. 17.

The one-hour Friday night program on Louisville’s popular sports radio station has delivered a wide-ranging list of interesting guests – from jockeys, trainers, owners to well-informed handicappers and other industry insiders – since 2015.

Those outside the Louisville radio market can listen live online at www.ESPNLouisville.com or via podcast on the station’s website.

Only three shows remain in 2023: Oct. 27, Nov. 10 and Nov. 17. There will be no program on Nov. 3 because of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships simulcast.

Paddock, Jockey Club Suites Construction Continues; Entry Procedures for Fall Meet

Construction on the new $200 million Paddock and a $14 million renovation of the Jockey Club Suites at Churchill Downs continues. As was the case during the Spring and September meets, a temporary saddling paddock adjacent to the First Turn Grandstand will be utilized and several areas of the facility will be closed during the Fall Meet.

Here are some things guests need to know prior to arriving at Churchill Downs:

Parking:

• Guests are encouraged to park in the Yellow (Y30-Y39) and Turquoise Lots. The White (W1-W11), Black and Green Lots also will be open.
• Passes are required the Red, White (Racine to W18), Blue (B20-B25) and Yellow (Y26-Y-29) Lots.
• ADA Placards will be permitted to the White Lot (W16-W-18) on a first come, first serve basis.
• Rideshare and taxis can be accessed at the VIP Gate.
• Bus parking is located in the Black or Turquoise Lots.

Entry Gates:

• Guests can enter either the Clubhouse or VIP Gates each day of the 2023 Racing Season.
• The Executive Gate will be used when groups are in the Starting Gate Suites or Homestretch Club.

Box Office:

• The Clubhouse Box Office will open one hour before gates each live race day and close at the second to last post.

Grandstand Seating:

• General Admission: Sections 113-114.
• Reserved Seating: Sections 115-117 and 313-319.

Temporary Saddling Paddock:

• A temporary saddling paddock has been constructed adjacent to the new First Turn Grandstand.

First Turn Grandstand:

• The First Turn viewing terrace is open to guests.
• The first floor inside the First Turn is open for horsemen.
• The second and third floors of the First Turn Grandstand are closed.

Food and Beverage Options:

• Second Floor Clubhouse ITW (moving to cashless operations)
• Matt Winn’s Steakhouse: open Wednesday-Saturday from 5-10 p.m.

Areas Closed:

• Paddock Gate
• Jockey Club Suites
• Plaza Area
• Paddock Grill and Red Roses Bar behind section 117
• Winner’s Circle Suites 0-20
• Courtyard 118-119 and Lounge Area
• President’s Hallway
• Third-floor box seats 320-328
• Parking in Orange and Pink Lots.

Additional Information

For more information, call (502) 636-4400 or visit www.churchilldowns.com.