Horse racing on the Kentucky circuit shifts to Churchill Downs on Thursday (Sept. 14) with the first of three Twilight Thursday programs at 5 p.m. (all times Eastern) as the famed Louisville racetrack opens its 11th annual September Meet for an action-packed 14-date run through Sunday, Oct. 1.
Thursday's eight-race opener lured 79 entries (74 in the body plus five also eligible runners) for an average of 9.3 horses per race. A field of 17 three-year-olds and up (12 will run) was entered for the featured seventh race, a $134,000 second-level allowance/optional claiming event at 1 1/8 miles on turf. The Mike Maker-trained Yamato is the 5-2 morning line favorite as the 6-year-old gelding drops back to softer competition after fourth- and eighth-place finishes against graded stakes company in the Louisville (G3) and United Nations (G1), respectively.
The opening day program also has a $127,000 first-level allowance/optional claimer for 2-year-old fillies at 6 ½ furlongs led by the Wesley Ward-trained Sam's Treasure and Adirondack (G3) third Streaming Now (Race 6), and a $120,000 maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles (Race 5).
Horsemen will compete for a record $15.133 million (all purses include prize money from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund) offered in Vice President of Racing Ben Huffman's September Meet condition book, which features 135 races including a 12-race stakes schedule cumulatively worth a record $3.775 million.
Average daily purses are $1,080,929. Maiden special weight races have a $120,000 purse while allowance races range from $127,000 to $141,000.
Five stakes races, including two important fixtures for juveniles that could produce starters in this year's Breeders' Cup and next spring's Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1) and the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), will be showcased Saturday afternoon. Total prize money for the 11-race program is $2.251 million – the most lucrative day of the boutique meet.
The $300,000 Iroquois (G3) kicks off the Road to the 150th Kentucky Derby series, while the $300,000 Pocahontas (G3) starts the Road to the 150th Kentucky Oaks. The promising Gun Runner colt Risk It, who won his Saratoga debut by 4 ½ lengths for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, heads the one-mile Iroquois. Empire Island, Hot Beach, Riperton, V V's Dream and Youalmosthadme are among the entrants in the Pocahontas.
Meanwhile Distaff and Filly & Mare Sprint prospects surface in a pair of Saturday stakes for fillies and mares, the $400,000 Locust Grove (G3) over 1 1/16 miles and the $300,000 Open Mind (Listed) at six furlongs. The Locust Grove attracted Grade I winners Pauline's Pearl and A Mo Reay, who were first and third, respectively in the Fleur de Lis (G2), as well as Grade I winner Search Results. Seven-time stakes winner Wicked Halo heads the Open Mind.
The $300,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society, an open sprint for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs, starts the stakes-laden program and will feature crack-sprinter Bango, who will attempt to land his record-equaling 11th Churchill Downs win in showdown with Iowa Sprint runner-up Strobe.
Other marque events during the September Meet include a stakes quartet in primetime under the light for the final Downs After Dark of the year on Saturday, Sept. 23: the $300,000 Dogwood (G3) for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs; $300,000 Bourbon Trail for 3-year-olds at 1 3/16 miles; $300,000 Harrods Creek for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs; and $175,000 Seneca Overnight Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.
Closing weekend is anchored by the $500,000 Lukas Classic (G2) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on Saturday, Sept. 30 and honors Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, the iconic four-time winner of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks and conditioner of 26 Eclipse Award-winning champions who has been based at Churchill Downs' Barn 44 since 1989. The Lukas Classic serves as a prep for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) five weeks in advance of the Nov. 4 race at Santa Anita.
Also run on Sept. 30 is the $400,000 Ack Ack (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at one mile – a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” race for the Nov. 4 Dirt Mile at Santa Anita – and the return of the $200,000 Jefferson Cup for 3-year-olds at one mile on turf.
Five-Day Racing Weeks
Churchill Downs' 14-day meet will be staged over three weeks from Thursday, Sept. 14 through Sunday, Oct. 1 with racing on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Outside of the three Twilight Thursdays (5 p.m. ET) and the lone Downs After Dark on Sept. 23 (6 p.m. ET), the first race for all other race days will be 12:45 p.m. ET. Nine races are scheduled on Wednesdays, eight races are scheduled on Thursdays with 10-race programs on Fridays and Sundays. Eleven races will be showcased each Saturday.
Popular 5 p.m. 'Twilight Thursdays' Return With $2 Beer, Live Music, Food Trucks
Churchill Downs will host three Twilight Thursdays from 5-8 p.m. at The Grove, which is located just inside the Clubhouse and VIP Gates. Weekly features include $2 select domestic can beer, live music (The Leftovers Band on Sept. 14; Sweet Lady on Sept. 21; and Tyler Embry on Sept. 28) and food trucks.
The Food Truck lineup includes Annie Up Pizza (Sept. 21 and Sept. 28), Bamba Egg Rolls (Sept. 28), Black Rock Grille (Sept. 14), Celtic Pig (Sept. 14 and 21), Cookie Dough Bliss (Sept. 14), Cooper Kitchen (Sept. 21), FlavaVille (Sept. 28), HurriKanes (Sept. 28), Mr. C's Cheesecakes (Sept. 21), Red Top Hot Dogs (Sept. 21), Seafood Lady (Sept. 14), Smok'n Cantina (Sept. 28) and Sweet n Savory (Sept. 14).
Connections of Mage to Receive Engraved Kentucky Derby Trophies on Saturday, Sept. 16
The connections of Mage – owners OGMA Investments (Gustavo Delgado), Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing (Sam Herzberg) and CMNWLTH (Brian Doxtator and Chase Chamberlain); trainer Gustavo Delgado; and breeder Grandview Equine (Robert Clay) – will be on-hand at Churchill Downs on Saturday, Sept. 16 to receive their engraved Kentucky Derby 149 trophies after the Iroquois Stakes. Jockey Javier Castellano is unable to attend due to riding commitments elsewhere. Engraved Oaks trophies will be presented to the connections of Pretty Mischievous after the Pocahontas.
All guests in attendance at Churchill Downs on Saturday also will be able to take pictures with the trophies beforehand at The Grove, which is located just inside the Clubhouse and VIP Gates, between 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Senior Day on Friday, Sept. 22
The lone Senior Day of the September Meet at Churchill Downs is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 22. Guests 60 and up will receive $3 general admission or can enjoy lunch and a day at the races in Millionaires Row or Skye Terrace for only $34. Senior Day tickets can be purchased by calling (502) 636-4450.
Downs After Dark: Bourbon & Boots on Saturday, Sept. 23
The final Downs After Dark of the year will take place Saturday, Sept. 23 as Churchill Downs presents “Bourbon & Boots” where Music City meets Derby City with the perfect combination of music, bourbon, fashion and horse racing.
Louisville's biggest “Honky Tonk” will feature music from DJ Stingy (5-8:15 p.m.) and Nashville's Tim Cote Band with special guest Lana Scott (8:30-11 p.m.) on a stage at The Grove, which is located just inside the Clubhouse and VIP Gates. There also will be a mechanical bull; a Tootsie's-inspired photo booth; Nashville-inspired murals; Sherwin-Williams Sponsored Live Art; and an Old Forester Cocktail Demonstration.
Admission gates will open at 5 p.m. and the 11-race program will be conducted between 6-11:10 p.m. General admission to Downs After Dark is $20 and includes an official program. Guests under the age of 18 will only be admitted to the track if accompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Limited premium dining packages are available starting at $84 per person. Outdoor box seats range from $25 to $35 per person. Reserved seating can be purchased online at www.ChurchillDowns.com/Tickets.
Family Adventure Day Scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 1
Family Adventure Day is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 1 at The Grove, which is located just inside the Clubhouse and VIP Gates. Families are encouraged to bring the kids to Churchill Downs for a day of racing and family activities including face painting; inflatables; a bubble station; music; an arts and craft station; and the Kona ice truck. Up to two children may attend for free per paying adult.
Betting Menu Features 20-Cent Derby City 6 Jackpot
The betting menu will be the same as recent meets and includes the 20-cent minimum “Derby City 6” jackpot, which is offered on the last six races each day with a low 15-percent takeout. The Derby City 6 jackpot will be paid only if there is a single winning wager with six winners placed at the required minimum bet value. If there are multiple winning wagers with six winners in the six-race sequence, 90 percent of the net money wagering into the pool will be paid, and the remaining 10 percent will carry to the Derby City 6 jackpot. If there are no tickets will all six winners, 100 percent of the pool will carry to the Derby City 6 jackpot. There will be a mandatory payout on closing day.
The daily betting menu also features 50-cent Pick 5s with a low 15-percent takeout and 50-cent Pick 4s. Win, Place, Show, Exacta, 50-cent Trifecta, 10-cent Superfecta, Daily Double, 50-cent Pick 3 wagers and rolling $1 Super Hi-5s will be offered every race (on all races that qualify under Kentucky statutes for minimum field size).
Free Workout Videos for Horseplayers
Thanks to the support of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, horseplayers and horsemen can view workouts of select horses at Churchill Downs free-of-charge throughout the year. The workouts are available at https://www.kentuckybred.org/workout-videos/.
Gaffalione, Cox, Wests Defend September Titles
Tyler Gaffalione had the hot hand during last year's September Meet with 13 wins, one more than Florent Geroux and two more than Brian Hernandez Jr. Brad Cox was last September's champion trainer with 11 wins, four more than Tom Amoss, Steve Asmussen and Kenny McPeek. Gary and Mary West were the runaway leading owners with seven trips to the winner's circle, four more than Godolphin LLC.
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