Churchill Downs Ups Stakes Purses To Record $26m For Spring With GI American Turf Set At $1m

[Wandering Eyes]

Churchill Downs has scheduled 50 stakes races cumulatively worth a record $26,175,000–a $525,000 increase–for its 2025 Spring Meet, which covers 43 race dates between April 26-June 29, the track said in a Friday press release.

The American Turf for 3-year-olds, annually staged on the Kentucky Derby undercard, had its purse raised to $1 million after the American Graded Stakes Committee elevated the 1 1/16-mile grass race to Grade I status.

The American Turf is one of four Spring Meet stakes that received purse hikes for 2025 and one of seven races that warranted upgrades by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.

Here are the changes for 2025:

• American Turf: Upgraded status from Grade II in 2024 to Grade I in 2025; Purse increased from $600,000 in 2024 to $1 million in 2025;
• Aristides: Upgraded from Listed to Grade III status in 2025;
• Chicago: Upgraded status from Grade III in 2024 to Grade II in 2025; Purse increased from $250,000 in 2024 to $300,000 in 2025;
• Chorleywood: Received Listed status in 2025; Purse increased from $175,000 in 2024 to $200,000 in 2025;
• Issac Murphy Marathon presented by Resolute Racing: Received Listed status in 2025;
• Mamzelle: Upgraded from Listed to Grade III status in 2025;
• Maxfield: Purse increased from $175,000 in 2024 to $250,000 in 2025;
• Roxelana presented by LG&E: Received Listed status in 2025.

During Kentucky Derby Week (April 26-May 3), there will be 22 stakes races cumulatively worth a record $17.9 million, including nine stakes totaling $11,150,000 on Derby Day and seven totaling $5.25 million on Oaks Day.

As was the case last year, Churchill Downs has partnered with Ascot Racecourse and Great Britain's The Jockey Club to extend a “wild card” entry initiative that ties together Kentucky Derby Week with the Betfred Derby Festival and Royal Ascot.

The winner of the American Turf on Kentucky Derby Day will receive an entry and travel stipend to compete in the G1 Betfred Derby at Epsom June 7 and G1 St. James's Palace at Royal Ascot June 17, while the winner of the Edgewood on Kentucky Oaks Day will receive the same benefits for the G1 Betfred Oaks at Epsom June 6 and Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot June 20.

The winner of the GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic will receive a berth to either the G1 Queen Anne Stakes or the G1 Prince of Wales' Stakes at Royal Ascot, and the Twin Spires Turf Sprint winner will receive an entry to the G1 King's Charles III Stakes, also staged at Royal Ascot.

In return, a runner from both the Queen Anne and Prince of Wales's will receive an entry and travel incentive to run in the GI Arlington Million at Colonial Downs in mid-August. Also, a runner from the G1 Tattersales Falmouth Stakes will receive an entry and travel stipend for the GII Beverly D Stakes on the Arlington Million undercard.

Other Spring Meet highlights include Stephen Foster Preview Day on Saturday, May 31; Stephen Foster Day on Saturday, June 28; and five closing day stakes on Sunday, June 29.

Following its annual closure for wintertime renovations, the Churchill Downs stable area will reopen Tuesday, March 18. The first day of training on the main dirt track will be Wednesday, March 19.

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