Led by America's greatest race, the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 1, Churchill Downs will present 40 stakes races cumulatively worth a record $13.44 million during its 38-day Spring Meet that runs April 24-June 26.
Derby Week (April 24-May 1) kicks off the nine-week 147th Spring Meet in style with 18 stakes events that total a record $10.14 million over the six-day stretch, culminating with the 147th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1) for 3-year-olds at 1 ¼ miles.
Half of the 14 races on Derby Day are stakes races, including four Grade 1 events: the Derby; $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic; $500,000 Churchill Downs presented by Ford and $500,000 Derby City Distaff. There also will be a trio of Grade 2 events: the $500,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile; $500,000 Pat Day Mile presented by LG&E and KU; and $500,000 American Turf.
One day earlier, Churchill Downs will host the Derby's female counterpart, the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) at 1 1/8 miles – the nation's most lucrative race for 3-year-old fillies. The six stakes that day total $3 million: the Oaks; $500,000 La Troienne (G1); $400,000 Alysheba (G2); $300,000 Eight Belles presented by Smithfield (G2); $300,000 Edgewood (G2); and $250,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint presented by Sysco (G2).
Derby Week stakes action that precedes Oaks and Derby days includes the $125,000 William Walker on Opening Night, Saturday, April 24; the newly-renamed $120,000 Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes on Champions Day, Tuesday, April 27, which honors the legendary African-American who was a three-time Derby winner and arguably the greatest jockey American racing has ever known; $125,000 Kentucky Juvenile on Wednesday, April 28; and the $150,000 Unbridled Sidney and $120,000 Opening Verse Overnight Night Stakes on Thurby, Thursday, April 29.
After Derby Week, there will be 22 stakes worth a total of $3.3 million.
Stephen Foster Preview Day is Saturday, May 29 with seven stakes that total $825,000: the $125,000 Matt Winn (G3); $125,000 Regret (G3); $125,000 Aristides (Listed); $125,000 Blame; $125,000 Shawnee; $100,000 Audubon; and $100,000 Douglas Park Overnight Stakes.
The $600,000 Stephen Foster (G2), which annually attracts some of the nation's top older horses, is situated on closing day, Saturday, June 26, for a second consecutive year. The 1 1/8-mile race anchors a seven-race stakes bonanza that totals $1.6 million and includes the $250,000 Fleur de Lis (G2) for fillies and mares and $250,000 Wise Dan (G2) for turf horses.
The lucrative prize money is attributed to returns from historical horse racing at Derby City Gaming, Churchill Downs Incorporated's $65 million facility that opened September 2018 at nearby 4520 Poplar Level Road.
The first condition book of scheduled races features $106,000 maiden races on Derby Week and $91,000 maiden races after Derby. The Churchill Downs stable area reopens Tuesday, March 16, and the first day of training is Friday, March 19.
2021 CHURCHILL DOWNS SPRING MEET STAKES SCHEDULE
| Date | Running | Grade | Purse | Race | Conditions | Distance | Surface |
| Saturday, April 24 | 6th | Listed | $125,000 | William Walker | 3yo | 5 ½ F | Turf |
| Tuesday, April 27 | 3rd | $120,000 | Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes | 4&up | 1 ½ M | Dirt | |
| Wednesday, April 28 | 27th | $125,000 | 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 | $120,000 | 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 | 4&up, f&m | 1 1/16 M | Dirt |
| Friday, April 30 | 18th | II | $400,000 | Alysheba | 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 | 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 | 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 | 3yo | 1 1/16 M | Turf |
| Saturday, May 8 | 2nd | $100,000 | Mamzelle Overnight Stakes | 3yo f | 5 F | Turf | |
| Saturday, May 15 | 84th | III | $125,000 | Louisville | 4&up | 1 ½ M | Turf |
| Saturday, May 22 | 18th | III | $125,000 | Winning Colors | 4&up, f&m | 6 F | Dirt |
| Saturday, May 22 | 8th | $100,000 | Keertana Overnight Stakes | 4&up, f&m | 1 ½ M | Turf | |
| Saturday, May 29 | 24th | III | $125,000 | Matt Winn | 3yo | 1 1/16 M | Dirt |
| Saturday, May 29 | 52nd | III | $125,000 | Regret | 3yo f | 1 1/8 M | Turf |
| Saturday, May 29 | 33rd | Listed | $125,000 | Aristides | 4&up | 6 F | Dirt |
| Saturday, May 29 | 2nd | $125,000 | Blame | 4&up | 1 1/8 M | Dirt | |
| Saturday, May 29 | 2nd | $125,000 | Shawnee | 4&up, f&m | 1 1/16 M | Dirt | |
| Saturday, May 29 | 2nd | $100,000 | Audubon | 3yo | 1 1/8 M | Turf | |
| Saturday, May 29 | 1st | $100,000 | Douglas Park Overnight Stakes | 4&up | 1 1/16 M | Turf | |
| Saturday, June 5 | 5th | $100,000 | Mighty Beau Overnight Stakes | 3&up | 5 F | Turf | |
| Saturday, June 12 | 45th | III | $125,000 | Old Forester Mint Julep | 4&up, f&m | 1 1/16 M | Turf |
| Saturday, June 19 | 11th | $100,000 | Roxelana Overnight Stakes | 3&up, f&m | 6 ½ F | Dirt | |
| Friday, June 25 | 11th | $100,000 | 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 | $250,000 | Fleur de Lis | 4&up, f&m | 1 1/8 M | Dirt |
| Saturday, June 26 | 32nd | II | $250,000 | Wise Dan | 4&up | 1 1/16 M | Turf |
| Saturday, June 26 | 120th | III | $125,000 | Bashford Manor | 2yo | 6 F | Dirt |
| Saturday, June 26 | 120th | Listed | $125,000 | Debutante | 2yo f | 6 F | Dirt |
| Saturday, June 26 | 2nd | $125,000 | War Chant | 3yo | 1 M | Turf | |
| Saturday, June 26 | 2nd | $125,000 | Tepin | 3yo f | 1 M | Turf |
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