Big fields, four allowance races on Friday card

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A Friday card with four allowances worth $97,000 to $102,000 surely will agree with many horseplayers as Churchill winds down its 11-day September meet with a predominance of full fields.

Two of the allowances (races 3 and 9) are main-track sprints restricted to 3-year-olds. The other two (races 7 and 10) are two-turn turf races for 3-year-olds and upward. First post is 12:45 p.m. Eastern.

In all, there are 119 horses on the 10-race Friday program, including 14 also-eligibles. Field size at the meet (9.1 starters per race) is up over the corresponding 2018 dates, no doubt in part because of major purse increases. Maiden-special and allowance purses include sizable bonuses from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.

Closing day is Sunday, when mandatory jackpot disbursements will be in effect. Keeneland starts its 17-day fall meet next Friday, Oct. 4.