Churchill announces Derby points changes

Churchill Downs has modified the system that awards points to horses seeking a berth in the Kentucky Derby by increasing the amount of points for second-place finishes in the 37 races that are a part of the series in the U.S., the company announced on Friday.

Under the modified system, the number of points awarded to second-place finishers in the prep races was increased to “create added separation from second- and third-place finishers,” the company said. The system awards the first five finishers in the 37 designated races with points that are used to determine the berths in the Derby in the case of a field exceeding 20 starters, the maximum number of starters.

In addition, in the eight races that award the most points to the winner, the number of points awarded to the third- and fourth-place finishers has been decreased.

For example, the Santa Anita Derby last year awarded points on a 100-40-30-20-10 scale. This year, the same race will award points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale. The same will hold for the Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park, the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds, the UAE Derby in Dubai, the Florida Derby at Gulfstream, the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn, the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, and the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.

Under the new scale, the races that award 50 points to the winner will award points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale, compared to 50-20-15-10-5. For races with 20 points to the winner, it will be 20-10-6-4-2, compared to 20-8-6-4-2, and for 10 points, it will be 10-5-3-2-1, compared to 10-4-3-2-1. The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile will award points on a 30-15-9-6-3 scale, compared to 30-12-9-6-3.

Churchill has added a new race to the series, the $200,000 Street Sense at Churchill Downs on Oct. 29, awarding 10 points to the winner. The company has also downgraded the Sunland Derby in New Mexico so that it will award 20 points to the winner, rather than 50.

The company made identical changes to the points system that awards berths to the Kentucky Oaks, run the day prior to the Derby. The maximum field in the Oaks is 14 horses.

Two series, one in Japan and one in Europe, will continue to be run separate from the U.S. series to determine a single qualifier in each region, based on the highest points earner. The European series includes seven races, while the Japan series includes four races.

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