Churchill Downs has partnered with the British Jockey Club and Ascot Racecourse to offer a program where horses competing during the GI Kentucky Derby week could receive an entry and travel incentive for races at Epsom Downs and the Royal Ascot meeting, and vice versa, in an effort to encourage more international participation in these prestigious races.
‣ Churchill Downs has announced a partnership with the British Jockey Club and Ascot Racecourse to offer a program where horses competing during GI Kentucky Derby week could receive an entry and travel incentive for races at Epsom Downs and the Royal Ascot meeting.
‣ The partnership aims to give owners and trainers a chance to run in marquee races during Kentucky Derby week and potentially receive entries into some of Europe’s most prestigious turf races. It also encourages European owners and trainers to bring their top horses to experience Kentucky Derby week.
‣ Two races on Kentucky Derby Day will offer horses an entry and travel incentive to run at Royal Ascot in mid-June. Three-year-old turf specialists in the GII American Turf S. and GII Edgewood S. can receive their entry to either the G1 Betfred Derby or G1 Betfred Oaks at Epsom Downs.
Churchill Downs made a big announcement on Tuesday. They’ve teamed up with the British Jockey Club and Ascot Racecourse for a new program. This program offers horses competing during GI Kentucky Derby week a chance to enter and get travel incentives for races at Epsom Downs and the Royal Ascot meeting.
Gary Palmisano Jr., the executive director of racing for Churchill Downs Inc., shared his thoughts on the partnership. He said, “This is a really special partnership. It gives owners and trainers a great opportunity to run in some of our marquee races during Kentucky Derby week. In return, they could get entries into some of Europe’s most prestigious turf races.”
Palmisano also mentioned the benefits for European owners and trainers. He said, “This partnership will give owners and trainers based in Europe a good initiative to bring some of their top horses over to experience Kentucky Derby week. It’s a great opportunity for connections based in Europe. But it also gives our owners and trainers here in North America a shot to compete on the international stage.”
Two races on Kentucky Derby Day will offer horses an entry and travel incentive to run at Royal Ascot in mid-June. The winner of the GI Old Forester Turf Classic S. will get a berth to either the G1 Queen Anne S. or the G1 Prince of Wales’s S. Earlier on Kentucky Derby Day, the winner of the GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint S. will get an entry to the G1 King Charles S.
Nick Smith, the director of racing and public affairs at Ascot Racecourse, expressed his excitement. He said, “We are very excited to be working with Churchill Downs and the UK Jockey Club on this exciting new initiative. We were very pleased to host the Churchill team at Royal Ascot last year. We have a rich modern history of American runners at Royal Ascot and their success always adds hugely to the meeting.”
Three-year-old turf specialists in the GII American Turf S. and GII Edgewood S. can get their entry to either the G1 Betfred Derby or G1 Betfred Oaks at Epsom Downs. The winner of the American Turf will get an entry and travel stipend to compete in the Betfred Derby. The winner of the Edgewood will get the same benefits for the Betfred Oaks.
Matt Woolston, the assistant racing and international racing director at The Jockey Club, shared his delight. He said, “We’re delighted to develop these links with races at the Kentucky Derby Meeting in its 150th year. A trip to Churchill Downs is one that should be on the bucket list for every racing fan, the world over. These historic races already have an international reputation, and we want to welcome more and more international runners in the years to come.”
In return for the above incentives for horses on Kentucky Derby weekend, a runner from both the Prince of Wales’s S. and Queen Anne S. will get an entry and a travel incentive to run in the GI Arlington Million S. in mid-August at Colonial Downs. Additionally, a runner from the G1 Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket’s July Festival will also get an entry and travel incentive to run in the GI Beverly D. S. on the same day as the Arlington Million.
