Kentucky Derby 2024: Churchill Downs releases prep-race list
Churchill Downs officials have made slight modifications to the upcoming road to the Kentucky Derby, the series of races that will determine the preference list for the Kentucky Derby 150 on May 4.
The road to the Kentucky Derby, which debuted in 2013, annually awards a sliding scale of points to the top five finishing positions in select qualifying races. At the conclusion of the series, the leaderboard will determine the preference list for entries into the 20-horse Kentucky Derby, the 1 1/4-mile classic for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds annually held on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.
Second-place points in all qualifying races have been increased to create added separation from second- and third-place finishers. Additionally, third- and fourth-place points in races that award 100 points to the winner have been decreased.
| Series races | 2022-23 | 2023-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Early prep season | 10-4-3-2-1 | 10-5-3-2-1 |
| Breeders' Cup | 30-12-9-6-3 | 30-15-9-6-3 |
| Late prep season | 20-8-6-4-2 | 20-10-6-4-2 |
| Early championship series | 50-20-15-10-5 | 50-25-15-10-5 |
| Late championship series | 100-40-30-20-10 | 100-50-25-15-10 |
Other changes to the road to the Kentucky Derby series for 2023-24 include the $200,000 Street Sense (G3), to be run at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 29 at Churchill Downs, being added to the early prep season, and the Sunland Derby at Sunland Park being decreased in value from 50-20-15-10-5 in 2023 to 20-10-6-4-2 in 2024.
This is the 12th straight year Churchill Downs has used a point system to determine entrants for its famed Kentucky Derby. At least 20 horses have entered the run for the roses in 22 of the last 25 years.
The road to the Kentucky Derby will begin Saturday, Sept. 16 at the home of America’s greatest race as Churchill Downs stages the 42nd running of the $300,000 Iroquois (G3) for 2-year-olds at one mile on opening weekend of its 14-day September Meet.
In addition to the primary 37-race Road to the Kentucky Derby series, there are two separate series that each carve out one spot for a horse from Europe and Japan, respectively.
Similar changes made to the Road to the Kentucky Derby have been made to the 32-race Road to the Kentucky Oaks series, which awards points to fillies to qualify for the 150th Kentucky Oaks (G1) at 1 1/8 miles on Friday, May 3, 2024:
The $200,000 Rags to Riches to be run at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 29 at Churchill Downs has been added to the early prep sason.
The Sunland Park Oaks at Sunland Park has been decreased in value from 50-20-15-10-5 in 2023 to 20-10-6-4-2 in 2024.
The seven-furlong Beaumont (G2) at Keeneland has been removed from the championship series.
Road to the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby prep season
| Date | Race | Track | Gr. | Purse | Dist. | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 16 | Iroquois | CD | 3 | $300,000 | 1 mile | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Oct. 7 | Champagne | BAQ | 1 | $500,000 | 1 mile | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Oct. 7 | Breeders' Futurity | KEE | 1 | $600,000 | 1 1/16 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Oct. 7 | American Pharoah | SA | 1 | $300,000 | 1 1/16 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Oct. 29 | Street Sense | CD | 3 | $200,000 | 1 1/16 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Nov. 3 | Breeders' Cup Juv. | SA | 1 | $2,000,000 | 1 1/16 | 30 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 3 |
| Nov. 25 | Ky. Jockey Club | CD | 2 | $400,000 | 1 1/16 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Dec. 2 | Remsen | AQU | 2 | $250,000 | 1 1/8 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| *Dec. 9 | Los Alamitos Fut. | LRC | 2 | *$200,000 | 1 1/16 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Dec. 15 | Springboard Mile | RP | $300,000 | 1 mile | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| Dec. 23 | Gun Runner | FG | $100,000 | 1 1/16 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| Jan. 1 | Smarty Jones | OP | $300,000 | 1 1/16 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| *Jan. 6 | Jerome | AQU | *$150,000 | 1 mile | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| *Jan. 7 | Sham | SA | 3 | *$100,000 | 1 mile | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Jan. 20 | Lecomte | FG | 3 | $200,000 | 1 1/16 | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Jan. 27 | Southwest | OP | 3 | $800,000 | 1 1/16 | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| *Feb. 3 | Holy Bull | GP | 3 | *$250,000 | 1 1/16 | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| *Feb. 3 | Robert B. Lewis | SA | 3 | *$200,000 | 1 1/16 | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| *Feb. 10 | Withers | AQU | 3 | *$250,000 | 1 1/8 | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Feb. 10 | Sam F. Davis | TAM | 3 | $250,000 | 1 1/16 | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| *March 2 | Battaglia Mem. | TP (aw) | *$150,000 | 1 1/16 | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
Kentucky Derby championship series
| Date | Race | Track | Gr. | Purse | Dist. | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 17 | Risen Star | FG | 2 | $400,000 | 1 1/8 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| Feb. 18 | Sunland Derby | SUN | 3 | *$600,000 | *1 1/8 | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Feb. 24 | Rebel | OP | 2 | $1,250,000 | 1 1/16 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| *March 2 | Gotham | AQU | 3 | *$300,000 | 1 mile | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| *March 2 | San Felipe | SA | 2 | *$400,000 | 1 1/16 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| *March 2 | Fountain of Youth | GP | 2 | *$400,000 | 1 1/16 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| March 9 | Tampa Bay Derby | TAM | 2 | $400,000 | 1 1/16 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| *March 23 | Jeff Ruby Steaks | TP (aw) | 3 | *$700,000 | 1 1/8 | 100 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 |
| March 23 | Louisiana Derby | FG | 2 | $1,000,000 | 1 3/16 | 100 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 |
| March 30 | UAE Derby | MEY | 2 | *$1,000,000 | 1 3/16 | 100 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 |
| *March 30 | Florida Derby | GP | 1 | *$1,000,000 | 1 1/8 | 100 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 |
| March 30 | Arkansas Derby | OP | 1 | $1,500,000 | 1 1/8 | 100 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 |
| *April 6 | Wood Memorial | AQU | 2 | *$750,000 | 1 1/8 | 100 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 |
| *April 6 | Blue Grass | KEE | 1 | *$1,000,000 | 1 1/8 | 100 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 |
| *April 6 | Santa Anita Derby | SA | 1 | *$750,000 | 1 1/8 | 100 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 |
| *April 13 | Lexington | KEE | 3 | *$400,000 | 1 1/16 | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
Europe road to the Kentucky Derby
| Date | Race | Track | Gr. | Purse | Dist. | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 23 | Beresford | CUR (t) | 2 | $127,000 | 1 mile | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Sept. 30 | Royal Lodge | NEW (t) | 2 | $150,000 | 1 mile | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Oct. 1 | Lagardère | LON (t) | 1 | $425,000 | 7 fur | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Oct. 28 | Vertem Fut. Trophy | DON (t) | 1 | $240,000 | 1 mile | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| *March 1 | Patton | DUN (aw) | *$40,000 | 1 mile | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 | |
| *March 13 | Rd. to Ky. Derby Cond. | KEM (aw) | *$72,000 | 1 mile | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 | |
| *March 30 | Cardinal Cond. | CHD (aw) | *$121,000 | 1 mile | 30 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 3 |
Japan road to the Kentucky Derby
| Date | Race | Track | Gr. | Purse | Dist. | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 25 | Cattleya | TOK | *$220,000 | 1 mile | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| Dec. 13 | Nisai Yushun | KAW | *$527,000 | 1 mile | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 | |
| *Feb. 18 | Hyacinth | TOK | *$274,000 | 1 mile | 30 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 3 | |
| *March 23 | Fukuryu | NAK | *$265,000 | 1 1/8 | 40 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 4 |
Road to the Kentucky Oaks
Kentucky Oaks prep season
| Date | Race | Track | Gr. | Purse | Dist. | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 16 | Pocahontas | CD | 3 | $300,000 | 1 mile | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Oct. 6 | Alcibiades | KEE | 1 | $600,000 | 1 1/16 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Oct. 7 | Frizette | AQU | 1 | $400,000 | 1 mile | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Oct. 7 | Chandelier | SA | 2 | $200,000 | 1 1/16 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Oct. 29 | Rags to Riches | CD | $200,000 | 1 1/16 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| Nov. 3 | BC Juv. Fillies | SA | 1 | $2,000,000 | 1 1/16 | 30 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 3 |
| Nov. 25 | Golden Rod | CD | 2 | $400,000 | 1 1/16 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Dec. 2 | Demoiselle | AQU | 2 | $250,000 | 1 1/8 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| *Dec. 9 | Starlet | LRC | 2 | *$300,000 | 1 1/16 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Dec. 23 | Untapable | FG | $100,000 | 1 mi 70 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| *Jan. 7 | Santa Ynez | SA | 2 | *$200,000 | 7 fur | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| *Jan. 13 | Busanda | AQU | *$100,000 | 1 1/8 | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 | |
| Jan. 20 | Silverbulletday | FG | 2 | $150,000 | 1 mi 70 | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Jan. 27 | Martha Washington | OP | $250,000 | 1 1/16 | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 | |
| *Jan. 27 | Las Virgenes | SA | 3 | *$200,000 | 1 mile | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| *Feb. 3 | Forward Gal | GP | 3 | *$125,000 | 7 fur | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Feb. 10 | Suncoast | TAM | $150,000 | 1 mi 40 | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 | |
| *March 2 | Cincinnati Trophy | TP (aw) | *$150,000 | 1 mile | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
Kentucky Oaks championship series
| Date | Race | Track | Gr. | Purse | Dist. | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Feb. 16 | UAE Oaks | MEY | 3 | *$150,000 | 1 3/16 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| Feb. 17 | Rachel Alexandra | FG | 2 | $300,000 | 1 1/16 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| Feb. 18 | Sunland Park Oaks | SUN | *$300,000 | 1 1/16 | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 | |
| Feb. 24 | Honeybee | OP | 3 | $400,000 | 1 1/16 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| *March 2 | Davona Dale | GP | 2 | *$200,000 | 1 mile | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| *March 2 | Busher | AQU | *$200,000 | 1 mile | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 | 5 | |
| *March 3 | Santa Ysabel | SA | 3 | *$100,000 | 1 1/16 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| March 23 | Fair Grounds Oaks | FG | 2 | $400,000 | 1 1/16 | 100 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 |
| *March 23 | Bourbonette Oaks | TP (aw) | *$300,000 | 1 1/16 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 | 5 | |
| *March 30 | GP Oaks | GP | 2 | *$250,000 | 1 1/16 | 100 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 |
| March 30 | Fantasy | OP | 3 | $750,000 | 1 1/16 | 100 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 |
| *April 5 | Ashland | KEE | 1 | *$600,000 | 1 1/16 | 100 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 |
| *April 6 | Gazelle | AQU | 3 | *$250,000 | 1 1/8 | 100 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 |
| *April 6 | Santa Anita Oaks | SA | 2 | *$400,000 | 1 1/16 | 100 | 50 | 25 | 15 | 10 |
*Race dates and distances to be announced by host track. Dates based on recent historical placement. Schedule is subject to change.
Rules
Tiebreakers
America’s road to the Kentucky Derby and road to the Kentucky Oaks: If two or more horses have the same number of points, the tiebreaker is earnings in non-restricted stakes races. In the case of remaining ties, the additional starter(s) and/or also-eligible horses shall be determined by lifetime earnings. In the case of remaining ties, the additional starter(s) and/or also-eligible horses shall be determined by lot, a.k.a. a shake.
European road to the Kentucky Derby: If two or more horses have the same number of points, the tiebreaker is earnings in non-restricted stakes races through April 13. In the case of remaining ties, the additional starter(s) and/or also-eligible horses shall be determined by lifetime earnings through April 13. In the case of remaining ties, the additional starter(s) and/or also-eligible horses shall be determined by lot, a.k.a. a shake. Any points earned in America’s “Road to the Kentucky Derby” will be credited to the horse’s point total in the “European Road to the Kentucky Derby.”
Japan road to the Kentucky Derby: If two or more horses have the same number of points, the tiebreaker is lifetime earnings through April 13, 2024. In the case of remaining ties, the additional starter(s) and/or also-eligible horses shall be determined by lot, a.k.a. a shake. Any points earned in America’s “Road to the Kentucky Derby” will be credited to the horse’s point total in the “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.”
Fillies
A filly can run in the Kentucky Derby, but she’ll have to earn her way into the field by accumulating points against open company just like the rest of the colts and geldings. Additionally, any points earned by a filly in the road to the Kentucky Derby series against open company will be credited to her point total in the road to the Kentucky Oaks series. If a filly garners an invitation to the Kentucky Derby via the European road to the Kentucky Derby or Japan road to the Kentucky Derby, ownership may opt to instead use that invitation to the Kentucky Oaks.
Dead heats
In the event of a dead-heat, those horses will divide equally the points they would have received jointly had one beaten the other.
Split divisions
In the event a race is split into divisions and each division awards its originally published purse money, points will be awarded as scheduled for each division. If the originally published purse is reduced for each division, points will be reduced proportionally as well.
Lasix
Points will only be awarded to horses who compete on race day without furosemide, often referred to by the brand name Lasix, in road to the Kentucky Derby and road to the Kentucky Oaks races. Any points earned by horses with Lasix on race day will be vacated. The 2021 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks marked the first year those races were run without the permitted use of Lasix.
Medication violations
If the connections of a horse have been notified by a regulatory body about a medication violation from participation in a road to the Kentucky Derby or road to the Kentucky Oaks race, and that violation would result in disqualification, any accrued points from the race will be revoked until the matter reaches a legal conclusion. Accrued points will be reinstated if the matter is legally overturned prior to the running of the Kentucky Derby or Kentucky Oaks.
Trainer suspension
Points from any race in the road to the Kentucky Derby or Kentucky Oaks will not be awarded to any horse trained by any individual who is suspended from racing in the 2024 Kentucky Derby or 2024 Kentucky Oaks or any trainer directly or indirectly employed, supervised, or advised by a suspended trainer. Should a horse trained by a suspended trainer, or any trainer directly or indirectly employed, supervised, or advised by a suspended trainer, finish in a position that would have earned points in a road to the Kentucky Derby or Kentucky Oaks race, the points associated with that finish position will be vacated.