Kentucky Downs has renamed a major stakes event on its racing calendar to honor 2016 Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) winner Tourist .
The formerly-named More Than Ready Mile Stakes will now be run as the Tourist Mile Stakes starting in 2017, and the one-mile event on turf will continue to carry a lucrative purse of $400,000.
"To see a former winner of one of our marquee stakes races go on to defeat nine grade I winners from around the world in the fastest Breeders' Cup Mile ever on record just reaffirms the level of racing and everything we are doing here at Kentucky Downs," said Corey Johnsen, president of Kentucky Downs. "Tourist is one of the best horses ever to race at Kentucky Downs and it was only fitting to rename the event he won to honor him."
Bred and owned by WinStar Farm, Tourist captured the 2015 More Than Ready Mile before returning this year to become a multiple grade I winner with victories in the Fourstardave Handicap (gr. IT) at Saratoga Race Course and the Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita Park.
In the latter, the son of Tiznow established a new Breeders' Cup record for the fastest Mile ever run in the storied 33-year history of the event, stopping the clock in 1:31.71 with a half-length win over defending champion Tepin.
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"We are honored Corey and his team have decided to rename this prestigious race after our dual grade I winner Tourist," said Elliott Walden, WinStar president and chief executive officer. "As with everything at Kentucky Downs, the sky is the limit."
Tourist was recently retired to stud at WinStar Farm near Versailles, Ky., where he will stand his first season in 2017 for a fee of $12,500.