Churchill Downs unveils record $10.7 million stakes schedule

Churchill Downs will offer 47 stakes races worth a record $10.7 million in

2006. Major changes include three new stakes races, a revised racing card on

Kentucky Derby Day and "Stephen Foster Super Saturday," and a second "Stars of

Tomorrow," a day of racing in the fall devoted exclusively to races for

two-year-olds. As always, the highlight of the Spring Meet is the $2 million

Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 6 and $500,000 Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 5.

The April 29-July 16 Spring Meet at the historic Louisville, Kentucky, track

will include 32 stakes races, 24 of which are graded, worth a total of $7.8

million. The October 29-November 25 Fall Meet, during which the track will host

the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships for a record sixth time on

November 4, includes 15 stakes races -- 11 graded -- worth a total of $2.9

million. The highlight of the Fall Meet is the $500,000 Clark H. on November 24,

which has been elevated to Grade 1 status for 2006.

The new stakes races added to the schedule are the $250,000 Cherokee Run

Breeders' Cup S., a five-furlong turf sprint set for November 3, the day before the

Breeders' Cup; the $200,000 Very Subtle S., a six-furlong race for fillies and

mares that will be one of two Churchill Downs races on the Breeders' Cup

undercard; and the $100,000 Pent Up Kiss S., a five-furlong turf sprint for fillies

and mares on November 12.

The Cherokee Run and the Pent Up Kiss had previously been run as overnight

handicaps. The former includes a supplement of $150,000 from the Breeders' Cup

Stakes program.

Changes to the 2006 stakes schedule include:

-- There will be six graded stakes events on both the Kentucky Derby and

"Stephen Foster Super Saturday" programs. The $100,000 La Troienne S. (G3) for

three-year-old fillies moves from Thursday of Derby week to the Derby Day card.

It replaces the Three Chimneys Juvenile, which has been dropped from the stakes

schedule. The $100,000 Early Times Mint Julep H. (G3) for fillies and mares on the

turf moves to the "Stephen Foster Super Saturday" card. It replaces the $100,000

Opening Verse H., which has been moved from the Foster program to June 3.

-- The addition of a second "Stars of Tomorrow" program during the Fall

Meet, with racing programs made up exclusively of two-year-old races on October

29 and November 25, the meet's opening and closing days. "Stars of Tomorrow I"

will feature the $100,000 Iroquois S. (G3) and the $100,000 Pocahontas S. (G3) for

fillies. The track's major fall races for juveniles -- the $200,000 Kentucky

Jockey Club S. (G2) and $200,000 Golden Rod S. (G2) for fillies -- highlight the "Stars

of Tomorrow II" on the meet's final day.

-- The creation of a multiple stakes program on June 3. The day will feature

four stakes events, highlighted by the $150,000 Dogwood Breeders' Cup S. (G3) for

three-year-old fillies, which will be run at the new distance of one mile, and

the $150,000 Aristides Breeders' Cup H. (G3) for three-year-olds and up at six

furlongs.

-- A distance and purse change for the Ack Ack H. (G3), which has been

extended from 7 1/2 furlongs to one mile and will see its purse doubled to

$200,000. The Ack Ack, which most recently served as the Fall Meet opener, will

be held this year on the Breeders' Cup undercard.

-- The return of the Kentucky Breeders' Cup S. (G3) following a one-year hiatus.

The two-year-old race has been moved to May 4 and will be run at a new distance

of five furlongs for a purse of $150,000, an increase of $25,000 from its 2004

renewal.

-- The scheduling of the Spring Meet's major races for two-year-olds -- the

$150,000 Bashford Manor S. (G3) and the $100,000 Debutante S. (G3) for fillies -- on July

8. The distance of the Debutante has been extended from 5 1/2 furlongs to six

furlongs.

The roster of 35 graded stakes races at Churchill Downs in 2006 includes six

Grade 1 races; 10 Grade 2 events; and 19 races that have earned Grade 3 status.

"We strongly believe that our 2006 stakes schedule at Churchill Downs, from

the perspective of both the horseman and the racing fan, is the strongest in the

132-year history of our track," said Doug Bredar, racing secretary of Churchill

Downs. "We have added new stakes races -- all popular turf sprints -- and two of

our multiple stakes programs, Kentucky Derby Day and Stephen Foster Super

Saturday, now consist of six stakes races that, for the first time, are all

graded events. The revamped Ack Ack Handicap, with a new distance and purse,

should become a major prep for the Clark Handicap, which will be run as a Grade

1 event for the first time."