Kentucky Downs embarks on its 34th race meet with an increased international presence, enhanced video presentation, a $1 Pick 6, free past performances and live streaming on the track’s Youtube channel. NBC also broadcasts onsite for two hours on Aug. 30, highlighted by the $3.5 million DK Horse Nashville Derby, the richest turf race outside the Breeders’ Cup.
The seven-day all-turf meet offering America’s richest purses runs Aug. 28, 30 and 31 and Sept. 4, 6, 7 and 10. First post is 12:25 p.m. Central (gates open at 10:30 a.m.) except for 11:25 a.m. CT Aug. 30 and 11:30 a.m. CT Sept. 6, with gates opening at 10 a.m. both days.
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Record Purses for 2025
Increased purses have become the status quo at Kentucky Downs, with a record $41.7 million offered this year, including purse supplements for Kentucky-bred horses, which comprise the vast majority of the horses running. The 18 stakes total $30.5 million, including $14.5 million from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF). Topped by the Nashville Derby, 11 stakes are worth at least $2 million, with the base purse all horses run for $1 million or more. The four 2-year-old stakes go for $1 million apiece, with a $500,000 base purse.
Among non-stakes races: maiden races for Kentucky-breds are $170,000, with allowance races starting at $190,000 up to $250,000.
The first Saturday, with the NBC telecast, has been beefed up to feature five stakes. Those include the $2 million The Mint Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint (G2), a “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series race for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1). The second annual FanDuel TV U.S. Open Turf Championships again showcase six stakes, four worth $2 million and the other two $2.5 million with KTDF money. Among them: the $2.5 million KTDF Kentucky Turf Cup (G2), a Challenge Series race for the $4 million Longines Turf (G1); $2.5 million FanDuel TV Mint Millions (G3) and the Grade 1 Ainsworth Franklin-Simpson.
With more than $14 million on the line, the Sept. 6 card trails only Breeders’ Cup Saturday as the most lucrative day of racing in America.
Europe comes to Kentucky Downs
Kentucky Downs built a 22-stall isolation barn to accommodate European horses. Enticed by the huge purses and encouraged by British-based Bellum Justum’s victory in last year’s DK Horse Nashville Derby, the occasional overseas horse coming to Kentucky Downs has progressed to a trickle and is becoming a stream.
“When there are numbers like Kentucky Downs has, certainly the entire world pays attention,” said Braxton Lynch, co-founder and racing manager for BBN Racing, which will run Saratoga’s Grade 1, $500,000 Test winner Kilwin in the $2 million, Grade 2 Music City on Sept. 6 over the course where the filly won the $1 million Untapable last year. “Not only is it a target for everybody based in Kentucky, but around the world it gets noticed. That sets eyeballs on Kentucky.”
A European-trained horse has won a Kentucky Downs stakes each of the past three years: Bellum Justum, 2024 Nashville Derby; Ancient Rome, 2023 Mint Millions; and Reckoning Force, 2022 Juvenile Mile. Trainer James Owen, who is bringing Wimbledon Hawkeye over for the Nashville Derby, believes his 3-year-old colt can make it four straight years in the trainer’s first start in America.
“Hopefully it will be an amazing experience,” Owen said.
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen welcomes a European invasion. Asmussen twice has shared Kentucky Downs’ training title, including matching Joe Sharp and Brendan Walsh with six wins apiece last year. His arsenal this year will include G2 Louisiana Derby winner Tiztastic, a two-time winner at the 2024 Kentucky Downs meet, in the Nashville Derby.
“Being involved in horse racing in Kentucky, nothing would be more impressive than for Kentucky Downs to establish itself on the calendar as a major international destination for, hopefully, the greatest horses in training in the world,” said Asmussen, whose almost 11,000 career wins include the Dubai World Cup with Curlin and Gun Runner and the Saudi Cup with the filly Midnight Bisou. “How many years ago, who would have thought we’d want to go to Dubai or want to go to Saudi Arabia? I strongly believe international racing on the highest level is our future, and I want to be a part of it as often as I possibly can.”
Back for a second (or third) course
Ten stakes-winners from last year are scheduled to return: Grand Sonata (Kentucky Turf Cup), Goliad (Mint Millions), Ag Bullet (Ladies Turf Sprint), Limited Liability (Bowling Green Gold Cup), Kilwin (Untapable last year, Music City this year), Simply in Front (Music City, Ladies Turf Mile), Howard Wolowitz (Franklin-Simpson, Kentucky Turf Sprint), Tiztastic (Juvenile Mile, Nashville Derby); Brilliant Berti (Gun Runner, Mint Millions) and Chasing Liberty (Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint Stakes, Franklin-Simpson).
Goliad and Tiztastic actually won twice last year at Kentucky Downs. Goliad won an overnight handicap on the third day of the meet and returned six days later to win the Mint Millions. Tiztastic kicked off the meet in the $250,000 allowance race for horses that went through the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling sale, winning the Juvenile Mile 10 days later.
Both avid horse players and casual racing fans will appreciate the free Equibase past performances that can be downloaded off the Kentucky Downs website at this link.
Kentucky Downs offers horseplayers the best overall wagering opportunities in America, with the largest field sizes, the lowest overall blended takeout among all major tracks and high-quality racing — making for large betting pools and big payoffs.
Kentucky Downs’ Pick 5 pools are among the highest in the country, averaging $590,048 last year, with an average payoff of $22,825 for a 50-cent bet. The 50-cent Pick 4 pools averaged $281,336, with an average payoff of $2,237. The traditional $2 win wager payoff average was a hefty $14.86.
New on the wagering menu is a $1 Pick 6, which will have a major and minor pool with splits of 75 percent and 25 percent, respectively. If there are no 6-of-6 winners, the major pool will carry over to the next day’s Pick 6. The minor pool will be paid to 5 of 6 winners. The Pick 6 is a mandatory payout on the final day.
Jockeys and trainers
Tyler Gaffalione — a four-time meet titlist including in a tie last year with Irad Ortiz Jr. at nine wins apiece — comes into the meet two wins (65-63) behind all-time track leader Brian Hernandez Jr. Gaffalione passed Florent Geroux for the earnings lead last meet with more than $14.85 million in his mounts’ accrued purses.
Gaffalione, 2018-2019 meet-leader Jose Ortiz and Frankie Dettori are among the jockeys who will ride all seven days at Kentucky Downs, as opposed to missing one, two or three days to ride Saratoga’s closing weekend.
“Where else would you rather be?” said Gaffalione.
Jose Ortiz: “I love it more every year. Love it more and more and more. I am going there for the whole meet.”
Dettori’s eight wins in last year’s Kentucky Downs debut included four stakes. Joel Rosario, who set the Kentucky Downs single meet record with 17 wins in 2021, will be on hand every day but Sunday Aug. 31. Irad Ortiz will be at Kentucky Downs for Aug. 30 and its five stakes along with the last four days of the meet.
Last year’s trio of leading trainers at wins apiece — Steve Asmussen, Brendan Walsh and Joe Sharp — will be back in force, along with all-time leader Mike Maker (84 career wins) and No. 2 Wesley Ward (54). Rusty Arnold, Brad Cox, Bill Mott, Mark Casse, Brian Lynch, Saffie Joseph Jr., Ian Wilkes, Graham Motion, Kenny McPeek, Eddie Kenneally, Vicki Oliver and Kelsey Danner are among others who target the meet. New York-based Shug McGaughey and Chad Brown have increased their presence in recent years.
California trainers planning to send horses to Kentucky Downs include Goliad trainer Richard Mandella, Ag Bullet trainer Richard Baltas, John Sadler, Peter Miller, George Papaprodomo, and Phil D’Amato.
