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Churchill Downs released its Spring Meet stakes schedule Monday, led of course, by the May 1 Kentucky Derby. But along with America’s most famous horse race comes 39 other stakes races worth a track-record $13.44 million.
Churchill Downs opens its nine-week spring season April 24. The 38-day meet ends June 26.
Naturally, most of the attention on the Louisville track focuses on April 24-May 1: opening week doubling as Derby Week. That week also features 18 stakes races worth $10.14 million.
Half of Derby Day’s 14 races are stakes events. That includes four Grade 1s: the $3 million Derby, the $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic, the $500,000 Churchill Downs and the $500,000 Derby City Distaff. The Turf Classic is a 1 1/8-mile jaunt for 4-year-olds and up. The Churchill Downs is a seven-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds and up and the Derby City Distaff sends 4-year-olds and up fillies and mares seven furlongs.
Derby Day puts more at stake than just Derby
Along with those four Grade 1s, Derby Day offers up three Grade 2s, including the $500,000 Pat Day Mile.
The Kentucky Oaks takes the spotlight the day before the Derby, April 30. The $1.25 million Oaks is the year’s marquee event for 3-year-old fillies. That headlines a six-stakes day offering the Grade 1 La Troienne for older fillies and mares, two Grade 2s and two Grade 3s.
The Oaks is the first of Churchill Downs’ six Grade 1s on its spring slate. While all those come Derby Week, the meet presents 22 more stakes after Derby Day. Those bring $3.3 million in purses.
HHR machines make their lucrative presence felt
Headlining that is a late card with three strong Grade 2s. Those come June 26, closing day, with the $600,000 Stephen Foster, the $250,000 Fleur de Lis and the $250,000 Wise Dan. All three are for older horses, with the Stephen Foster for males and the Fleur de Lis for fillies and mares. Both go 1 1/8 miles.
The Wise Dan sends its older males 1 1/16 miles on turf.
Churchill Downs Key 2021 Spring/Summer Stakes Races
| Race | Grade | Distance | Eligible Horses | |
| April 30 | Kentucky Oaks | I | 1 1/8 miles | 3-Year-Old Fillies |
| April 30 | La Troienne | I | 1 1/16 miles | 4-Year-Olds and Up Fillies & Mares |
| April 30 | Alysheba | II | 1 1/16 miles | 4-Year-Olds and Up |
| May 1 | Kentucky Derby | I | 1 1/4 miles | 3-Year-Olds |
| May 1 | Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic | I | 1 1/8 miles (turf) | 4-Year-Olds and Up |
| May 1 | Churchill Downs | I | 7 furlongs | 4-Year-Olds and Up |
| May 1 | Derby City Distaff | I | 7 furlongs | 4-Year-Olds and Up Fillies & Mares |
| May 1 | Churchill Distaff Turf Mile | II | 1 mile (turf) | 4-Year-Olds and Up Fillies & Mares |
| May 1 | Pat Day Mile | II | 1 mile | 3-Year-Olds |
| May 1 | American Turf | II | 1 1/16 miles (turf) | 3-Year-Olds |
| June 26 | Stephen Foster | II | 1 1/8 miles | 4-Year-Olds and Up |
| June 26 | Fleur de Lis | II | 1 1/8 miles | 4-Year-Olds and Up Fillies & Mares |
| June 26 | Wise Dan | II | 1 1/16 miles (turf) | 4-Year-Olds and Up |
Those are three of seven stakes races that day. Churchill Downs officials credited historic horse racing (HHR) machines for their record purses, primarily the ones at its Derby City Gaming facility near Churchill Downs. Purses for maiden races Derby Week are upwards of $106,000. For the rest of the meet, track officials said they will write $91,000 maiden races.