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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