Keeneland boosts purses for fall stakes

Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky., has boosted the purses for the stakes races at its fall meeting by $1.25 million to a record $10.85 million, the track announced on Thursday.

Leading the way is the Grade 1 Turf Mile, one of 11 stakes scheduled for opening weekend as stepping stones to the Breeders’ Cup races four weeks later at Del Mar in Southern California. The Turf Mile will be worth $1.25 million this year, up from $1 million last year.

Eight of the 11 opening-weekend stakes, including the Turf Mile, will award automatic berths to Breeders’ Cup races. The Breeders’ Cup is scheduled for Oct. 31-Nov. 1.

In a release, Keeneland said that 18 of the 22 stakes races scheduled for the 17-day fall meet will receive $50,000 boosts to their purses. The Grade 2 Sycamore, which was elevated from a Grade 3 last year, will now be worth $400,000, up from $300,000 last year.

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