The Fall stakes schedule at Keeneland Race Course will feature 22 added-money events worth a record $9.6 million over the course of its 17-day meet from Oct. 4-26, officials at the track announced Thursday.
The track has added a total of $550,000 to the purses of four stakes. The GIII Bryan Station Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on the turf will see its purse doubled from $300,000 to $600,000, while the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup for sophomore fillies will be run for $750,000, up from $600,000. Two newly upgraded stakes will have their prize money boosted by $50,000 apiece–the GII Bank of America Valley View Stakes will be worth $350,000, while the GIII Perryville Stakes features a purse of $300,000.
The Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) is contributing $1.35 million to Keeneland's Fall Meet stakes purses, pending approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.
“The Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Dixiana and the Bryan Station are receiving purse increases as part of Keeneland's working relationship with Kentucky Downs, with the goal being to bolster the overall purse structure in Kentucky and specifically to strengthen the turf program for 3-year-olds,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing Gatewood Bell said. “Keeneland and Kentucky Downs would like to help facilitate a pattern of races for 3-year-old fillies and 3-year-old colts on the turf in the U.S. by trying to coordinate and work with other tracks throughout the country.”
The purses for two age-restricted graded stakes on the grass in the spring–the GIII Appalachian Stakes for the 3-year-old fillies and the GIII Transylvania Stakes for 3-year-old males, will also be increased.
“We think these four races will provide a strong starting point in the spring and a nice conclusion to the season in the fall,” Bell added. “Keeneland is very appreciative of the support we receive from Kentucky Downs to help make this happen.”
October racing at Keeneland kicks off, as usual, with 'FallStars Weekend', featuring $5.55 million in purses and eight races that serve as Breeders' Cup Challenge contests. Of those, four are run at Grade I level–the $600,0000 Darley Alcibiades Stakes on Oct. 4; the $1-million Coolmore Turf Mile and $600,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity on Oct. 5; and the $600,000 Juddmonte Spinster S. on Oct. 6. The meet's other elite-level event is the $750,000 First Lady S. to be run Oct. 5. Other races offering fees-paid berths into corresponding Breeders' Cup races are the GII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes, the GII Jessamine Stakes, the GII Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes and the GII Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes.
Click here for the entire Keeneland Fall Stakes schedule.
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