Turfway Park: Here's the stakes schedule for winter-spring meet
Lucrative purse money and Kentucky Derby qualifying points will be on the line during Turfway Park’s annual winter-spring meet, which will begin Sunday, Jan. 1, and feature the Grade 3, $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks on Saturday, March 25.
Led by the Jeff Ruby Steaks on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, Turfway Park will offer 20 stakes races across the 48-day stand. Racing will be held Wednesday to Saturday in January and February and Thursday to Saturday March 2 to April 1.
Along with the plentiful stakes calendar, racing director Tyler Picklesimer’s condition book will offer an average of $188,000 per day.
Jeff Ruby Steaks Day will highlight the meet and feature a total of six stakes events – the Jeff Ruby, the TwinSpires Ky Cup Classic, the Bourbonette Oaks – a road to the Kentucky Oaks points prep, the Animal Kingdom Stakes, the Latonia Stakes and the Rushaway Stakes.
The road to the Kentucky Derby’s first stop at the Florence oval will be Saturday, March 4 for the John Battaglia Memorial. The card also will feature the Cincinnati Trophy Stakes on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.
Many of the top trainers in the Kentucky region have stayed home this winter to compete at Turfway, including Juan Cano, Greg Foley, Michael McCarthy, Kenny McPeek, Dale Romans and Mike Tomlinson. They will join annual Turfway mainstays Brad Cox, Mike Maker, Bill Morey and Wesley Ward. Cox won the 2021 title 15-12 over Maker and Morey. Ward finished fourth with 11 wins.
Jockey Gerardo Corrales, who dominated the 2021 winter-spring meet with 54 wins, will return to defend his title. Other top jockeys who are scheduled to ride at the meet include Declan Cannon, Vince Cheminaud, Fernando De La Cruz, Jack Gilligan, Chris Landeros, Luan Machado and Joe Ramos.
Tony Calo will serve as the interim track announcer while regular caller Jimmy McNerney recovers from neck surgery. Kaitlin Free will offer selections and analysis each race day on the simulcast feed.
The 19-day Turfway Park holiday meet will run through Sunday, Dec. 31. Racing is Wednesday-Saturday with first posts Wednesday-Friday at 5:55 p.m. EST and Saturday at 12:45 p.m.
Below is the full stakes schedule. Purse totals include funds from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.
| Date | Stakes | Age | Distance | Purse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Jan. 1 | The Holiday Cheer | 4yo & up | 6f | $125,000 |
| Friday, Jan. 7 | The Turfway Prevue | 3yo | 6 1/2f | $125,000 |
| Friday, Jan. 14 | The Likely Exchange | F&M 4&up | 1m | $125,000 |
| Friday, Jan. 21 | The Leonatus Stakes | 3yo | 1m | $125,000 |
| Friday, Jan. 28 | The Wishing Well | F&M 4&up | 6 1/2f | $125,000 |
| Friday, Feb. 4 | The Forego | 4yo & up | 6 1/2f | $125,000 |
| Friday, Feb. 11 | The Valdale | F 3yo | 6 1/2f | $125,000 |
| Friday, Feb. 18 | The Dust Commander | 4yo & up | 1 1/16m | $125,000 |
| Friday, Feb. 25 | The Wintergreen | F&M 4&up | 1m | $125,000 |
| Friday, March 4 | The Cincinnati Trophy | F 3yo | 1m | $150,000 |
| Friday, March 4 | The John Battaglia Memorial | 3yo | 1 1/16m | $150,000 |
| Friday, March 11 | The Big Daddy | 4yo & up | 6f | $125,000 |
| Friday, March 18 | The Queen | F&M 4&up | 6f | $125,000 |
| Friday, March 25 | The Jeff Ruby Stakes (G3) | 3yo | 1 1/8m | $700,000 |
| Friday, March 25 | The TwinSpires Ky Cup Classic (Listed) | 4yo & up | 1 1/8m | $300,000 |
| Friday, March 25 | The Bourbonette Oaks | F 3yo | 1 1/16m | $300,000 |
| Friday, March 25 | The Rushaway | 3yo | 1 1/16m | $250,000 |
| Friday, March 25 | The Animal Kingdom | 3yo | 6f | $250,000 |
| Friday, March 25 | The Latonia | F&M 4&up | 1 1/16m | $250,000 |
| Friday, April 1 | The Serena's Song | 3yo | 6f | $125,000 |