Before the first race is run Saturday on Opening Night of the 38-day Spring Meet, Churchill Downs Racetrack has announced that purses will be raised an additional $3.1 million thanks to robust business from state-of-the-art historical racing machines at Derby City Gaming.
Total purses offered in the first condition book for horsemen, which covers 190 races over 19 dates through Thursday, May 27, have grown to $22,822,100 for a daily average of $1,201,163. That represents a 5.9% percent increase from the previously published $21,544,000.
Maiden special weight races are now worth $115,000 during Kentucky Derby Week and $100,000 post-Derby, which is up from the previously published $106,000 and $91,000, respectively. Kentucky Derby Week allowance races will range from $118,000 to $125,000 and $102,000 to $109,000 after Derby. They were $109,000 to $116,000 and $93,000 to $100,000, respectively.
Additionally, the purses for 25 stakes races were boosted. A trio of stakes received $50,000 increases: the $150,000 Audubon for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf on May 29; Grade 2, $300,000 Fleur de Lis for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on June 26; and Grade 2, $300,000 Wise Dan for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on turf on June 26. Fourteen stakes originally worth $125,000 were boosted $25,000 to $150,000 and eight overnight stakes races received $10,000 increases.
The 40-race Spring Meet stakes schedule now totals $14.02 million.
The growth has been driven by handle on historical racing machines at Derby City Gaming, which is located at 4520 Poplar Level Road.
“Over the last 10 years, historical horse racing has allowed our equine industry to flourish, increasing purses and creating a more competitive racing circuit,” said Churchill Downs Racetrack President Mike Anderson. “It has led to new jobs, economic growth and tourism.
“Despite the challenges of the last year, we have a bright future ahead – one of growth, innovation, new jobs and development. Recently we opened our $8 million Equine Medical Center and Quarantine Facility. This summer, we're investing $10 million to install a new turf course to improve the overall racing product. In northern Kentucky, our sister track Turfway Park saw handle grow 32.9% after we installed a new Tapeta surface, and recently we broke ground on a $145 million state-of-the-art Thoroughbred and historical horse racing venue. All of this will strengthen and bring innovation to our equine industry and ensure Kentucky remains the horse capital of the world.”
Churchill Downs Stakes Schedule
| Date | Running | Grade | Purse | Race | Conditions | Distance | Surface |
| Saturday, April 24 | 6th | Listed | $150,000 | William Walker | 3yo | 5 ½ F | Turf |
| Tuesday, April 27 | 3rd | $130,000 | Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes
presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance |
4&up | 1 ½ M | Dirt | |
| Wednesday, April 28 | 27th | $150,000 | Kentucky Juvenile | 2yo | 5 F | Dirt | |
| Thursday, April 29 | 11th | $150,000 | Unbridled Sidney | 3&up, f&m | 5 ½ F | Turf | |
| Thursday, April 29 | 16th | $130,000 | Opening Verse Overnight Stakes | 4&up | 1 M | Turf | |
| Friday, April 30 | 147th | I | $1,250,000 | Longines Kentucky Oaks | 3yo f | 1 1/8 M | Dirt |
| Friday, April 30 | 36th | I | $500,000 | La Troienne presented by TwinSpires.com | 4&up, f&m | 1 1/16 M | Dirt |
| Friday, April 30 | 18th | II | $400,000 | Alysheba presented by Sentient Jet | 4&up | 1 1/16 M | Dirt |
| Friday, April 30 | 66th | II | $300,000 | Eight Belles presented by Smithfield | 3yo f | 7 F | Dirt |
| Friday, April 30 | 37th | II | $300,000 | Edgewood
presented by Newport Racing & Gaming |
3yo f | 1 1/16 M | Turf |
| Friday, April 30 | 27th | II | $250,000 | Twin Spires Turf Sprint presented by Sysco | 3&up | 5 ½ F | Turf |
| Saturday, May 1 | 147th | I | $3,000,000 | Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve | 3yo | 1 ¼ M | Dirt |
| Saturday, May 1 | 35th | I | $1,000,000 | Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic | 4&up | 1 1/8 M | Turf |
| Saturday, May 1 | 86th | I | $500,000 | Churchill Downs presented by Ford | 4&up | 7 F | Dirt |
| Saturday, May 1 | 35th | I | $500,000 | Derby City Distaff
presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery |
4&up, f&m | 7 F | Dirt |
| Saturday, May 1 | 36th | II | $500,000 | Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile | 4&up, f&m | 1 M | Turf |
| Saturday, May 1 | 97th | II | $500,000 | Pat Day Mile presented by LG&E and KU | 3yo | 1 M | Dirt |
| Saturday, May 1 | 30th | II | $500,000 | American Turf
presented by Derby City Gaming |
3yo | 1 1/16 M | Turf |
| Saturday, May 8 | 2nd | $110,000 | Mamzelle Overnight Stakes | 3yo f | 5 F | Turf | |
| Saturday, May 15 | 84th | III | $150,000 | Louisville | 4&up | 1 ½ M | Turf |
| Saturday, May 22 | 18th | III | $150,000 | Winning Colors | 4&up, f&m | 6 F | Dirt |
| Saturday, May 22 | 8th | $110,000 | Keertana Overnight Stakes | 4&up, f&m | 1 ½ M | Turf | |
| Saturday, May 29 | 24th | III | $150,000 | Matt Winn | 3yo | 1 1/16 M | Dirt |
| Saturday, May 29 | 52nd | III | $150,000 | Regret | 3yo f | 1 1/8 M | Turf |
| Saturday, May 29 | 33rd | Listed | $150,000 | Aristides | 4&up | 6 F | Dirt |
| Saturday, May 29 | 2nd | $150,000 | Blame | 4&up | 1 1/8 M | Dirt | |
| Saturday, May 29 | 2nd | $150,000 | Shawnee | 4&up, f&m | 1 1/16 M | Dirt | |
| Saturday, May 29 | 2nd | $150,000 | Audubon | 3yo | 1 1/8 M | Turf | |
| Saturday, May 29 | 1st | $110,000 | Douglas Park Overnight Stakes | 4&up | 1 1/16 M | Turf | |
| Saturday, June 5 | 5th | $110,000 | Mighty Beau Overnight Stakes | 3&up | 5 F | Turf | |
| Saturday, June 12 | 45th | III | $150,000 | Old Forester Mint Julep | 4&up, f&m | 1 1/16 M | Turf |
| Saturday, June 19 | 11th | $110,000 | Roxelana Overnight Stakes | 3&up, f&m | 6 ½ F | Dirt | |
| Friday, June 25 | 11th | $110,000 | Kelly's Landing Overnight Stakes | 3&up | 7 F | Dirt | |
| Saturday, June 26 | 40th | II | $600,000 | Stephen Foster | 4&up | 1 1/8 M | Dirt |
| Saturday, June 26 | 46th | II | $300,000 | Fleur de Lis | 4&up, f&m | 1 1/8 M | Dirt |
| Saturday, June 26 | 32nd | II | $300,000 | Wise Dan | 4&up | 1 1/16 M | Turf |
| Saturday, June 26 | 120th | III | $150,000 | Bashford Manor | 2yo | 6 F | Dirt |
| Saturday, June 26 | 120th | Listed | $150,000 | Debutante | 2yo f | 6 F | Dirt |
| Saturday, June 26 | 2nd | $150,000 | War Chant | 3yo | 1 M | Turf | |
| Saturday, June 26 | 2nd | $150,000 | Tepin | 3yo f | 1 M | Turf |
The post Churchill Boosts Purses By $3.1 Million Thanks To Derby City Gaming appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
