Kentucky Downs plans to increase purses for nine of its 18 stakes by a total of $3.7 million from what was originally announced, pending regulatory approval, according to a press release from the track early on Thursday morning.
Leading the way is the GIII Nashville Derby Invitational, bumped from $2.5 million to $3.1 million. That would make the 1 5/16-mile stakes North America's second-richest race, for Kentucky-breds, behind only the $5 million GI Kentucky Derby among races held at one track. The Nashville Derby already was America's richest turf race for Kentucky-breds outside the $5 million GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, whose location moves around with the Breeders' Cup World Championships.
The nine requested purse hikes are a combination of increasing the association money that forms a race's base purse for which every horse runs and supplements from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) restricted to registered Kentucky-breds. For instance, the Nashville Derby would increase to a base purse of $1.9 million, with $1.2 million in KTDF, if approved.
Kentucky Downs's seven-day meet runs Aug. 29 and 31 and Sept. 1, 5, 7, 8 and 11, featuring nine graded stakes. If approved, total purse money offered at the meet would exceed $37 million, including seven stakes worth at least $2 million with the KTDF supplements. The number of stakes worth at least $1 million for Kentucky-breds will reach 15, with the restricted Tapit Stakes and One Dreamer Stakes and the new Nashville Gold Cup $500,00 apiece. In addition, the National Thoroughbred League Overnight Handicap will have a $500,000 purse.
The Nashville Derby, formerly the Dueling Grounds Derby, was announced in April as increasing from $1 million to $2.5 million, including Kentucky-bred purse supplements.
Other requested increases:
• GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon purse would double from $1 million to $2 million, giving the Sept. 7 showcase card six stakes worth $2 million apiece for Kentucky-breds.
• The track's four 2-year-old stakes each received a $250,000 increase to $1 million with the Kentucky-bred supplements.
• GII Ladies Turf Sprint on Aug. 31 would increase to $1.5 million from $1 million in total purse money offered.
• The closing-day Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational would go to $1.6 million; the requested $100,000 increase in base purse means 3-year-old fillies foaled outside of Kentucky still will compete for a cool $1 million.
• The Gun Runner for 3-year-olds at a mile would receive a $500,000 increase to $1.5 million for Kentucky-breds.
The KTDF increases must be approved by the newly formed Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation (previously the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission) after first getting a favorable recommendation from its KTDF advisory committee. Base purses are set in consultation with the Kentucky HBPA, which represents owners and trainers at Kentucky Downs.
The deadline is Aug. 19 to make free nominations to the stakes held on Aug. 29 and 31 and Sept. 1; nominations are due by Aug. 21 for the remaining stakes. Requests for invitations to the Nashville Derby are due by Aug. 17; requests for invitations to the Dueling Grounds Oaks are due by Aug. 27.
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