Churchill Downs announced a stakes schedule worth $3.575 million for its upcoming 14-day September Meet, running Thursday, Sept. 11 through Sunday, Sept. 28. The schedule features 11 stakes contests spread across three weekends of racing.
The opening weekend kicks off Saturday, Sept. 13 with five stakes races. The $400,000 Grade II Fasig-Tipton Locust Grove headlines the card alongside the first points-qualifying events on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks — the $300,000 Grade III Iroquois and $300,000 Grade III Pocahontas.
The second Saturday of the meet, Sept. 20, will showcase four additional stakes races topped by the $300,000 Grade III Dogwood.
Stakes action concludes Saturday, Sept. 27 with two marquee races: the $500,000 Grade II Lukas Classic and $400,000 Grade III Ack Ack.
Four weeks after the September Meet ends, Churchill Downs will host its 26-day Fall Meet from Sunday, Oct. 26 through Sunday, Nov. 30, featuring 16 stakes worth $5 million.
Thanksgiving weekend remains the anchor of the Fall Meet schedule. The $600,000 Grade II Clark will headline Friday, Nov. 28, while Saturday, Nov. 29 features the Stars of Tomorrow II card led by the $400,000 Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club and $400,000 Grade II Golden Rod.
The Fall Meet opens with the first Stars of Tomorrow card on Sunday, Oct. 26, featuring the $200,000 Grade III Street Sense and $200,000 Rags to Riches.
