(Original Caption) Louisville, KY: Churchill Downs’ iconic Twin Spires tower above the grandstand, an enduring symbol of the pageantry and tradition of Thoroughbred racing.
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Churchill Downs and the New York Racing Association are teaming up on a new championship series designed to bring Thoroughbred racing closer to the mainstream sports conversation. Set to debut in 2027, the six-race series for three-year-old horses will open with the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May and conclude in September with a finale back at Churchill Downs. The goal is straightforward: keep the sport’s brightest young stars competing against one another long enough for fans to follow their progress, invest in their stories and embrace the rivalries that have long helped define horse racing. The series will also include a major incentive, with $5 million in bonus money awarded to the horse that earns the most points across the schedule.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Historic Saratoga Race Course remains one of Thoroughbred racing’s most celebrated summer destinations. (Skip Dickstein/Albany Times Union via Getty Images)
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Series Lineup Features Three Of The Biggest Races and Most Iconic Tracks In The Sport
The Kentucky Derby, widely regarded as the world’s most recognizable horse race, will launch the proposed series on May 1, 2027, from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. First run in 1875, the Derby has become a cornerstone of American sports culture, drawing casual viewers and racing devotees alike to its annual showcase for three-year-olds. Organizers hope to build on that momentum by carrying Derby interest into the summer. The next stop will be the Belmont Stakes on June 5 at the newly renovated Belmont Park, followed by the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs in early July. From there, the series will move to Saratoga Race Course for the Jim Dandy Stakes in late July or early August and the Travers Stakes in late August. A final championship race is planned for September beneath the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs.
While the dates for the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes are already locked in, the remaining race dates still need to be finalized. Scheduling will be a crucial piece of the series, since organizers must balance competitive spacing with the desire to encourage horses to take part in all six races over a five-month stretch. Beyond the prestige, the proposed $5 million bonus pool gives owners and trainers another reason to stay engaged throughout the series. Each race will also continue to offer its own individual purse.
The Kentucky Derby is slated to open the new proposed three-year-old championship series.
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What Does Series Mean For Horsemen And The Sport With Preakness Being Absent
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.
