Churchill, NYRA to hold 3-year-old Championship Series that does not include Preakness
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – In a joint venture that could very well have ramifications on the Triple Crown, Churchill Downs Inc. and the New York Racing Association on Monday announced the creation of a six-race series for 3-year-olds that will include the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes and award $5 million in bonus money based on a points structure for participation.
The Thoroughbred Championship Series will start in 2027 with the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 1 and then the Belmont Stakes, which will return to Belmont Park after being run three years at Saratoga, on June 5.
The other races in the series will include the Matt Winn in early July at Churchill, the Jim Dandy in late July/early August and Travers in late August, both at Saratoga. It will conclude with a yet-to-be named championship race at Churchill in September. Exact dates for the non-Triple Crown races have not yet been set.
The Kentucky Derby and Belmont are both part of Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown. The Preakness, run two weeks after the Derby and three weeks before the Belmont, was not included in this series.
Each of the six races will be broadcast on national television with the Churchill races airing on NBC and the NYRA races broadcast on FOX.
In a joint press release issued by CDI and NYRA, it says the unified points systems is designed to encourage the nation’s leading 3-year-olds to compete against one another more frequently. In addition to the individual race purses, a $5 million prize pool will be awarded based on the final standings, providing owners and trainers with meaningful financial incentives to remain active throughout the series.
“The Thoroughbred Championship Series will extend the excitement of the sport across a five-month season,” Bill Carstanjen, CEO of CDI, said in a press release. “The Kentucky Derby introduces millions of fans to a new generation of Thoroughbred stars each year and this series give those fans a reason to stay engaged with the sport’s biggest stars throughout the season.
David O’Rourke, NYRA president and CEO, said: “This series is designed to showcase the sport’s best 3-year-olds across a season-long championship, elevating our biggest events and creating the next generation of fans.”
Carstanjen and O’Rourke are scheduled to hold a joint news conference at 4 p.m. Eastern on Monday to further discuss the series.
This story will be updated throughout the day as additional information becomes available.
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