Ky. Downs 2025 meet offers $30.5 million for state-breds

Kentucky Downs’s 2025 meet will feature 18 stakes offering a total of $30.5 million in purses, led by the Grade 3, $3.5 million Nashville Derby. Another 10 stakes are worth at least $2 million.

The stakes are worth a combined $16 million in base purses, with another $14.5 million from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund for registered Kentucky-breds. Even horses not bred in Kentucky will run for some of the biggest stakes purses in country. For instance, the Nashville Derby has a base purse of $2 million, for which every horse runs, and 10 other stakes worth $2.5 million or $2 million for Kentucky-breds carry a $1 million base purse.

Kentucky Downs’s seven-day meet runs Aug. 28, 30 and 31 and Sept. 4, 6, 7 and 10, with maiden and allowance races also among the highest in the world. The condition book is now online on equibase.com.

The 1 5/16-mile Nashville Derby again will be America’s richest race for 3-year-olds, behind only the $5 million Kentucky Derby.

The Nashville Derby will be one of five stakes on Saturday, Aug. 30, which will feature live coverage on NBC. The card includes the $2 million Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint (G2), whose winner earns a fees-paid berth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Also that day are the $2 million Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint (G2), $2 million Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf (G3) and the $1 million Bowling Green Gold Cup Invitational at 2 1/16 miles.

The Saturday, Sept. 6, card will feature six stakes each worth at least $2 million for Kentucky-breds, with the Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational (G2) and the Mint Millions Invitational (G3) both $2.5 million. The winner of the 1 1/2-mile Turf Cup earns a fees-paid berth in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Turf. The Sept. 6 card also includes the Franklin-Simpson (G1) for 3-year-old sprinters, the Music City (G2) for 3-year-old filly sprinters, the Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon (G3) and the one-mile Gun Runner for 3-year-olds.

Another five stakes are worth $1 million with KTDF supplements, including four stakes for 2-year-olds.

Kentucky Downs 2025 stakes schedule

All stakes on turf

Thursday, Aug. 28

$500,000 Tapit Stakes. Includes $250,000 KTDF. 3-year-olds & up, one mile and 70 yards. Restricted to horses that have not won a stakes in 2025.

Saturday, Aug. 30

$3.5 million Nashville Derby Invitational (G3). Includes $1.5 million KTDF. 3-year-olds, 1 5/16 miles.

$2 million Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint (G2). Includes $1 million KTDF. Win-and-you’re-in for Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, 3-year-olds and up, 6 furlongs.

$2 million Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint (G2). Includes $1 million KTDF. Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up, 6 1/2 furlongs.

$2 million Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf (G3). Includes $1 million KTDF. Fillies & mares, 3 years old and up, one mile.

$1 million Bowling Green Gold Cup Invitational. Includes $500,000 KTDF. 3-year-olds and up, 2 1/16 miles.

Sunday, Aug. 31

$1 million Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies, Includes $500,000 KTDF. 2-year-old fillies, mile.

$1 million Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint. Includes $500,000 KTDF. 2-year-olds, 6 1/2 furlongs.

$500,000 National Thoroughbred League Tight Spot Overnight Handicap, 3-year-olds and up, one mile.

Thursday, Sept. 4

$500,000 One Dreamer. Includes $250,000 KTDF. Fillies & mares 3-year-olds and up, one mile and 70 yards. Restricted to horses who have not won a stakes in 2025.

Saturday, Sept. 6

$2.5 million Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational (G2). Includes $1 million KTDF. Win-and-you're-in for Breeders’ Cup Turf. 3-year-olds and up, 1 1/2 miles.

$2.5 million Mint Millions Invitational (G3). Includes $1 million KTDF. 3-year-olds and up, one mile.

$2 million Franklin-Simpson (G1). Includes $1 million KTDF. 3-year-olds, 6 1/2 furlongs.

$2 million Music City (G2). Includes $1 million KTDF. 3-year-old fillies, 6 1/2 furlongs.

$2 million Ladies Marathon (G3). Includes $1 million KTDF. Fillies and mares 3 years old and up, 1 5/16 miles.

$2 million Gun Runner. Includes $1 million KTDF. 3-year-olds, mile.

Sunday, Sept. 7

$1 million Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile. Includes $500,000 KTDF. 2-year-olds, one mile.

$1 million Untapable. Includes $500,000 KTDF. 2-year-old fillies, 6 1/2 furlongs.

Wednesday Sept. 10

$2 million Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational (G3). Includes $1 million KTDF. 3-year-old fillies, 1 5/16 miles.