December 8, 2024

Road to 2025 Kentucky Derby adds Virginia Derby, moves UAE Derby to Euro/Mideast Road

Scenic of the clubhouse turn in the Kentucky Derby (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

Churchill Downs announced the 2024-25 Road to the Kentucky Derby on Friday, with a couple of key changes to the schedule of qualifying races for the May 3 classic.

As expected, the $500,000 Virginia Derby (G3) is a new addition to the list of scoring races where horses can earn points toward a Kentucky Derby bid. Historically a turf race at Colonial Downs, it will be staged for the final time according to those conditions on Saturday.

Beginning next year, the Virginia Derby will become a 1 1/8-mile test on dirt during a special four-day spring meet at Colonial. Its inaugural running as a Derby prep is scheduled for March 15, 2025, a time slot seven weeks ahead of the first Saturday in May. The only scoring race that weekend, the Virginia Derby will offer points on a 50-25-15-10-5 format to the top five finishers. 

The UAE Derby (G2) on Dubai World Cup night, hitherto the only international race included on the domestic Road to the Kentucky Derby, is now transferred from the main schedule and onto a revamped Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Other alterations involve the allocation of points in the case of small fields for races belonging to the Championship Series, the decisive stage of preps from Feb. 15 on. If there are just five horses in a Championship Series race, only 75% of the points will be proportionally awarded. If four or fewer horses compete, they will be proportionally awarded 50% of the total points.

Kentucky Derby Prep Season (20 Races)

DateRaceRacetrackGradePurseDistance1st2nd3rd4th5th
Sept. 14, 2024IroquoisChurchill Downs3$300,0001 Mile105321
Oct. 5, 2024ChampagneAqueduct1$500,0001 Mile105321
Oct. 5, 2024Breeders’ FuturityKeeneland1$600,0001 1/16105321
Oct. 5, 2024American PharoahSnata Anita1$300,0001 1/16105321
Oct. 27, 2024Street SenseChurchill Downs3$200,0001 1/16105321
Nov. 1, 2024Breeders’ Cup JuvenileDel Mar1$2,000,0001 1/163015963
Nov. 30, 2024Kentucky Jockey ClubChurchill Downs2$400,0001 1/16105321
Dec. 7, 2024RemsenAqueduct2$250,0001 1/8105321
Dec. 13, 2024Remington Springboard MileRemington Park$300,0001 Mile105321
Dec. 14, 2024Los Alamitos FuturityLos Alamitos2$200,0001 1/16105321
Dec. 21, 2024Gun RunnerFair Grounds$100,0001 1/16105321
Jan. 4, 2025Smarty JonesOaklawn Park$250,0001 1/16105321
Jan. 4, 2025JeromeAqueduct$150,0001 Mile105321
Jan. 18, 2025LecomteFair Grounds3$250,0001 1/162010642
Jan. 25, 2025SouthwestOaklawn Park3$1,000,0001 1/162010642
Feb. 1, 2025Holy BullGulfstream Park3$250,0001 1/162010642
Feb. 1, 2025Robert B. LewisSanta Anita3$200,0001 Mile2010642
Feb. 1, 2025WithersAqueduct3$250,0001 1/82010642
Feb. 8, 2025Sam F. DavisTampa Bay Downs3$250,0001 1/162010642
Feb. 22, 2025John Battaglia MemorialTurfway Park$150,0001 1/162010642

The rule regarding four- or five-horse fields applies to the Championship Series on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks as well. Parallel to the switch of the Virginia Derby, the Virginia Oaks will likewise morph into a dirt race on March 15 with the same points structure. But the UAE Oaks at Meydan will still provide an opportunity for international fillies to qualify for the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (G1).  

Kentucky Derby Championship Series (16 Races)

DateRaceRacetrackGradePurseDistance1st2nd3rd4th5th
Feb. 15, 2024Risen StarFair Grounds2$500,0001 1/8502515105
Feb. 16, 2024Sunland DerbySunland Park3$400,0001 1/162010642
Feb. 22, 2024RebelOaklawn Park2$1,250,0001 1/16502515105
March 1, 2025GothamAqueduct3$300,0001 Mile502515105
March 1, 2025Fountain of YouthGulfstream Park2$400,0001 1/16502515105
March 2, 2025San FelipeSanta Anita2$400,0001 1/16502515105
March 8, 2025Tampa Bay DerbyTampa Bay Downs3$400,0001 1/16502515105
March 15, 2025Virginia DerbyColonial Downs$500,0001 1/8502515105
March 22, 2025Jeff Ruby SteaksTurfway Park3$700,0001 1/8 M (AW)10050251510
March 22, 2025Louisiana DerbyFair Grounds2$1,000,0001 3/1610050251510
March 29, 2025Florida DerbyGulfstream Park1$1,000,0001 1/810050251510
March 29, 2025Arkansas DerbyOaklawn Park1$1,500,0001 1/810050251510
April 5, 2025Wood MemorialAqueduct2$750,0001 1/810050251510
April 5, 2025Blue GrassKeeneland1$1,000,0001 1/810050251510
April 5, 2025Santa Anita DerbySanta Anita1$750,0001 1/810050251510
April 12, 2025LexingtonKeeneland3$400,0001 1/162010642

The UAE Derby will serve as the climax of the retooled Euro/Mideast Road. Still worth the maximum number of points to the top five finishers, on a sliding scale of 100-50-25-15-10, the UAE Derby will be held on April 5.

The European segment is mostly the same, except for the dropping of what had been the series finale, the Cardinal Conditions race at Chelmsford. Although it no longer carries Derby points, the Cardinal retains a link to Derby Day by giving the winner an automatic entry to the American Turf (G2) on the undercard.

The new Euro/Mideast Road will offer two Kentucky Derby invitations to the points leaders. That makes a total of three allotments for international participants, including the horse who qualifies via the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. The Japan Road terms remain the same.

2024-2025 Euro / Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby Schedule (7 Races)

DateRaceRacetrackGradePurseDistance1st2nd3rd4th5th
Sept 28, 2024Juddmonte Royal LodgeNewmarket (GB)2$150,0551 Mile (Turf)105321
Sept 28, 2024Montane Developements BeresfordCurragh (IRE)2$120,1031 Mile (Turf)105321
Oct. 6, 2024Qatar Prix Jean-Luc LagardereLongchamp (FR)1$423,2067 furlongs (Turf)105321
Oct. 26, 2024Furturity TrophyDoncaster (GB)1$256,9851 Mile (Turf)105321
Feb. 26, 2025Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition StakesKempton (GB)$73,3601 Mile (All-Weather)2010642
Feb. 28, 2025PattonDundalk (IRE)$37,6021 Mile (All-Weather)2010642
April 5, 2025UAE DerbyMeydan Racecourse2$1,000,0001 3/16 Mile10050251510

A maximum of 20 horses can start in the Kentucky Derby, and preference is determined by their standing on the leaderboard.

The main Road to the Kentucky Derby kicks off with the Sept. 14 Iroquois (G3) during the opening weekend of Churchill’s September Meet.

2024-2025 Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby Schedule (4 Races)

DateRaceRacetrackGradePurseDistance1st2nd3rd4th5th
Nov. 23, 2024CattleyaTokyo (JRA)$206,8271 Mile105321
Dec. 11, 2024Zen-Nippon Nisai YushunKawasaki (NAR)$490,9271 Mile2010642
Feb. 16, 2025HyacinthTokyo (JRA)$243,3541 Mile3015963
March 22, 2025FukuryuNakayama (JRA)$228,1381 1/840201284