Month: June 2023

Keeneland Fall Stakes Worth A Record $9.05M

The stakes schedule for the Keeneland Fall Meeting was released Wednesday, featuring 22 events worth a record $9.05 million in prize money.

The richest event is the $1-million GI Coolmore Turf Mile, while the purse for the GI Darley Alcibiades S. has been increased by $100,000 to $600,000. The Franklin S., raised to Grade II status for this running, will receive a $50,000 boost to $350,000. Of the 22 added-money events, 12 are slated for the turf and 10 on the dirt, with six programs offering multiple stakes. The Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund is contributing $1.3 million to Fall Meet stakes purses, pending approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

“The strength of the Fall Meet stakes schedule reflects our focus on providing the highest-quality racing for our horsemen and fans,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing Gatewood Bell said. “With these additional increases, all Grade I stakes are now worth a minimum of $600,000; all Grade II stakes are $350,000; Grade III races are $300,000; and listed stakes are $250,000. We believe these purse levels will attract the best in the sport and make for an exciting fall season of racing.”

The traditional kick-off to the Fall Meet is 'FallStars Weekend' Oct. 6-8, with eight 'Win and You're In' qualifiers for various Breeders' Cup divisions. The opening day Alcibiades is complemented by the GII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix S. and the GII Jessamine S., sponsored for the first time by the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, taking place Nov. 7. The Saturday, Oct. 7 card features the Coolmore Turf Mile, the GI Breeders' Futurity–in its 10th year of sponsorship by Claiborne Farm–and the GII Thoroughbred Club of America S. as Breeders' Cup qualifiers, while the GI First Lady S. and GII Woodford S. are also set for day two of the meet. All three races on the Sunday program offer Breeders' Cup berths: the GI Juddmonte Spinster S., the GII Castle & Key Bourbon S. and the Listed Indian Summer S.

The 40th running of the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Oct. 14 anchors the second week of racing and will bring together some of the world's top 3-year-old turf fillies over nine furlongs on turf in the race first contested in 1984 to commemorate the Queen's visit to Keeneland and Lexington. The GIII Sycamore S. and  Franklin are set for Oct. 13 and Oct. 15, respectively.

The GII Lexus Raven Run S. and GIII Rood & Riddle Dowager S. feature the weekend of Oct. 21 and 22, while the GIII Valley View S., the GIII Hagyard Fayette S. and GIII Bryan Station S. are slated closing weekend Oct. 27 and 28.

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Rachael Blackmore Made Honorary MBE 

History-making jockey Rachael Blackmore, who in 2021 became the first woman to ride the winner of the Grand National, has been made an honorary MBE for services to sport.

After landing Aintree's famous race aboard Minella Times (Ire), Blackmore, 33, also won the following season's Cheltenham Gold Cup on A Plus Tard (Fr). The Irish jockey was crowned leading rider at the Cheltenham Festival in 2021, the same year she won the BBC Sports Personality's World Sport Star of the Year award.

Notably, she forged a famous partnership with the great mare Honeysuckle (GB), who retired at the end of last season with 13 Grade 1 wins to her credit, including two Champion Hurdles.

Honorary MBEs recognise those from overseas who excel in their field in Britain. Italian-born Frankie Dettori was made an honorary MBE in 2001 for his services to racing.

The post Rachael Blackmore Made Honorary MBE  appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Botti Looks Forward To Goodwood With Top Stayer Giavellotto

Marco Botti is hoping a decision to sidestep the Gold Cup at Ascot with Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) pays dividends when his stable star lines out in the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup in August.

Promoted to third in the St Leger behind Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) last season, Giavellotto accounted for that rival in the Yorkshire Cup last month.

However, Botti decided against running Giavellotto at Ascot due to the trip, and revealed that Goodwood has always been Plan A for the progressive stayer. 

“Giavellotto is very well and the plan was always to go straight for the Goodwood Cup,” Botti said. “The horse won well at York and then we were keen to give him more time rather than stepping up to the Gold Cup, as we think two miles is his best trip.

“He has matured a lot mentally from three to four and we expected him to improve this season, as most stayers do with age. He used to wear a hood and get quite warm before his races but that was not the case in the Yorkshire Cup.”

Botti added, “We were disappointed on his first run back in the Dubai Gold Cup but he was drawn wide and the race did not pan out for him, so it was nice to see him show what we thought he was capable of at York.

“You never know until you run at Goodwood whether they will handle the track, but he seems a well-balanced horse and the long straight will be in his favour.”

Giavellotto is one of 26 entries for the Goodwood race, which include the Gold Cup winner Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

The post Botti Looks Forward To Goodwood With Top Stayer Giavellotto appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Keeneland Fall Meet Stakes Schedule Worth Record $9.05 Million

Keeneland will award a total of $9.05 million – a record for any racing season at the track – for 22 stakes to be run during the 2023 Fall Meet, which covers 17 days from Oct. 6-28. The meet's richest race is the $1 million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) during the signature Fall Stars Weekend, while Keeneland has added $100,000 to the purse of the Darley Alcibiades (G1) to increase its value to $600,000 and has raised by $50,000 the purse of the $350,000 Franklin (G2), which also was upgraded for 2023.

Keeneland will present 12 stakes on grass and 10 stakes on dirt while offering multiple stakes on six days. The Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund is contributing $1.3 million to Fall Meet stakes purses, pending approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

“The strength of the Fall Meet stakes schedule reflects our focus on providing the highest-quality racing for our horsemen and fans,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing Gatewood Bell said. “With these additional increases, all Grade 1 stakes are now worth a minimum of $600,000 apiece; all Grade 2 stakes are $350,000; Grade 3 races are $300,000; and listed stakes are $250,000. We believe these purse levels will attract the best in the sport and make for an exciting fall season of racing.”

The October season opens with Fall Stars Weekend, which features eight stakes that are part of the “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In.” Winners will earn automatic starting positions and free entry into the 40th Breeders' Cup World Championships on Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita Park.

Opening day, Oct. 6, will card three stakes, all Win and You're In events: the $600,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1) (NetJets Juvenile Fillies-G1), the $350,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) (Qatar Racing Sprint-G1) and the $350,000 Jessamine (G2) Presented by Keeneland November (Juvenile Fillies Turf-G1).

This marks the first year that Keeneland's November Breeding Stock Sale is sponsoring the Jessamine for 2-year-old fillies. The November Sale begins Nov. 7.

Joining the Coolmore Turf Mile (FanDuel Mile-G1) as Win and You're In races on opening Saturday, Oct. 7 are the $600,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) (FanDuel Juvenile-G1) and the $350,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) (PNC Bank Filly and Mare Sprint-G1).

This marks the 10th year the historic Breeders' Futurity has been sponsored by Claiborne Farm.

Other stakes on the first Saturday of the meet are the $750,000 First Lady (G1) Presented by UK HealthCare and the $350,000 Woodford (G2) Presented by FanDuel. Both races are expected to attract Breeders' Cup hopefuls.

Sunday of Fall Stars Weekend has three Win and You're In races: the $600,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) (Distaff-G1), the $350,000 Castle & Key Bourbon (G2) (Juvenile Turf-G1) and the $250,000 Indian Summer (L) Presented by Keeneland Select.

On the second week of the Fall Meet, Keeneland will run the $300,000 Sycamore (G3) on Friday, Oct. 13; the $600,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana on Saturday, Oct. 14; and the $350,000 Franklin (G2) on Sunday, Oct. 15.

This marks the 40th running of the Queen Elizabeth II Presented by Dixiana, an internationally recognized invitational for 3-year-old fillies racing 1 1/8 miles on the turf. The stakes was inaugurated during the 1984 Fall Meet in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Keeneland.

Stakes action resumes the next Saturday, Oct 21 with the $350,000 Lexus Raven Run (G2) and the $250,000 Perryville (L), which are followed by the $300,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager (G3) on Sunday, Oct. 22.

The Fall Meet will conclude with two multiple stakes days beginning with the $300,000 Valley View (G3) and the $200,000 Myrtlewood on Friday, Oct. 27. Beginning this season, the Valley View will be run at 1 mile.

Closing day will feature the $350,000 Hagyard Fayette (G2), the $300,000 Bryan Station (G3) and the $200,000 Bowman Mill.

Keeneland 2023 Fall Meet Stakes Schedule: Oct. 6-28

Date Stakes KTDF Contribution to Purse** Division Distance
Oct. 6 $600,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1)* $100,000 2YO Fillies 1 1/16 Miles
Oct. 6 $350,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2)* $50,000 3YOs & Up 6 Furlongs
Oct. 6 $350,000 Jessamine (G2) Presented by Keeneland November* $50,000 2YO Fillies 1 1/16 Miles (T)
Oct. 7 $1 Million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1)*   3YOs & Up 1 Mile (T)
Oct. 7 $600,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1)*  $100,000 2YOs 1 1/16 Miles
Oct. 7 $750,000 First Lady (G1) Presented by UK HealthCare $100,000 3YOs & Up, F&M 1 Mile (T)
Oct. 7 $350,000 Thoroughbred Club

of America (G2)*

 $50,000 3YOs & Up, F&M 6 Furlongs
Oct. 7 $350,000 Woodford (G2) Presented
by FanDuel		 $50,000 3YOs & Up 5½ Furlongs (T)
Oct. 8 $600,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1)* $100,000 3YOs & Up, F&M 1 1/8 Miles
Oct. 8 $350,000 Castle & Key Bourbon (G2)* $50,000 2YOs 1 1/16 Miles (T)
Oct. 8 $250,000 Indian Summer (L) Presented by Keeneland Select $50,000 2YOs 5½ Furlongs (T)
Oct. 13 $300,000 Sycamore (G3) $50,000 3YOs & Up 1½ Miles (T)
Oct. 14 $600,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented

by Dixiana

 $100,000 3YO Fillies (Invitation Only) 1 1/8 Miles (T)
Oct. 15 $350,000 Franklin (G2) $50,000 3YOs & Up, F&M 5½ Furlongs (T)
Oct. 21 $350,000 Lexus Raven Run (G2) $50,000 3YO Fillies 7 Furlongs
Oct. 21 $250,000 Perryville (L) $50,000 3YOs 7 Furlongs
Oct. 22 $300,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager (G3) $50,000 3YOs & Up, F&M 1½ Miles (T)
Oct. 27 $300,000 Valley View (G3) $50,000 3YO Fillies 1 Mile (T)
Oct. 27 $200,000 Myrtlewood $50,000 2YO Fillies 6 Furlongs
Oct. 28 $350,000 Hagyard Fayette (G2) $50,000 3YOs & Up 1 1/8 Miles
Oct. 28 $300,000 Bryan Station (G3) $50,000 3YOs 1 Mile (T)
Oct. 28 $200,000 Bowman Mill $50,000 2YOs 6 Furlongs

*Breeders' Cup Challenge stakes.

**Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund. All KTDF purse allotments are subject to approval of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

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