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Live Racing Returns To Churchill Downs With Twilight Thursday Card

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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‘Trusted Advocate And Resource’: HISA, HIWU Name Alan Foreman As Ombudsman

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) and Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) announced Wednesday that Alan Foreman, the chairman and chief executive officer of the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Associations, Inc. (THA), will serve as ombudsman on behalf of HISA's rules, with a primary focus on the Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program. The appointment is effective immediately.

As the national ombudsman, which is modeled after the World Anti-Doping Agency's Ombuds Program, Foreman's responsibilities include:

Serving as an impartial and unbiased resource for Covered Persons and other Thoroughbred industry constituents to provide confidential advice and assistance at no cost to them in relation to the ADMC Program and the Racetrack Safety Program, including with respect to the rights and obligations of Covered Persons under both Programs.
Accepting feedback and comments from Covered Persons and other Thoroughbred industry constituents with respect to the rules comprising both Programs and communicating such feedback and comments to HISA and/or HIWU.
Providing advice to HISA and HIWU about the content and interpretation of the rules comprising both Programs.

In addition to Foreman's current position with the THA, which he is maintaining, Foreman is recognized as one of the leading racing law and equine attorneys in the United States, with expertise in medication, drug testing, equine safety, and welfare. His law practice encompasses all aspects of equine and horse racing law, and he is counsel to many horsemen's and racing industry organizations, including the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, National Steeplechase Association, and the United States Equestrian Federation Drugs and Medications Program. He is co-vice chair of the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium. He chairs the Mid-Atlantic Strategic Plan to Reduce Equine Fatalities, co-authored the widely respected New York Task Force Report on Racehorse Health and Safety, and was recently named by Maryland Governor Wes Moore to the newly created Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority.

Foreman has informed HISA and HIWU that he will donate all compensation paid to him by both groups in connection with his duties as ombudsman to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

“HISA's commitment to fairness in racing includes ensuring every horseman is fully aware of our rules and processes,” said HISA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Lazarus. “I am grateful that Alan is assisting HISA and HIWU to help educate racing participants and listen and learn from them as we work together to implement HISA's regulations as evenly and effectively as possible.”

“The new ombudsman position will assist horsemen and other Covered Persons with navigating the ADMC rules, thus enhancing understanding and facilitating compliance under the ADMC Program,” said Ben Mosier, executive director of HIWU. “Alan's extensive experience in horse racing law, combined with a thorough understanding of HISA's rules, make him the ideal industry representative to take on this role.”

“I applaud HISA and HIWU for creating this important position and am honored that they have asked me to serve. It is vital for all Covered Persons and organizations to have a trusted advocate and resource for them in this new system, and I will do my best to be fair, objective, effective and meaningful. I hope this position helps to smooth the transition to our new regulatory system,” said Foreman.

Industry participants interested in utilizing the ombudsman service should reach out to Foreman via email at alan@foremanlaw.net or by phone at (410) 336-0525.

About the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority

When the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act was signed into federal law, it charged the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) with drafting and enforcing uniform safety and integrity rules in Thoroughbred racing in the U.S. Overseen by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), HISA is implementing, for the first time, a national, uniform set of rules applicable to every Thoroughbred racing participant and racetrack facility. HISA is comprised of two programs: the Racetrack Safety Program, which went into effect on July 1, 2022, and the Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program, which went into effect on May 22, 2023.

The Racetrack Safety Program includes operational safety rules and national racetrack accreditation standards that seek to enhance equine welfare and minimize equine and jockey injury. The Program expands veterinary oversight, imposes surface maintenance and testing requirements, enhances jockey safety, regulates riding crop use and implements voided claim rules, among other important measures.

The ADMC Program includes a centralized testing and results management process and applies uniform penalties for violations efficiently and consistently across the United States. These rules and enforcement mechanisms are administered by an independent agency, the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU), established by Drug Free Sport International (DFSI).

About the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit

The Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU) was established in 2022 by Drug Free Sport International to administer the rules and enforcement mechanisms of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's (HISA) Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program. The ADMC Program establishes a centralized testing and results management process that applies uniform penalties for violations efficiently and consistently across all American Thoroughbred racing jurisdictions that HISA governs. As the enforcement agency of the ADMC Program, HIWU oversees all testing processes, including the selection of horses to be tested, training of sample collection personnel, and chain of custody procedures. Additionally, HIWU is charged with industry/stakeholder education, laboratory accreditation, results management and adjudication, and investigations. For more information, please visit hiwu.org.

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Jockey Of The Week: Canterbury’s Leading Rider Harry Hernandez Wins Five Of 10 Saturday

When you win half the races on the card you are clearly having a very good day. On Saturday evening, Canterbury Park's leading rider, Harry Hernandez had such a day winning five of the 10 carded races including three stakes races. The panel of racing experts voted Hernandez Jockey of the Week for Sept. 5 through Sept. 10.

The award recognizes jockeys for riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1,050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.

The Blair's Cove Minnesota Sprint Championship Stakes led the Festival of Champions Night that featured six stakes races for Minnesota-breds as part of their 10-race card. Trainer Michael Biehler gave a leg up to Hernandez on Jose Patio who led the field of six from gate to wire to post a 2 1/4-length win in 1:41:22 for the 1 1/16-mile turf test.

Riding for Canterbury Park's leading trainer, Joel Berndt, Hernandez was aboard the prohibitive favorite, Midnight Current in the Princess Elaine Minnesota Distaff Turf Championship for fillies and mares three-years-old and up. Breaking from post position three in the field of seven, Midnight Current was bumped at the start and stalked the pace before taking the lead at the top of the stretch to win by three lengths in 1:41.72 for the 1 1/16-mile turf race.

The trainer/jockey duo of Berndt and Hernandez teamed up again in the co-feature of the evening, the Northern Lights Futurity with Frosty View. Frosty View led the field of nine 2-year-olds from gate to wire to post a 4 1/4-length win in 1:12.33 for six furlongs on the main track.

In between the three stakes wins, Hernandez won two allowance races for trainer Tony Rengstorf with West Island in the fifth race and Sunshine Fever in the seventh race.

Hernandez, 27, followed in his father's footsteps, becoming a jockey in his native Puerto Rico where he attended jockey school. He moved his tack stateside in 2015 and won his first race at Parx that same year. He rode at tracks in the East including Finger Lakes, Monmouth and Aqueduct as well as Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay in Florida before moving west to Turf Paradise where he was the leading rider the past two seasons. He won Canterbury's leading rider title last year and is currently at the top of the standings. Canterbury's season ends Sept. 16. He is also riding at Remington Park.

Hernandez outpolled apprentice rider Axel Concepcion who won 12 races for the week to lead all jockeys, Florent Geroux with two graded stakes wins at Kentucky Downs, Juan J. Hernandez with two stakes wins at Del Mar including the G2 Del Mar Juvenile Turf, and Joel Rosario with two graded stakes wins at Kentucky Downs.

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Arcangelo Retains Overall Lead In Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings

Blue Rose Farm's 3-year-old Arcangelo maintained his overall lead in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings for the third consecutive week, while the top five positions remained unchanged following the ninth week of voting. The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings are a weekly rating of the top 10 horses in contention for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), which will be run Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

Arcangelo, winner of the Belmont Stakes (G1) and the Travers Stakes (G1), earned 289 votes, including 24 first-place votes. Pin Oak Stud LLC's 3-year-old Geaux Rocket Ride, runner-up in the FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic (G1), is in second place with 234 votes. Pacific Classic winner Arabian Knight, owned by Zedan Racing Stables, Inc., is in third place with 220 votes. C2 Racing Stable, LLC, and La Milagrosa Stable, LLC's Whitney Stakes (G1) winner White Abarrio remains in fourth with 216 votes. Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Forte, winner of the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), ranks fifth with 155 votes.

Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Bright Future, also owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, has moved into sixth place with 118 votes. Godolphin's 5-year-old Proxy, second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, ranks seventh with 114 votes.

Ryotokuji Kenji Holdings Co. Ltd.'s Ushba Tesoro (JPN), winner of the Dubai World Cup (G1), has moved from 10^th place to eighth this week. Mage, winner of the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), is ninth with 53 votes, followed by Jeff Drown's 4-year-old Zandon, runner-up in the Whitney, who ranks 10^th with 52 votes.

The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings are determined by a panel of leading Thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers, and members of the Breeders' Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. Rankings will be announced each week through Oct. 10. A list of voting members can be found here.

In the Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, each voter rates horses on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system in descending order.

Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings – Sept. 12, 2023*

Rank	Horse	Votes	First-Place Votes	Previous Week
1	Arcangelo	289	24	1
2	Geaux Rocket Ride	234	0	2
3	Arabian Knight	220	2	3
4	White Abarrio	216	2	4
5	Forte	155	0	5
6	Bright Future	118	0	7
7	Proxy	114	0	6
8	Ushba Tesoro	64	2	10
9	Mage	53	0	9
10	Zandon	52	0	8

*Note – The Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings have no bearing on qualification or selection into the Breeders' Cup Classic.

The 2023 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be run at 1 1/4 miles on the main track at Santa Anita, is limited to 14 starters. The race will be broadcast live on NBC and Peacock.

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