Keeneland's fall meet features 22 stakes with record purses
Keeneland will present the most lucrative stakes schedule for a racing season in track history when it awards $10.85 million for 22 stakes scheduled for the 17-day fall meet Oct. 3-25.
The meet’s opening three days are the signature fall stars weekend with 11 stakes led by the $1.25 million Turf Mile (G1) and featuring horses headed to the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar. The fall meet also marks the 40th anniversary of the turf course at Keeneland, which in October 1985 became the first track in Kentucky to offer turf racing.
The Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund is contributing $2.55 million to Keeneland’s fall meet stakes purses, pending approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corp.
“Competition from Thoroughbred racing’s leading horses and top jockeys, trainers and owners will put the focus of fans, handicappers and the industry on Keeneland’s Fall Meet,” Keeneland vice president of racing Gatewood Bell said. “We are excited to be able to add $100,000 to the purse of the Sycamore (G2), which was upgraded for 2025, and to increase the value of another 18 stakes by $50,000 each. Our Grade 1 races now are worth $650,000 to $1.25 million, while the purses of all Grade 2 races are $400,000, all Grade 3 races are worth $350,000 and the listed race is valued at $300,000.”
Fall stars weekend kicks off the meet with $6.3 million in total purses for 11 stakes. Eight stakes are part of the Breeders’ Cup challenge series, which will award the winners automatic starting positions and free entry into the Breeders’ Cup on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.
Three win-and-you’re-in events will be run Friday, Oct. 3, the Alcibiades (G1), a qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile fillies; the Phoenix (G2), a qualifier for the Sprint; and the Jessamine (G2), a qualifier for the Juvenile fillies Turf.
Saturday, Oct. 4, features five stakes, including these win-and-you’re-in races: the Turf Mile (G1), a qualifier for the Breeders' Cup mile; the Breeders’ Futurity (G1), a qualfier for the Juvenile; and the Thoroughbred Club of America (G2), a qualifier for the and Mare Sprint. Also being run are the First Lady (G1) and the Woodford (G2).
Sunday of fall stars weekend has two win-and-you’re-in races: the Juddmonte Spinster (G1), a qualifier for the Distaff, and the Bourbon (G2), a qualfier for the Juvenile Turf. The day’s third stakes is the listed Indian Summer.
Stakes action for the second weekend of the fall meet kicks off with the Sycamore on Friday, Oct. 10. The next day features the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1), an invitational for 3-year-old fillies racing 1 1/8 furlongs on the turf. The Franklin (G2) will be run Sunday, Oct. 12.
Stakes on the third week are the Raven Run (G2) and the Perryville (G3) on Saturday, Oct. 18, and the Dowager (G3) on Sunday, Oct. 19.
Stakes action on the final week of the fall meet begins Friday, Oct. 24 with the Valley View (G2) and the Myrtlewood.
Three stakes will be run closing day, the Bryan Station (G3) on the turf along with the Fayette (G3) and the Bowman Mill, both on the dirt.
|
Date |
Stakes |
KTDF contribution to purse** |
Division |
Distance |
|
Oct. 3 |
$650,000 Alcibiades (G1)* |
$150,000 |
2YO fillies |
1 1/16 miles |
|
Oct. 3 |
$400,000 Phoenix (G2)* |
$100,000 |
3YOs & up |
6 furlongs |
|
Oct. 3 |
$400,000 Jessamine (G2)* |
$100,000 |
2YO fillies |
1 1/16 miles (T) |
|
Oct. 4 |
$1.25 million Turf Mile (G1)* |
$250,000 |
3YOs & up |
1 mile (T) |
|
Oct. 4 |
$650,000 Breeders’ Futurity (G1)* |
$150,000 |
2YOs |
1 1/16 miles |
|
Oct. 4 |
$800,000 First Lady (G1) |
$150,000 |
3YOs & up, F&M |
1 mile (T) |
|
Oct. 4 |
$400,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2)* |
$100,000 |
3YOs & up, F&M |
6 furlongs |
|
Oct. 4 |
$400,000 Woodford (G2) |
$100,000 |
3YOs & up |
5½ furlongs (T) |
|
Oct. 5 |
$650,000 Spinster (G1)* |
$150,000 |
3YOs & up, F&M |
1 1/8 miles |
|
Oct. 5 |
$400,000 Bourbon (G2)* |
$100,000 |
2YOs |
1 1/16 miles (T) |
|
Oct. 5 |
$300,000 Indian Summer (L) |
$100,000 |
2YOs |
5 1/2 furlongs (T) |
|
Oct. 10 |
$400,000 Sycamore (G2) |
$100,000 |
3YOs & up |
1 1/2 miles (T) |
|
Oct. 11 |
$800,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) |
$150,000 |
3YO fillies (Invitation Only) |
1 1/8 miles (T) |
|
Oct. 12 |
$400,000 Franklin (G2) |
$100,000 |
3YOs & up, F&M |
5 1/2 furlongs (T) |
|
Oct. 18 |
$400,000 Raven Run (G2) |
$100,000 |
3YO fillies |
7 furlongs |
|
Oct. 18 |
$350,000 Perryville (G3) |
$100,000 |
3YOs |
7 furlongs |
|
Oct. 19 |
$350,000 |
$100,000 |
3YOs & up, F&M |
1 1/2 miles (T) |
|
Oct. 24 |
$400,000 |
$100,000 |
3YO fillies |
1 mile (T) |
|
Oct. 24 |
$250,000 Myrtlewood |
$75,000 |
2YO fillies |
6 furlongs |
|
Oct. 25 |
$600,000 Bryan Station (G3) |
$100,000 |
3YOs |
1 mile (T) |
|
Oct. 25 |
$350,000 Fayette (G3) |
$100,000 |
3YOs & up |
1 1/8 miles |
|
Oct. 25 |
$250,000 Bowman Mill |
$75,000 |
2YOs |
6 furlongs |
*Breeders’ Cup Challenge stakes.
**Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund. All KTDF purse allotments are subject to approval of the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation.