Kentucky Downs plans to extend purses for 9 of its 18 stakes by a complete of $3.7 million from what was initially introduced, pending regulatory approval.
Heading the best way is the Nashville Derby Invitational (G3T), bumped from $2.5 million to $3.1 million. That will make the 1 5/16-mile stakes North America’s second-richest race for Kentucky-breds behind solely the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) amongst races held at one monitor. The Nashville Derby already was America’s richest turf race for Kentucky-breds exterior the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T), whose location strikes round with the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
The 9 requested purse hikes are a mix of accelerating the affiliation cash that kinds a race’s base purse for which each horse runs and dietary supplements from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Growth Fund restricted to registered Kentucky-breds. As an example, the Nashville Derby would enhance to a base purse of $1.9 million, with $1.2 million in KTDF, if accepted.
Kentucky Downs’ seven-day meet runs Aug. 29 and 31 and Sept. 1, 5, 7, 8 and 11, that includes 9 graded stakes. If accepted, whole purse cash provided on the meet would exceed $39 million, together with seven stakes value at the very least $2 million with the KTDF dietary supplements. The variety of stakes value at the very least $1 million for Kentucky-breds will attain 15, with the restricted Tapit and One Dreamer Stakes and the brand new Nashville Gold Cup $500,000 apiece. As well as, the Nationwide Thoroughbred League In a single day Handicap could have a $500,000 purse.
A handbag enhance $1 million to $2.5 million for the Nashville Derby, previously the Dueling Grounds Derby, was introduced in April. The rise included Kentucky-bred purse dietary supplements.
Different requested will increase:
- The Kentucky Downs Women Marathon (G3T) purse would double from $1 million to $2 million, giving the Sept. 7 showcase card six stakes value $2 million apiece for Kentucky-breds.
- The monitor’s 4 2-year-old stakes every obtained a $250,000 enhance to $1 million with the Kentucky-bred dietary supplements.
- The Aug. 31 Women Turf Dash (G2T) would enhance to $1.5 million from $1 million in whole purse cash provided.
- The closing-day Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational would go to $1.6 million; the requested $100,000 enhance in base purse means 3-year-old fillies foaled exterior of Kentucky nonetheless will compete for a $1 million.
- The Gun Runner Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile would obtain a $500,000 enhance to $1.5 million for Kentucky-breds.
The KTDF will increase have to be accepted by the newly shaped Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Company (beforehand the Kentucky Horse Racing Fee) after first getting a positive advice from its KTDF advisory committee. Base purses are set in session with the Kentucky HBPA, which represents homeowners 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 invites to the Nashville Derby are due by Aug. 17; requests for invites to the Dueling Grounds Oaks are due by Aug. 27.
This press launch has been edited for content material and magnificence by BloodHorse Employees.
