Churchill, NYRA launch Thoroughbred Championship Series for three-year-olds

Two jewels of the Triple Crown – the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont (G1) – will become part of a six-race “Thoroughbred Championship Series” for sophomores in 2027, Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) and the New York Racing Association (NYRA) jointly announced Monday.

According to Bill Carstanjen, Chief Executive Officer of CDI, and David O’Rourke, President and Chief Executive Officer of NYRA, the idea is to galvanize fans’ interest in the three-year-old division through the summer and into the fall. A $5 million prize pool, beyond the race purses themselves, is geared to attract horses’ participation throughout the series. 

The six races will be split between Churchill Downs and NYRA tracks. All will be broadcast on national television, with NBC covering Churchill and FOX on the scene at Belmont Park and Saratoga.

The iconic Kentucky Derby kicks off the series on the traditional first Saturday in May at Churchill, and the Belmont returns to the newly redeveloped Belmont Park on the first Saturday in June.

The baton is passed back to Louisville for the Matt Winn (G3), at a date to be determined in July. The series then moves on to historic Saratoga for the Jim Dandy (G2) and Travers (G1) in late July (or early August) and late August, respectively. The grand finale will be a championship race at Churchill in September. 

Details – including points structure, tabulation of standings, and allocation of the prize pool – will be released in due course. CDI and NYRA will collaborate on the series rules as well as marketing and sponsorship arrangements.

“The Thoroughbred Championship Series will extend the excitement of the sport across a five-month season,” Carstanjen said. 

“The Kentucky Derby introduces millions of fans to a new generation of Thoroughbred stars each year, and this series gives those fans a reason to stay engaged with the sport's biggest stars throughout the season. By connecting these premier events through one championship, we're creating a season-long storyline that benefits the future of Thoroughbred racing.”

“This series is designed to showcase the sport’s best three-year-olds across a season-long championship, elevating our biggest events and creating the next generation of fans,” O’Rourke said. 

“The return of the Belmont Stakes to a newly transformed Belmont Park makes this an especially exciting moment for our sport. Together with Churchill Downs and our television partners, we are building on tradition to carry the excitement of these marquee races through the entire season.”