Turf Classic gets big purse boost amid record-value spring stakes schedule
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Churchill Downs in Louisville has raised the purses for 16 of its stakes races scheduled for this year’s spring meeting. That includes a $500,000 boost for the Turf Classic, bringing the purse of the Grade 1 race to $1.5 million, according to a stakes schedule released on Monday.
The increases will bring the total purses for the 50 stakes races scheduled for the spring meet to a record $27.8 million. On Derby Day, May 2, the total stakes purses will be worth $12.05 million, while on Oaks Day, May 1, the total stakes purses will be $5.55 million, including $1.5 million for the Kentucky Oaks itself.
Last year, the entire Derby card drew a record $336.6 million in commingled bets, far and away the highest total for a single card during the year. Betting on the Derby itself was $222.6 million, also a record. Handle on the Oaks card last year was down slightly to $73.9 million.
The post time for this year’s Kentucky Oaks has been moved to 8:40 p.m. Eastern, approximately two-and-a-half hours later than last year’s post time. This year’s Oaks will be the first to be held under the lights during prime-time viewing hours.
The spring meet will run from April 25 to June 28, covering 44 live racing days. Churchill added a racing day to Derby week this year by scheduling a Sunday card during opening weekend. The entire Derby week schedule will include 22 stakes races worth $19.1 million.
Other stakes that received large increases this year are two races on the Derby undercard: the Turf Mile, up $250,000 to $1 million, and the Pat Day, boosted $150,000 to $750,000. Three stakes on Oaks Day were all boosted by $100,000 each: the Eight Belles, the Unbridled Sidney, and the Modesty.
Tracks on the Kentucky circuit have seen massive purse increases over the past decade due to a prolonged upswing in subsidies from casinos operated by state tracks. That has led to increased wagering on the tracks as well.
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