Kentucky Downs seven-day meet sets new records

The 2024 Kentucky Downs seven-day meet, which concluded on Wednesday, once again set new records for both wagering and purses for the 12th consecutive year.

Total purses amounted to $34,624,472 across 76 races, with $13.6 million coming from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF), exclusively for Kentucky-bred horses. This represents a 38 percent increase from last year's total of $25.06 million, spread over the same number of races. Of the 18 stakes-winners, 16 were Kentucky-bred, benefiting from the KTDF program.

All-sources wagering reached $90,181,408, marking an 8 percent increase from last year’s $83,640,261. Since Ron Winchell and Marc Falcone took ownership six years ago, total betting has surged 148 percent. While the meet expanded from five days in 2018 to the current seven, the per-day wagering average has jumped from $7.28 million to this year’s $12.88 million.

The signature Saturday card on September 7, branded as the FanDuel TV U.S. Open Turf Championships, featured six graded stakes with $2 million in purses for Kentucky-breds and $1 million for others. This high-profile event generated a record $21,184,941 in wagering, setting a new track benchmark.

Field sizes also reached a peak, averaging 10.89 horses per race—up from last year's 10.42, which led the nation—and marking Kentucky Downs' highest average since 2019.

"We are thrilled with the results of this year's meet," said Ted Nicholson, Vice President of Racing at Kentucky Downs. "We’ve seen growth in every metric, and I’m already looking forward to next year."

Legendary jockey Frankie Dettori made his debut at Kentucky Downs this year, securing eight wins, just one behind meet leaders Irad Ortiz Jr. and Tyler Gaffalione. Dettori claimed four stakes victories, including the $3.1 million DK Horse Nashville Derby, and swept the closing-day stakes races. His mounts earned $3.86 million, second only to Ortiz's $4.1 million.

"It's incredible," said Dettori during the meet. "There are great incentives for owners and for European horses to compete here. It's fantastic to see this kind of prize money for turf racing in America. I'm very supportive of what they’ve accomplished at Kentucky Downs."