Churchill Puts Three Stakes Worth $1.2 Million on One Card

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Churchill Downs press release
The 127th renewals of the $1 million guaranteed Kentucky Derby and the $500,000-added Kentucky Oaks head a Churchill Downs stakes schedule for 2001 that includes 39 stakes races -- 34 of which are graded events -- with total purses of $7,875,000.

There is no change from the track's 2000 stakes schedule in the total number of stakes events and purses, but a significant change in the scheduling of several spring meet events will create an important day of stakes races with total purses of $1.2 million on Saturday, June 16. The day will be headlined by the $750,000- added Stephen Foster Handicap, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up which is being run on its traditional date. Joining the Stephen Foster on the day will be the $300,000-added Fleur de Lis, a handicap for fillies and mares three-and-up, and the $150,000-added Regret a race for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. The day will also include the $100,000 Northern Dancer Handicap, an overnight handicap for 3-year-olds that is not listed on the track's stakes schedule.

"The Stephen Foster Handicap, the Fleur de Lis and the Regret have in recent years attracted many of the brightest stars in their respective divisions and the linking of the three races on a single day provides Churchill Downs with another major racing event for our Spring Meet," said Don Richardson, senior vice president, racing. "Our 2001 stakes schedule contains a record number of graded stakes races, which indicates the continued growth of a stakes program that ranks among the finest in American racing."

The Kentucky Derby on May 5 and the Kentucky Oaks on May 4 headline the track's stakes schedule for its Spring Meet, which will run from April 28-July 8. Other grade I events on the Spring Meet schedule include the $300,000-added Woodford Reserve Turf Classic, which is set for Kentucky Derby Day, and the $100,000- added Hard Scuffle Steeplechase, a National Steeplechase Association Grade I event, on May 3.

The spring meet stakes schedule includes 28 races, 24 of which are graded, with total purses of $5.875 million. Three of those races were recently granted graded status by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. The $100,000-added Aegon Turf Sprint on May 4, the $100,000-added Mint Julep on May 19, and the $250,000-added Jefferson Cup on June 9 will all be run as grade III events for the first time.

The Oct. 28-Nov. 24 fall meet is headed by the 127th running of the $400,000-added Clark Handicap. The fall meet stakes schedule includes 11 races, 10 of which are graded events, with total purses of $2 million.

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