Derby points doubled for Breeders' Cup Juvenile

Churchill Downs on Wednesday released the schedule of points races that will determine eligibility for the 2016 Kentucky Derby, with the lone change being a doubling in points for the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile from 10 to 20.

Otherwise, the schedule of 35 races remains virtually the same as it has since the points system was first implemented leading into the 2013 Derby, although Churchill also announced Wednesday a modification to the tiebreaker rule for two or more horses with the same number of points.

The first tiebreaker, assuming more than the 20-horse limit is entered, remains earnings in non-restricted stakes races, but a secondary tiebreaker of lifetime earnings has been added in the case of remaining ties. If additional starters and/or also-eligible horses remain, they will be determined by lot, or “shake.”

As for the $2 million BC Juvenile, which will be run Oct. 31 at Keeneland: “Our committee has annually reviewed past results and discussed input from stakeholders,” Churchill racetrack president Kevin Flanery said in a media release. “We believe this new valuation of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile is warranted.”

The schedule of races begins again at Churchill Downs Inc.’s flagship track in Louisville, Ky., with the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes on Sept. 12. The Iroquois is the first of 19 races worth 10 points to the winner.

The first of eight Derby preps worth 50 points to the winner is the Fountain of Youth on Feb. 27 at Gulfstream Park. There are seven 100-point races comprising the biggest Derby preps, such as the Santa Anita Derby, Florida Derby, and Wood Memorial.

Notable exclusions once again from the points-race roster are the Illinois Derby at Hawthorne and the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

The 142nd Kentucky Derby is set for May 7.

Churchill also announced that the points value toward the 2016 Kentucky Oaks for the BC Juvenile Fillies has been doubled to 20, with the familiar schedule of points races once again in place for fillies. There are 31 points races toward the Oaks.

Date	Race	Track	Distance	Point distribution
Sept. 12	Iroquois	CD	1 1/16 Miles	10-4-2-1
Sept. 26	FrontRunner	SA	1 1/16 Miles	10-4-2-1
Oct. 3	Champagne	BEL	1 Mile	10-4-2-1
Oct. 3	Breeders’ Futurity	KEE	1 1/16 Miles	10-4-2-1
Oct. 4	Grey	WO	1 1/16 Miles	10-4-2-1
Oct. 31	Breeders’ Cup Juvenile	KEE	1 1/16 Miles	20-8-4-2
*Nov. 21	Delta Downs Jackpot	DED	1 1/16 Miles	10-4-2-1
*Nov. 28	Remsen	AQU	1 1/8 Miles	10-4-2-1
*Nov. 28	Kentucky Jockey Club	CD	1 1/16 Miles	10-4-2-1
*Dec. 19	Los Alamitos Futurity	LRC	1 1/16 Miles	10-4-2-1
*Jan. 9	Jerome	AQU	1 Mile 70 Yards	10-4-2-1
*Jan. 16	Sham	SA	1 Mile	10-4-2-1
Jan. 18	Smarty Jones	OP	1 Mile	10-4-2-1
*Jan. 23	Lecomte	FG	1 Mile 70 Yards	10-4-2-1
*Jan. 30	Holy Bull	GP	1 1/16 Miles	10-4-2-1
*Feb. 13	Withers	AQU	1 1/16 Miles	10-4-2-1
*Feb. 13	Robert B. Lewis	SA	1 1/16 Miles	10-4-2-1
Feb. 15	Southwest	OP	1 1/16 Miles	10-4-2-1
*Feb. 20	El Camino Real Derby	GG	1 1/8 Miles	10-4-2-1
*Feb. 27	Fountain of Youth	GP	1 1/16 Miles	50-20-10-5
*Feb. 27	Risen Star	FG	1 1/16 Miles	50-20-10-5
*March 12	Gotham	AQU	1 1/16 Miles	50-20-10-5
*March 12	Tampa Bay Derby	TAM	1 1/16 Miles	50-20-10-5
*March 12	San Felipe	SA	1 1/16 Miles	50-20-10-5
March 19	Rebel	OP	1 1/16 Miles	50-20-10-5
*March 20	Sunland Derby	SUN	1 1/8 Miles	50-20-10-5
*March 26	Spiral	TP	1 1/8 Miles	50-20-10-5
*March 26	UAE Derby	MEY	1 3/16 Miles	100-40-20-10
*April 2	Florida Derby	GP	1 1/8 Miles	100-40-20-10
*April 2	Louisiana Derby	FG	1 1/8 Miles	100-40-20-10
*April 9	Wood Memorial	AQU	1 1/8 Miles	100-40-20-10
*April 9	Blue Grass	KEE	1 1/8 Miles	100-40-20-10
*April 9	Santa Anita Derby	SA	1 1/8 Miles	100-40-20-10
April 16	Arkansas Derby	OP	1 1/8 Miles	100-40-20-10
*April 16	Lexington	KEE	1 1/16 Miles	10-4-2-1
* Race dates and distances to be announced by host track; date based on previous year’s placement. Schedule subject to change.