The landmark one hundred and fiftieth Kentucky Derby introduced by Woodford Reserve on Saturday, Could 4 would be the richest in historical past because the purse for America’s biggest race has been elevated to a assured $5 million.

The substantial $2 million enhance to the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby for 3-year-olds highlights a record-setting, 50-race stakes schedule cumulatively value $25.6 million for Churchill Downs’ 2024 Spring Meet, which will likely be run over 43 dates from April 27-June 30.

Prize cash for the stakes schedule elevated 25%, or $5.1 million, from final yr’s $20.5 million lineup due to Churchill Downs Inc.’s funding into historic horse racing, which supercharges funding for purses.  

Previous to the debut of historic horse racing at CDI’s Derby Metropolis Gaming in September 2018, that yr’s Spring Meet featured 32 stakes races value $8.8 million. There at the moment are 18 extra spring stakes, and prize cash for horsemen in these occasions has grown 190% or by $16.8 million.

“These file purse will increase are an emblem of the well being of horse racing in Kentucky,” stated Invoice Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs Inc. “Churchill Downs Included’s over $1 billion funding into stay and historic horse racing in Kentucky during the last 5 years has meaningfully strengthened the complete Kentucky Derby week and year-round racing program. It’s vital to acknowledge the state legislature for its dedication to working intently with personal enterprise in a really collaborative partnership to help the continued development of Kentucky’s signature business.”

Thirty-eight of the 2024 Spring Meet stakes races acquired important purse hikes, together with $250,000 boosts to every of the next: the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks; $1 million La Troienne Stakes; $1 million Churchill Downs Stakes introduced by Ford; $1 million Derby Metropolis Distaff Stakes introduced by Kendall-Jackson Vineyard; and $750,000 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile. Every of the observe’s seven Grade 1 occasions, together with the Outdated Forester Bourbon Turf Traditional and Stephen Foster Stakes, characteristic a minimal $1 million purse.

With a file $5 million in prize cash now assured for the Kentucky Derby, the winner will obtain the occasion’s extremely sought-after gold trophy, a $3.1 million payday and presumably hundreds of thousands extra as a stallion after retirement from racing. Additionally, $1 million will likely be awarded to the runner-up, $500,000 to 3rd, $250,000 to fourth and $150,000 to fifth.

Beforehand, the Kentucky Derby purse had been value $3 million since 2019, and was $2 million from 2005 to 2018 and $1 million from 1996 by 2004.

“It’s really gratifying to view the regular development of the Churchill Downs racing product and the complete Kentucky horse racing and breeding business, which bettors all over the world have embraced,” Churchill Downs Racetrack President Mike Anderson stated. “By means of the purses generated by the racing affiliation and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Growth Fund, Kentucky horsemen and horsewomen are reaping the advantages of Churchill Downs Inc.’s historic funding as we have fun this yr’s milestone one hundred and fiftieth Kentucky Derby.”

At $1.5 million, the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks – the Derby’s sister race staged sooner or later prior on Friday, Could 3 – stays the nation’s most profitable race for 3-year-old fillies. It had been value $1.25 million since 2019, and was $1 million from 2011 to 2018 and $500,000 from 1996 by 2010.

All informed, there will likely be a file 22 stakes races cumulatively value $17.5 million staged over Kentucky Derby week (April 27-Could 7), together with 9 stakes totaling $10.8 million on Derby day and 7 totaling $5.3 million on Oaks day.

4 races on Kentucky Derby week will provide horses an entry and journey incentive to run in a few of Europe’s most prestigious races. The winner of the Outdated Forester Turf Traditional will obtain a berth to both the one-mile Queen Anne Stakes or the 1 ¼-mile Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot in mid-June. Earlier on the Kentucky Derby day program, the winner of the Twin Spires Turf Dash will obtain an entry to the King’s Charles III Stakes (previously referred to as the King’s Stand), additionally staged at Royal Ascot. Three-year-old turf specialists within the American Turf Stakes and Edgewood Stakes can obtain their entry to both the Betfred Derby or Betfred Oaks at Epsom Downs. The winner of the American Turf on Kentucky Derby day will obtain an entry and journey stipend to compete within the Betfred Derby whereas the winner of the Edgewood on Kentucky Oaks day will obtain the identical advantages for the Betfred Oaks.

The primary situation ebook of scheduled races is being finalized by Vice President of Racing Ben Huffman and is predicted to be revealed in late January. Greater than $57 million in whole prize cash is predicted to be supplied throughout this yr’s Spring Meet (pending Kentucky Thoroughbred Growth Fund remaining approval). Purses for maiden races will likely be $120,000 whereas allowance races will vary from $127,000 to $141,000.