Churchill Downs announced there will be 34 races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, with the top four finishers in each race earning points toward a starting spot in the 140th running of the $2 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), which will be run Saturday, May 3, 2014.
This is the second year that the points system will decide the 20 starters for the Run for the Roses under the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs.
The races between Saturday night’s Iroquois at Churchill Downs and the Southwest at Oaklawn Park on February 17 of next year will be worth 10-4-2-1 points to the top four finishers in each race.
The value of the races will increase to 50-20-10-5 starting with the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 22 which is the first race of the Kentucky Derby Championship Series.
The stakes get higher starting with the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on March 29 where the points will increase to 100-40-20-10.
The final race of the series will be the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 19, a last chance race with 10-4-2-1 points up for grabs just two weeks before the Derby.
A similar series remains in place for the “Road to the Kentucky Oaks,” the Derby’s $1 million companion event for 3-year-old fillies on Friday, May 2. 2014. The total number of races in the Oaks series has been reduced from 34 to 29 races.
Road to the 2014 Kentucky Derby Prep Schedule
Race Date |
Title |
|
Race Distance |
Track |
Points |
September 7, 2013 | Iroquois | 1 1/16 Miles | Churchill Downs | 10-4-2-1 | |
September 28, 2013 | FrontRunner | 1 1/16 Miles | Santa Anita Park | 10-4-2-1 | |
October 5, 2013 | Champagne | 1 Mile | Belmont Park | 10-4-2-1 | |
October 5, 2013 | Breeders’ Futurity | 1 1/16 Miles | Keeneland | 10-4-2-1 | |
October 6, 2013 | Grey | 1 1/16 Miles | Woodbine | 10-4-2-1 | |
November 2, 2013 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile | 1 1/16 Miles | Santa Anita Park | 10-4-2-1 | |
November 16, 2013 | Delta Downs Jackpot | 1 1/16 Miles | Delta Downs | 10-4-2-1 | |
November 30, 2013 | Remsen | 1 1/16 Miles | Aqueduct | 10-4-2-1 | |
November 30, 2013 | Kentucky Jockey Club | 1 1/16 Miles | Churchill Downs | 10-4-2-1 | |
January 4, 2014 | Jerome | 1 Mile 70 Yards | Aqueduct | 10-4-2-1 | |
January 4, 2014 | Sham | 1 Mile | Santa Anita Park | 10-4-2-1 | |
January 18, 2014 | Lecomte | 1 Mile 70 Yards | Fair Grounds | 10-4-2-1 | |
January 20, 2014 | Smarty Jones | 1 Mile | Oaklawn Park | 10-4-2-1 | |
January 25, 2014 | Holy Bull | 1 1/16 Miles | Gulfstream Park | 10-4-2-1 | |
February 1, 2014 | Robert B. Lewis | 1 1/16 Miles | Santa Anita Park | 10-4-2-1 | |
February 1, 2014 | Withers | 1 1/16 Miles | Aqueduct | 10-4-2-1 | |
February 15, 2014 | El Camino Real Derby | 1 1/8 Miles | Golden Gate | 10-4-2-1 | |
February 17, 2014 | Southwest | 1 1/16 Miles | Oaklawn Park | 10-4-2-1 | |
February 22, 2014 | Fountain of Youth | 1 1/16 Miles | Gulfstream Park | 50-20-10-5 | |
February 22, 2014 | Risen Star | 1 1/16 Miles | Fair Grounds | 50-20-10-5 | |
March 1, 2014 | Gotham | 1 1/16 Miles | Aqueduct | 50-20-10-5 | |
March 8, 2014 | Tampa Bay Derby | 1 1/16 Miles | Tampa Bay | 50-20-10-5 | |
March 8, 2014 | San Felipe | 1 1/16 Miles | Santa Anita Park | 50-20-10-5 | |
March 15, 2014 | Rebel | 1 1/16 Miles | Oaklawn Park | 50-20-10-5 | |
March 22, 2014 | Spiral | 1 1/8 Miles | Turfway Park | 50-20-10-5 | |
March 23, 2014 | Sunland Derby | 1 1/8 Miles | Sunland Park | 50-20-10-5 | |
March 29, 2014 | Florida Derby | 1 1/8 Miles | Gulfstream Park | 100-40-20-10 | |
March 29, 2014 | UAE Derby | 1 3/16 Miles | Meydan | 100-40-20-10 | |
March 29, 2014 | Louisiana Derby | 1 1/8 Miles | Fair Grounds | 100-40-20-10 | |
April 5, 2014 | Santa Anita Derby | 1 1/8 Miles | Santa Anita Park | 100-40-20-10 | |
April 5, 2014 | Wood Memorial | 1 1/8 Miles | Aqueduct | 100-40-20-10 | |
April 12, 2014 | Arkansas Derby | 1 1/8 Miles | Oaklawn Park | 100-40-20-10 | |
April 12, 2014 | Blue Grass | 1 1/8 Miles | Keeneland | 100-40-20-10 | |
April 19, 2014 | Lexington | 1 1/16 Miles | Keeneland | 10-4-2-1 |