See the prep calendar for the 2021 Kentucky Derby
Although it has not been formally announced, the Road to the 2021 Kentucky Derby will look similar to what the 2020 road was supposed to look like before the coronavirus got in the way.
According to the Kentucky Derby website operated by Churchill Downs, a 36th race — the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes on Feb. 6 at Turfway Park — has been added to the U.S.-Dubai list of qualifying preps. It will award 10 points to the winner, four for second, two for third and one for fourth.
Otherwise, the rest of the calendar is unchanged. That includes the seven races to qualify for a European invitation and the four for a separate berth from Japan.
As has been the case since the advent of the points system eight years ago, the prep season will climax in late March and early April with three current Grade 1 races — the Florida Derby, Santa Anita Derby and Arkansas Derby — and four Grade 2s — the UAE Derby, Louisiana Derby, Blue Grass Stakes and the Wood Memorial. They again will be worth 100 points each to the winners, making them “win and you’re in” qualifiers.
The addition of the Battaglia Memorial reflects Churchill Downs Inc.’s acquisition of Turfway Park last fall in a $46 million takeover of the track in Florence, Ky., near Cincinnati. Although plans to build a new grandstand and clubhouse were put on hold by CDI, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approved a Dec. 2-March 28 racing season for Turfway Park. The track’s Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on March 20 again will be a 20-8-4-2 prep.
Nine Derby points races already have been run — five in the U.S. and four in Europe. With 20 points for his win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and 10 more for finishing first in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1), Essential Quality has 30 points, which already might be enough to qualify for the Derby.
Sealiway and New Mandate, two out-of-the-money starters in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, share the lead with High Definition and Mac Swiney on the European road.
Mendelssohn is the only horse that raced in the Derby from the European qualifiers that began three years ago; he finished last in 2018. Since the Japan points preps began four seasons ago, only Master Fencer has come over, finishing seventh in 2019 before being promoted to sixth.
The Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) on Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs is the next scheduled U.S. qualifier. The Cattleya Sho, a one-mile dirt race at Tokyo Racecourse, is the same day and is the first prep on the Japan calendar.
The 147th running of the Kentucky Derby is scheduled for May 1, a return to the traditional first Saturday in May after the pandemic led to the four-month postponement of this year’s race and the absence of spectators. Chief executive officer Bill Carstanjen said on an earnings call last month that CDI is operating for now under the assumption that 40% to 50% of reserved seats will be sold.
Following are the full schedules of the Derby’s
U.S.-Dubai, Europe and Japan qualifiers as listed at KentuckyDerby.com, with
dates subject to change.
U.S.-DUBAI
| Race (Track) | Date | Points |
| Iroquois (CD) | Sept. 5 | 10-4-2-1 |
American Pharoah (SA) | Sept. 26 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Breeders' Futurity (KEE) | Oct. 3 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Champagne (BEL) | Oct. 10 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Breeders' Cup Juvenile (KEE) | Nov. 6 | 20-8-4-2 |
| Kentucky Jockey Club (CD) | Nov. 28 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Remsen (AQU) | Dec. 5 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Los Alamitos Futurity (LRC) | Dec. 19 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Springboard Mile (RP) | Dec. 20 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Jerome (AQU) | Jan. 1 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Sham (SA) | Jan. 2 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Lecomte (FG) | Jan. 16 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Smarty Jones (OP) | Jan. 22 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Holy Bull (GP) | Jan. 30 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Robert B. Lewis (SA) | Feb. 6 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Withers (AQU) | Feb. 6 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Sam F. Davis (TAM) | Feb. 6 | 10-4-2-1 |
| John Battaglia Memorial (TP) | Feb. 6 | 10-4-2-1 |
| El Camino Real Derby (GG) | Feb. 13 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Risen Star (FG) | Feb. 13 | 50-20-10-5 |
| Southwest (OP) | Feb. 21 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Fountain of Youth (GP) | Feb. 27 | 50-20-10-5 |
| Gotham (AQU) | March 6 | 50-20-10-5 |
| Tampa Bay Derby (TAM) | March 6 | 50-20-10-5 |
| San Felipe (SA) | March 6 | 50-20-10-5 |
| Rebel (OP) | March 13 | 50-20-10-5 |
| Jeff Ruby Steaks (TP) | March 20 | 20-8-4-2 |
| Louisiana Derby (FG) | March 20 | 100-40-20-10 |
| Florida Derby (GP) | March 27 | 100-40-20-10 |
| UAE Derby (MEY) | March 27 | 100-40-20-10 |
| Sunland Derby (SUN) | March 30 | 50-20-10-5 |
| Blue Grass (KEE) | April 3 | 100-40-20-10 |
| Santa Anita Derby (SA) | April 3 | 100-40-20-10 |
| Wood Memorial (AQU) | April 3 | 100-40-20-10 |
| Arkansas Derby (OP) | April 10 | 100-40-20-10 |
| Lexington (KEE) | April 10 | 20-8-4-2 |
EUROPE
| Race | Date | Points |
| Royal Lodge (NEW) | Sept. 26 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Beresford (CUR) | Sept. 26 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Jean-Luc Lagardere (LON) | Oct. 4 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Futurity Trophy (DON) | Oct. 24 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Patton (DUN) | March 1 | 20-8-4-2 |
| Road to the Derby (KEM) | March 4 | 20-8-4-2 |
| Cardinal (CHD) | April 1 | 30-12-6-3 |
JAPAN
| Race | Date | Points |
| Cattleya Sho (TOK) | Nov. 28 | 10-4-2-1 |
| Nisai Yushun (KAW) | Dec. 16 | 20-8-4-2 |
| Hyacinth (TOK) | TBD | 30-12-6-3 |
| Fukuryu (NAK) | RBD | 40-16-8-4 |