Churchill Downs has released details on Monday's post position draw for the April 30 Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Tuesday's draw for the May 1 Kentucky Derby (G1).
The Post Position Draw for the 147th running of the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) will be held Monday, April 26, at 11 a.m. ET in the Aristides Lounge on the second floor of Churchill Downs' Clubhouse.
The Post Position Draw for the 147th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1) will be held Tuesday, April 27, at 11 a.m. ET in the same location.
Due to physical distancing protocols and other safety measures in place, only owners and trainers and select broadcast media will be permitted inside the Aristides Lounge for both the Oaks and Derby draws.
The Oaks and Derby post position draws are traditional “pill pull” events in which horses' entry blanks are pulled simultaneously with a numbered pill to determine what stall a horse will break from the starting gate.
Preference to the nation's premier race for 3-year-old fillies is given to the top point-earners on the “Road to the Kentucky Oaks.” Up to 18 horses may enter the 1 1/8-mile race and four horses can be listed as “also eligible” and would be ranked in order accordingly; they could draw into the field should any horse(s) be scratched before scratch time on Friday, April 30, 2021 at 9 a.m. ET.
Preference to America's greatest race is given to the top point-earners on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby.” Up to 24 three-year-olds may enter the 1 ¼-mile race and four horses can be listed as “also eligible” and would be ranked in order accordingly; they could draw into the field should any horse(s) be scratched before scratch time on Friday, April 30, 2021 at 9 a.m. ET.
Track announcer Travis Stone will host the draw, with Vice President of Racing Ben Huffman and Assistant Racing Secretary Dan Bork pulling the pills and entry slips. Kentucky Horse Racing Commission chief steward Barbara Borden will oversee the proceedings.
The Kentucky Oaks Post Position Draw will be streamed live on www.KentuckyDerby.com.
The Kentucky Derby Post Position Draw will be streamed live on www.KentuckyDerby.com from 10:45-11:45 a.m. and televised live by FS2 nationally from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET. NBC affiliate WAVE-3 in Louisville also will broadcast the draw as will other outlets.
Veteran Churchill Downs odds maker Mike Battaglia will not be present for the Oaks or Derby post position draws. This year will mark the 48th time that Battaglia has made the Oaks and Derby morning line odds.
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