Turfway sets winter-spring schedule, led by Jeff Ruby
A total of 20 stakes worth $3.977 million will highlight Turfway Park’s winter-spring meet, anchored once again by the 55th running of the Grade 3, $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks, a stop on the road to Kentucky Derby 2026, on Saturday, March 21.
The winter-spring meet, which runs Jan. 1 through March 28, follows the holiday meet from Dec. 3 to 27. The holiday meet features seven stakes led by Synthetic Championships night on Saturday, Dec. 13, offering $1 million across four stakes races. All stakes purses at both meets include contributions from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund. Combined, the holiday and winter-spring meets will offer $5.352 million in stakes purses.
Jeff Ruby Steaks Day on Saturday, March 21, will showcase six stakes contests, including the $300,000 Kentucky Cup Classic (G3) and the $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks, on the road to the Kentucky Oaks. Supporting stakes on the card include the $250,000 Latonia, the $250,000 Animal Kingdom and $250,000 Rushaway.
Other notable events during the winter-spring meet include the $175,000 John Battaglia Memorial on Saturday, Feb. 21, a prep-season race on the road to the Kentucky Derby, and the $175,000 Cincinnati Trophy one night earlier, on the road to the Kentucky Oaks.
Daily first post times, aside from Jeff Ruby Steaks Day, will be 5:55 p.m. EST. Jeff Ruby Steaks Day will get underway at 12:45 p.m.
| Date | Race | Purse | Age | Distance |
| Jan. 1 | Gowell Stakes | $125,000 | 3yo (f) | 6 F |
| Jan. 3 | Turfway Prevue | $125,000 | 3yo | 6 1/2 F |
| Jan. 10 | Likely Exchange | $125,000 | 4yo and up (F&M) | 1 M |
| Jan. 17 | Leonatus Stakes | $125,000 | 3yo | 1 M |
| Jan. 24 | Wishing Well | $125,000 | 4yo and up (F&M) | 6 1/2 F |
| Jan. 31 | Forego | $125,000 | 4yo and up | 6 1/2 F |
| Feb. 7 | Valdale | $125,000 | 3yo (f) | 6 1/2 F |
| Feb. 14 | Dust Commander | $125,000 | 4yo and up | 1 1/16 M |
| Feb. 20 | Cincinnati Trophy | $175,000 | 3yo (f) | 1 M |
| Feb. 21 | John Battaglia Memorial | $175,000 | 3yo | 1 1/16 M |
| Feb. 28 | Wintergreen | $125,000 | 4yo and up (F&M) | 1 M |
| March 7 | Big Daddy | $125,000 | 4yo and up | 6 F |
| March 14 | Queen | $125,000 | 4yo and up (F&M) | 6 F |
| March 21 | Jeff Ruby Steaks | $777,000 | 3yo | 1 1/8 M |
| March 21 | Bourbonette Oaks | $300,000 | 3yo (f) | 1 1/16 M |
| March 21 | Kentucky Cup Classic | $300,000 | 4yo and up | 1 1/8 M |
| March 21 | Animal Kingdom | $250,000 | 3yo | 6 F |
| March 21 | Latonia Stakes | $250,000 | 4yo and up (F&M) | 1 1/16 M |
| March 21 | Rushaway | $250,000 | 3yo | 1 1/16 M |
| March 28 | Serena’s Song | $125,000 | 3yo (f) | 6 F |