Stephen Foster gets purse boost and new date during Churchill Downs spring meet

The spring meet at Churchill Downs, which is, of course, highlighted by the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May, will feature a new placement for the Stephen Foster Stakes and the creation of several new stakes, the Louisville track announced on Thursday.

In total, the 38-day spring meet will include 41 stakes worth a record $14 million. The meet runs from April 25 through June 27.

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The Grade 2 Stephen Foster has had its purse boosted $100,000 to $700,000 and will be held on closing day. The Foster, which had previously been contested in mid-June, is now the finale of what Churchill Downs has envisioned as a stakes series for older horses. The series begins with the Grade 2, $400,000 Alysheba on May 1, followed by the newly created $150,000 Blame on May 30, dubbed Stephen Foster Preview Night. Both the preview night and the Foster card will includes seven stakes.

Thirteen spring meet stakes are getting purse boosts ranging from $25,000 to $100,000. In a release, Churchill Downs attributed the increases in prize money to returns from historical racing machines at nearby Derby City Gaming, owned by Churchill Downs Inc., the track’s parent company. Derby City Gaming opened in September 2018.

Last year’s 34-race stakes schedule totaled more than $12 million in prize money, while two years ago a 32-stakes lineup was worth $8.8 million.

The Churchill meet opens on Saturday, April 25 with the $150,000 William Walker on the card. The following week builds up toward the Kentucky Derby with the $115,000 Champions Day Marathon on Tuesday; the $150,000 Kentucky Juvenile on Wednesday; and the $150,000 Unbridled Sidney and $115,000 Opening Verse on Thursday.

Friday, May 1 is home to the 146th running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks, which is supported by five graded stakes, including the Grade 1, $500,000 La Troienne and the Alysheba. The Edgewood Stakes on the May 1 card has been upgraded to a Grade 2 from a Grade 3 event, and receives a $50,000 purse hike to $300,000. The Grade 2 Eight Belles on May 1 also got a $50,000 purse boost, to $300,000. The card also includes the Grade 2, $250,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint.

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The 146th running of the Grade 1, $3 million Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 2 is preceded by three Grade 1 events: The $1 million Old Forester Turf Classic, the $500,000 Derby City Distaff (previously the Humana Distaff) and the $500,000 Churchill Downs. The Pat Day Mile, upgraded to a Grade 2 from a Grade 3, received a $100,000 purse boost to $500,000, as did the Grade 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile and the Grade 2 American Turf.

The stakes schedule continues with the $100,000 Mamzelle on May 9; the Grade 3, $125,000 Louisville on May 16; and the Grade 3, $125,000 Winning Colors and $100,000 Keertana on May 23. The Blame's position as a prep for the Stephen Foster on the new May 30 preview card is joined by the new $150,000 Shawnee Stakes for fillies and mares, a prep toward the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis on the Foster card. The preview card also includes the Grade 3, $150,000 Matt Winn; Grade 3, $150,000 Regret; the new $150,000 Audubon; the $125,000 Aristides; and the new $100,000 Douglas Park.

The $100,000 Mighty Beau is scheduled for June 6, while the Grade 3, $125,000 Mint Julep runs June 13. They are followed by the new $150,000 Limousine Liberal and the $100,000 Roxelana on June 20, and the $100,000 Kelly's Landing on June 26.

The closing day card on June 27 is highlighted by the Foster and the Grade 2, $300,000 Fleur de Lis, which received a $50,000 purse boost from 2019. The card also includes the Grade 2, $300,000 Wise Dan, which also got a $50,000 hike; the Grade 3, $125,000 Bashford Manor; the $125,000 Debutante; the new $150,000 War Chant; and the new $150,000 Tepin.