Parx 2024 schedule features 40 stakes, $6.3 million in purses

The 2024 Parx stakes schedule is highlighted by the Grade 1, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby and the $1 million Cotillion (G1) on Saturday, Sept. 21.

Parx is offering 40 stakes races with total purses of more than $6.3 million said David Osojnak, Parx director of racing.

The Pennsylvania Derby Day card will include 11 stakes races with purses totaling $3,650,000. The undercard will feature three graded stakes races, the Gallant Bob Stakes (G2), the Turf Monster (G3), the Greenwood Cup (G3), as well as the Parx Dirt Mile and the inaugural edition of the Parx Sprint.

Spring will see the renewal of the Page McKenney Stakes and the Unique Bella Stakes on April 22. June racing will be headlined by a trio of turf stakes, with the PTHA President’s Cup being contested on June 8 and the Crowd Pleaser and Power By Far Stakes on Monday June 24.

Late-summer stake action heats up Aug. 24 with the Pennsylvania Derby-Cotillion Preview Day, which will feature six stakes races including the Cathryn Sophia Stakes and the Smarty Jones Stakes.

Pennsylvania’s robust breeding industry takes center stage as Parx will host the annual Pennsylvania day at the races on Monday, Aug. 26. The day will showcase four $100,000 stake races for Pennsylvania-bred horses.

The Thanksgiving Eve racing festival will be held Nov. 27 anchored by the $100,000 Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes for 2-year-olds. The action will conclude with the Parx winter festival Dec. 30 and 31 and will feature the $100,000 Wait for it Stakes and Miss Behaviour Stakes, two races that recently produced graded-stakes winner Uncle Heavy and PTHA Horse of the Year Aoife’s Magic.