Churchill Downs shifts Stephen Foster, adds 'preview night' for 2020

A repositioning of the Stephen Foster (G2) to closing day and the creation of a new "Stephen Foster Preview Night" midway through the meet highlight a record 41-race, $14 million stakes schedule for the upcoming 38-day Spring Meet at Churchill Downs that runs from April 25-June 27.

Additionally, there are seven newly created stakes races for the nine-week season, and 13 Spring Meet stakes staples received purse hikes that range from $25,000 to $100,000.

“It’s extremely gratifying to continue to supercharge purses through our investment into historical racing machines and watch the overall growth of the Churchill Downs and Kentucky horse racing and breeding product,” said Churchill Downs Racetrack President Kevin Flanery. “We’ve meaningfully raised purses in the last year and the results were an extremely competitive racing product with more entries and high-quality horses that appealed to bettors nationwide. We believe this exciting new ‘big event’ series created by our racing team will help keep the momentum moving forward and be embraced around the country by both horsemen and horseplayers alike.”

The 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster, which annually attracts some of the nation’s top older horses, received a $100,000 boost to $700,000 and was moved back two weeks on the calendar to closing day: Saturday, June 27. The race anchors a seven-race stakes bonanza that totals $1.85 million and includes the $300,000 Fleur de Lis (G2) for fillies and mares and $300,000 Wise Dan (G2) for turf horses.

New on the blockbuster closing day lineup are a pair of one-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds each worth $150,000, the open company War Chant (named for the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner at Churchill Downs) and Tepin (named for the Churchill Downs-based 2015-16 Champion Female Turf Horse) for fillies. The $125,000 Bashford Manor (G3) and $125,000 Debutante also will be run that day for 2-year-olds and 2-year-old fillies, respectively. All races that day will be run during an afternoon program with a 12:45 p.m. ET first post.

In turn, Churchill Downs has created a new Stephen Foster Preview Night on Saturday, May 30, that will feature seven stakes events cumulatively worth $975,000 in conjunction with Downs After Dark under the lights at 6 p.m. ET. The new $150,000 Blame (2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner at Churchill Downs) at 1 1/8 miles comes four weeks after the Alysheba (G2) on Kentucky Oaks Day and four weeks in advance of the repositioned Stephen Foster.

Other new stakes that night are the $150,000 Shawnee for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles; $150,000 Audubon for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf; and $100,000 Douglas Park Overnight Stakes for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on turf. The evening program also will include the $150,000 Matt Winn (G3), $150,000 Regret (G3) and $125,000 Aristides.

Derby Week (April 25-May 2) kicks off the 146th Spring Meet in style with 18 stakes events that total a record $10.18 million over the six-day stretch, culminating with the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 2.

Derby Day again features seven stakes events, including four Grade 1 events: the $3 million Derby; $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic; $500,000 Churchill Downs and $500,000 Derby City Distaff (formerly known as the Humana Distaff). The other three Grade 2 events each received $100,000 increases: the $500,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile; $500,000 Pat Day Mile; and $500,000 American Turf.

One day earlier, Churchill Downs will host the Derby’s female counterpart, the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks 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 significant increases in stakes prize money are attributed to returns from state-of-the-art historical racing machines at Derby City Gaming, Churchill Downs Incorporated’s $65 million facility that opened September 2018 at nearby 4520 Poplar Level Road. Last year’s 34-race stakes scheduled totaled more than $12 million. Two years ago, a 32-race stakes lineup was worth $8.8 million.

More than $32 million in total prize money is expected to be offered during this year’s Spring Meet. The first condition book of scheduled races is being finalized by Vice President of Racing Ben Huffman and is expected to be published in early March. Stall applications are due by Friday, March 6.