Kentucky Downs's GII Kentucky Turf Cup will now be worth $1.7 million in 2023, with the winner earning more than $1 million if bred in Kentucky. Even horses that aren't registered Kentucky-breds will compete for $1.3 million, the winner of the 1 1/2-mile stakes making about $800,000, the track said in a release Wednesday.
In addition, four other stakes are being raised to $1 million to bring the total of seven-figure races to 11 at the all-turf FanDuel Meet at Kentucky Downs. The most lucrative meet in North America–including the biggest maiden purses in the world at $150,000 for Kentucky-breds–runs Aug. 31 and Sept. 2, 3, 7, 9, 10 and 13.
The Kentucky Turf Cup's $1.7 million purse includes $400,000 from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF), which provides purse supplements to registered Kentucky-breds. The Turf Cup also is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series race, meaning its winner gets a fees-paid spot in the $4 million Longines GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita.
“We want to provide horse owners a shot to where winning and even hitting the board goes a long way on the balance sheet in a challenging industry where the payoff more often is thrills than profit,” said Ron Winchell, co-managing partner of Kentucky Downs and The Mint Gaming Hall properties with Marc Falcone. “This should grab people's attention, and we hope it pushes our four Grade II stakes over the finish line to be awarded Grade I status for 2024.”
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