Keeneland Ups Purses for Three Fall Stakes

Keeneland announced July 25 a schedule of 17 stakes—six of which are grade I events—worth $4.625 million in purses for its 2013 fall race meet Oct. 4-26.

The meet, which opens with "Fall Stars Weekend," is among the richest in the country with purses averaging approximately $600,000 per day. It attracts the nation's leading owners, trainers, and jockeys and showcases many Breeders' Cup-bound horses.

Purses were increased in 2013 for two Fall Stars Weekend stakes. The purse for the opening-day Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (gr. III), at six furlongs for 3-year-olds and up, has been raised from $175,000 to $200,000, and the purse for the Oct. 5 First Lady Stakes (gr. I), a one-mile turf race for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up, has been increased to $400,000 from $350,000.

New this fall is Hagyard Equine Medical Institute's sponsorship of the closing-day Fayette Stakes (gr. II), a 1 1/8 mile race for 3-year-olds and up. The purse has been increased from $150,000 to $200,000.

"The fall meet is so special for our fans because they get to see horses who are campaigning for year-end honors; athletes that are truly at the top of their game," said Rogers Beasley, Keeneland's vice president of racing. "Both our stakes and overnight racing programs continue to thrive, and that is made possible by the great partnership we have with our horsemen and our fans."

Headlining Fall Stars Weekend are nine graded stakes worth $3.15 million. Five Fall Stars stakes are grade I events: