Keeneland will offer record $9.6 million for fall meet stakes

Keeneland added a total of $550,000 to the purses of four 2024 fall-meet stakes and will award a season record $9.6 million for 22 stakes during 17 days of racing from Oct. 4 to 26.

The increases are led by $300,000 to double the value of the Grade 3 Bryan Station, a race for 3-year-olds at 1 mile on the turf, to $600,000.
Also jumping in value are the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1), increased $150,000 to $750,000, and two stakes that were upgraded this year: the Valley View (G2), hiked $50,000 to $350,000, and the Perryville (G3), raised $50,000 to $300,000.

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund is contributing $1.35 million to Keeneland’s fall meet stakes purses, pending approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

The prestigious Queen Elizabeth II on Saturday, Oct. 12 is an internationally recognized invitational for 3-year-old fillies racing 1 1/8 miles on the turf. The stakes first was run 40 years ago when Queen Elizabeth II visited Keeneland.

The Bryan Station is held closing day, Oct. 26.

“The Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Dixiana and the Bryan Station are receiving purse increases as part of Keeneland’s working relationship with Kentucky Downs, with the goal being to bolster the overall purse structure in Kentucky and specifically to strengthen the turf program for 3-year-olds,” Keeneland vice president of racing Gatewood Bell said. “Keeneland and Kentucky Downs would like to help facilitate a pattern of races for 3-year-old fillies and 3-year-old colts on the turf in the U.S. by trying to coordinate and work with other tracks throughout the country.”

For the 2025 spring meet, Bell said, the purses of the Appalachian (G2) for sophomore fillies and the Transylvania (G3) for 3-year-old males, both on the turf, will be increased. “We think these four races will provide a strong starting point in the spring and a nice conclusion to the season in the fall,” Bell said. “Keeneland is very appreciative of the support we receive from Kentucky Downs to help make this happen.”

The October racing season opens with fall stars weekend, which offers $5.55 million in stakes purses and features eight stakes included in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series. Winners will earn automatic starting positions and free entry into the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar.

Three win-and-you’re-in events will be run Friday, Oct. 4: the Alcibiades (G1) for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies; the Phoenix (G2) for the Sprint; and the Jessamine (G2) for the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Win-and-you’re-in races on Saturday, Oct. 5, are the $1 million Turf Mile for the Breeders’ Cup Mile, the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) for the Juvenile and the Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) for the Filly and Mare Sprint.

* Breeders’ Cup Challenge stakes.
** Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund. All KTDF purse allotments are subject to approval of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.