Churchill Downs Inc. and the New York Racing Association (NYRA) are excited to announce a new six-race series aimed at enhancing the thrill of thoroughbred racing. This series will kick off in May with the prestigious Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and will conclude in September with a yet-to-be-named event at the same venue.
The series will feature notable races including the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park, the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs, and both the Jim Dandy and Travers Stakes at Saratoga. In addition to the significant prize money available in each race, a total of $5 million will be awarded to the top eight horses accumulating the most points throughout the series.
However, the Preakness Stakes, a key race in the Triple Crown, will not be part of this new series. Earlier this year, Churchill Downs attempted to acquire the intellectual property rights to the Preakness for $85 million, but the state of Maryland exercised its right of first refusal, securing the rights instead.
Maryland finalized the deal on the IP rights recently, and in a press release, the state expressed its willingness to explore collaborative opportunities with Churchill Downs and other industry stakeholders to enhance the Triple Crown and horse racing as a whole.
During a press conference, NYRA President and CEO David O’Rourke emphasized that the Triple Crown remains a vital part of racing and that there is potential for additional races to be included in the new series. He stated, “This builds on top of the Triple Crown, or alongside it. We don’t change anything with that.”
Currently, the Derby and Belmont will maintain a five-week gap, with the Preakness scheduled just two weeks after the Derby. Recent Derby winners have opted to skip the Preakness due to the short interval between the first two legs of the Triple Crown.
Bob Baffert, trainer of the last two Triple Crown champions, voiced his support for both the Preakness and the new series. He acknowledged the importance of the Preakness in the racing landscape and expressed enthusiasm for innovative ideas that promote the sport.
While the Maryland Jockey Club has yet to comment on the Churchill-NYRA announcement, the introduction of the Thoroughbred Championship Series is expected to invigorate interest in thoroughbred racing.