Churchill Downs And NYRA Form 3-Year Old Championship Racing Series
Churchill Downs and the New York Racing Association are launching a new six-race championship series for three-year-old Thoroughbreds, starting in 2027. This initiative aims to elevate horse racing's appeal to everyday sports fans by fostering rivalries and familiarity among top horses. The series kicks off with the Kentucky Derby in May, followed by the Belmont Stakes, Matt Winn Stakes, Jim Dandy Stakes, and Travers Stakes, culminating in a championship race at Churchill Downs in September. A significant $5 million bonus will be awarded to the horse accumulating the most points. Notably, the Preakness Stakes is absent from the initial lineup. Industry figures view this collaboration as a positive step for the sport, potentially boosting national TV coverage and fan engagement, similar to the FedEx Cup in golf. Final details on dates and the points system are still being ironed out.
In an effort to help elevate Thoroughbred racing among the everyday sports fan, Churchill Downs and the New York Racing Association will launch a three-year-old championship series consisting of six races beginning in 2027. Starting on the first Saturday in May with the Kentucky Derby and culminating in September with a return to Churchill Downs, the idea is to promote a familiarity with fans as the top three-year-old horses are encouraged to compete and develop those rivalries that can add to the lore of the sport of kings. A prize of $5 million in bonus cash will be awarded to the runner that accumulates the most points throughout the series.
The world’s most famous race, and perhaps race track, will bat leadoff in this newly proposed racing series on May 1, 2027. The Kentucky Derby has been contested every year since 1875 on that dirt oval in Louisville, Kentucky known as Churchill Downs. Restricted to three-year-olds only, the consistency of this event and the ever-building notoriety surrounding it has made it the focal point for fans of all shapes and sizes. In an effort to continue to cultivate the massive interest generated by the Derby, the Belmont Stakes at the newly renovated Belmont Park will be the next race in the series on June 5. The Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs will follow in early July and then the series will shift to historic Saratoga for the Jim Dandy Stakes (late July, early August) and Travers Stakes (late August). A final Championship race will be run in September back beneath the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs.
The dates for both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes are set and the other dates are to be finalized. Spacing of races will be important as encouragement for participation in the six-race series in a five-month span. Of course, another encouraging factor is a proposed $5 million prize pool that will be awarded based on points accrued during the series. Each individual race will still carry its own purse as well.
A quick look at the series reveals the absence of the Preakness Stakes. The second leg of the Triple Crown has recently had its woes as waning interest and a decaying Pimlico Race Course have contributed to a decline in the run over the Maryland dirt just two weeks after the Derby. Thoroughbred racing is a sport that is tradition heavy but also in need of capturing more of the 21st century audience. Depending on the lens you look through, this endeavor can be seen as a huge step in the right direction for an adrenaline-rich game looking to grow its fan base.
“When you get two of the biggest engines that drive the sport together, I think it can only be good”, says Dale Romans, President of the Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. “Churchill Downs Incorporated and the New York Racing Association teaming up is very positive for Thoroughbred racing as a whole. There will be national TV coverage of all the races in the series and it will help promote the sport beyond just the Triple Crown races to the everyday sports fan. Golf did something like this with the FedEx Cup and more exposure is good for all of us in the game. I don’t see this as an attack on the Preakness. Once the renovations at Pimlico are complete and the race gets more stability, I could see it being included.”
Finalizations of dates and the points system are still a work in progress. Financial incentives will be present throughout for trainers and owners in an effort to keep participation levels higher. More details will be released as particulars are ironed out between Churchill Downs and the New York Racing Association. Churchill Downs races will be televised on NBC with Fox carrying the New York racing television coverage.