Churchill To Offer Record High Purses at Spring Meet

[Wandering Eyes]

Churchill Downs’ 145th Spring Meet will offer record-high purses as a result of early returns from the historical racing machines at nearby Derby City Gaming, it was announced Thursday.

The first condition book, which covers the first half of the 38-day Spring Meet, was released Wednesday, and purses for the 189 offered races total $20.1 million–a 46% increase from last spring’s $13.7 million. The daily average is $1,056,842 compared to $722,579 in 2018, or $106,243 per race versus $72,640. All purses include prize money from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund. Additionally, purses on GI Kentucky Derby week will see further boosts, with maiden special weight races offering $100,000 purses. Total purses on GI Kentucky Oaks Day will exceed $3.6 million, and Derby Day prize money will be worth a record $6.9 million.

After Derby week, maiden special weight races will be worth $85,000 (up from $53,000 in 2018), and allowance races will range from $87,000 to $94,000 (up from $55,000 to $61,000 in 2018).

In a change to purse distribution, the winner’s share of the purse in all overnight races will be 56% (previously 60%) and 1.5% of the purse will be distributed to the sixth- through last-place finishers (previously 0.5%).

More than $30 million in total prize money is expected to be offered during this year’s Spring Meet. Last year, total purses paid during the 372-race Spring Meet equaled $22.2 million.

“This is such an exciting time to be a part of Kentucky racing,” said Churchill Downs Racetrack president Kevin Flanery. “Our investment into Derby City Gaming, which opened just five months ago, continues to pay immediate dividends to Kentucky horsemen. We have reinforced our Derby Week festival concept, solidified our lucrative stakes program and tremendously strengthened our overnight racing product. We truly believe this growth and methodology will benefit all owners, trainers and jockeys that participate at Churchill Downs and make for an extremely exciting and competitive meet.”

Earlier this year, Churchill announced a record 34-race, $12.2-million Spring Meet stakes schedule that included a $1 million boost to the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby May 4, making it worth a guaranteed $3 million. Also among the 15 stakes races that received significant increases were the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, which was raised to $1.25 million, and the GI Old Forester Turf Classic, which was doubled to $1 million.

Stall applications for the Spring Meet, which will begin Apr. 27 and continue through June 29, are due Mar. 8. The stable area will reopen Mar. 19 and the first scheduled day of training is Mar. 22.

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