Upon regulatory approval, Kentucky Downs will boost the stakes

Kentucky Downs has announced a proposed increase in purses for nine of its eighteen stakes races, totalling $3.7 million, subject to regulatory approval. This announcement was made early Thursday morning.

The most notable increase is for the GIII Nashville Derby Invitational, which could see its purse rise from $2.5 million to $3.1 million. If approved, this would make the 1 5/16-mile race the second-richest event in North America for Kentucky-bred horses, surpassed only by the $5 million GI Kentucky Derby. Currently, the Nashville Derby is the most lucrative turf race for Kentucky-breds, excluding the $5 million GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, which rotates locations during the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

The planned purse enhancements will include both an increase in the base purse, funded by association funds, and additional supplements from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) for registered Kentucky-birds. For instance, the Nashville Derby’s base purse would increase to $1.9 million, with an additional $1.2 million provided by the KTDF.

The upcoming seven-day meet at Kentucky Downs, scheduled from August 29 to September 11, will feature nine graded stakes races. If the increases are approved, the total purse for the meet would exceed $38 million, including seven stakes races with purses of at least $2 million, bolstered by KTDF supplements. Additionally, there will be 15 stakes races worth $1 million or more for Kentucky-breds, including the newly introduced Tapit Stakes and One Dreamer Stakes, each with a $500,000 purse, and the Nashville Gold Cup, also valued at $500,000. The National Thoroughbred League Overnight Handicap will feature a $500,000 purse.

Originally known as the Dueling Grounds Derby, the Nashville Derby's purse was initially set to increase from $1 million to $2.5 million, including KTDF supplements, following an announcement in April.

These KTDF purse increases require approval from the newly established Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation, formerly the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, following a favourable recommendation from the KTDF advisory committee. Base purses are determined in consultation with the Kentucky HBPA, representing owners and trainers at Kentucky Downs.

The deadline for free nominations for stakes races on August 29, August 31, and September 1 is August 19. Nominations for the remaining stakes are due by August 21. Requests for invitations to the Nashville Derby must be submitted by August 17, and requests for the Dueling Grounds Oaks are due by August 27.