Stakes lineup undergoes shakeup
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Churchill Downs has released its 2006 stakes schedule with quite a few revisions from its traditional lineup, including the addition of three stakes and the repackaging of races on several major dates.
Purses for the 47 stakes, which do not include the Breeders' Cup championships on Nov. 4, total a track-record $10.7 million. The presence of the Breeders' Cup here on Nov. 4 this year accounts for some of the alterations, including the addition of the $250,000 Cherokee Run Breeders' Cup on Nov. 3 and the $200,000 Very Subtle on the Breeders' Cup undercard.
Churchill also has added a second "Stars of Tomorrow" program for the fall meet. The first Stars of Tomorrow card, which consists of racing exclusively for 2-year-olds, was offered last fall and proved very popular with horsemen and fans. The dates for the 2006 Stars of Tomorrow cards are Oct. 29 and Nov. 25.
Churchill also has tweaked the schedule for Kentucky Derby Day, May 6, and for Stephen Foster Super Saturday, June 18. The La Troienne Stakes, traditionally run the Thursday before the Derby, replaces the Three Chimneys Juvenile on the Derby Day card. The Three Chimneys, which drew just six starters last year, has been dropped, while the Kentucky BC, which was not run in 2005, has been revived and will replace the La Troienne on May 4. The Early Times Mint Julep replaces the Opening Verse on the Foster program.
The Opening Verse, meanwhile, has become part of what is another notable change: the creation of an as-yet-unnamed program that includes multiple stakes on June 3. In addition to the Opening Verse, the day's races will include the Dogwood BC and Aristides BC, as well as the Texas Glitter overnight handicap.
Other 2006 changes include: the packaging of the Bashford Manor and Debutante on July 8; moving the Locust Grove to July 15 and making it the highlight of closing weekend of the spring meet; upgrading the Cherokee BC and the Nov. 12 Pent Up Kiss from overnight handicaps to stakes; and using the Ack Ack Handicap, which traditionally has been run as the fall-meet opener, on the Breeders' Cup undercard.
The spring meet runs April 29 to July 16 and the fall meet from Oct. 29 to Nov. 25.
2006 Spring/Fall stakes schedule
| DATE | EVENT | CONDITIONS | DISTANCE | PURSE |
| Sat., Apil. 29 | Derby Trial | 3YO | 1 mile | $100,000 |
| Thur., May 4 | Mamzelle | F&M, 3YO & Up | 5 furlongs (T) | 100,000 |
| Thur., May 4 | Kentucky Breeders' Cup (G3) | 2YO | 5 furlongs | 150,000 |
| Fri., May 5 | Edgewood | 3YO F | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Fri., May 5 | Alysheba | 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | 100,000 |
| Fri., May 5 | Aegon Turf Sprint (G3) | 3YO & Up | 5 furlongs (T) | 100,000 |
| Fri., May 5 | Louisville Breeders' Cup (G2) | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | 300,000 |
| Fri., May 5 | Crown Royal American Turf (G3) | 3YO | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Fri., May 5 | Kentucky Oaks (G1) | 3YO F | 1 1/8 miles | 500,000 |
| Sat., May 6 | Churchill Downs Handicap (G2) | 4YO & Up | 7 furlongs | 200,000 |
| Sat., May 6 | La Troienne (G3) | 3YO F | 7 1/2 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat., May 6 | Churchill Downs Distaff Turf (G3) | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 mile (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat., May 6 | Humana Distaff (G1) | F&M, 4YO & Up | 7 furlongs | 250,000 |
| Sat., May 6 | Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) | 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles (T) | 400,000 |
| Sat., May 6 | Kentucky Derby (G1) | 3YO | 1 1/4 miles | 2,000,000 |
| Sat., May 13 | Open Mind | 3YO F | 5 furlongs (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat., May 20 | Matt Winn | 3YO | 6 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat., May 2 | Winning Colors | F&M, 3YO & Up6 | furlongs | 100,000 |
| Mon., May 29 | Louisville Handicap (G3) | 3YO & Up | 1 3/8 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat., June 3 | Opening Verse | 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat., June 3 | Dogwood Breeders' Cup (G3) | 3YO F | 1 mile | 150,000 |
| Sat., June 3 | Aristides Breeders' Cup (G3) | 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | 150,000 |
| Sat., June 18 | Early Times Mint Julep (G3) | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat., June 18 | Northern Dancer BC (G3) | 3YO | 1 1/16 miles | 200,000 |
| Sat., June 18 | Regret (G3) | 3YO F | 1 1/8 miles (T) | 200,000 |
| Sat., June 18 | Fleur De Lis Handicap (G2) | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles | 300,000 |
| Sat., June 18 | Jefferson Cup (G2) | 3YO | 1 1/8 miles (T) | 200,000 |
| Sat., June 18 | Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) | 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles | 750,000 |
| Sat., July 1 | Firecracker Breeders' Cup (G2) | 3YO & Up | 1 mile (T) | 250,000 |
| Sat., July 8 | Debutante (G3) | 2YO F | 6 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat., July 8 | Bashford Manor (G3) | 2YO | 6 furlongs | 150,000 |
| Sat., July 15 | Locust Grove Handicap (G3) | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles (T) | 150,000 |
| Fall Meet | ||||
| Sun., Oct. 29 | Pocahontas (G3) | 2YO F | 1 mile | 100,000 |
| Sun., Oct. 29 | Iroquois (G3) | 2YO | 1 mile | 100,000 |
| Thurs., Nov. 2 | Chilukki (G2) | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 mile | 150,000 |
| Fri., Nov. 3 | Cherokee Run Breeders' Cup | 3YO & Up | 5 furlongs (T) | 250,000 |
| Fri., Nov. 3 | River City Handicap (G3) | 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles (T) | 150,000 |
| Sat., Nov. 4 | Ack Ack Handicap (G3) | 3YO & Up | 1 mile | 200,000 |
| Sat., Nov. 4 | Very Subtle | F&M, 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | 200,000 |
| Sun., Nov. 5 | Cardinal Handicap (G3) | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles (T) | 150,000 |
| Sat., Nov. 11 | Commonwealth Turf | 3YO | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 150,000 |
| Sun., Nov. 12 | Pent Up Kiss | F&M, 3YO & Up | 5 furlongs (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat., Nov. 18 | Mrs. Revere (G2) | 3YO F | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 150,000 |
| Thurs., Nov. 23 | Falls City Handicap (G2) | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles | 300,000 |
| Fri., Nov. 24 | Clark Handicap (G1) | 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles | 500,000 |
| Sat., Nov. 25 | Golden Rod (G2) | 2YO F | 1 1/16 miles | 200,000 |
| Sat., Nov. 25 | Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) | 2YO | 1 1/16 miles | 200,000 |