11 KyDowns stakes worth $2M or more

Kentucky Downs 2025 condition book

FRANKLIN, Ky. — Kentucky Downs’ 2025 meet will feature 18 stakes offering a total of $30.5 million in purses, led by the $3.5 million, Grade 3 Nashville Derby. Another 10 stakes are worth at least $2 million.

The stakes are worth a combined $16 million in base purses, with another $14.5 million from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) for registered Kentucky-breds. Even horses not bred in Kentucky will run for some of the biggest stakes purses in country. For instance, the Nashville Derby (G3) has a base purse of $2 million, for which every horse runs, while 10 other stakes worth $2.5 million or $2 million for Kentucky-breds carry a $1 million base purse.

Kentucky Downs’ seven-day meet runs August 28, 30 and 31 and September 4, 6, 7 and 10, with maiden and allowance races also among the highest in the world. The condition book is now online on equibase.com.

The 1 5/16-mile Nashville Derby (G3) again will be America’s richest race for 3-year-olds behind only the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1).

The Nashville Derby (G3) will be one of five stakes on Saturday Aug. 30, which will feature live coverage on NBC (the mothership, not a cable subsidiary). The card includes the $2 million Grade 2 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint, whose winner earns a fees-paid berth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1). Also that day: the $2 million Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint (G2), $2 million Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf (G3) and the $1 million Bowling Green Gold Cup Invitational at 2 1/16 miles.

The Saturday Sept. 6 card will feature six stakes each worth at least $2 million for Kentucky-breds, with the Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational (G2) and the Mint Millions Invitational (G3) both $2.5 million. The winner of the 1 1/2-mile Turf Cup earns a fees-paid berth in the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). The Sept. 6 card also includes the Grade 1 Franklin-Simpson for 3-year-old sprinters, the Music City (G2) for 3-year-old filly sprinters, the Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon (G3) and the mile Gun Runner for 3-year-olds.

Another five stakes are worth $1 million with KTDF supplements, including four stakes for 2-year-olds.

Kentucky Downs 2025 stakes schedule

All stakes on turf

Thursday Aug. 28

$500,000 Tapit Stakes (includes $250,000 KTDF), 3-year-olds & up, mile and 70 yards. Restricted to horses that have not won a stakes in 2025.

Saturday Aug. 30

$3.5 million G3 Nashville Derby Invitational ($1.5 million KTDF), 3-year-olds, 1 5/16 miles.

$2 million G2 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint ($1 million KTDF) — “Win and You’re In Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Division,” 3-year-olds & up, 6 furlongs.

$2 million G2 Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint ($1 million KTDF), fillies & mares, 3 years old & up, 6 1/2 furlongs.

$2 million G3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf ($1 million KTDF), fillies & mares, 3 years old & up, mile.

$1 million Bowling Green Gold Cup Invitational ($500,000 KTDF), 3-year-olds & up, 2 1/16 miles.

Sunday Aug. 31

$1 million Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies ($500,000 KTDF), 2-year-old fillies, mile.

$1 million Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint ($500,000 KTDF), 2-year-olds, 6 1/2 furlongs.

$500,000 National Thoroughbred League Tight Spot Overnight Handicap, 3-year-olds & up, mile.

Thursday Sept. 4

$500,000 One Dreamer ($250,000 KTDF), fillies & mares 3-year-olds & up, mile & 70 yards. Restricted to horses that have not won a stakes in 2025.

Saturday Sept. 6

$2.5 million G2 Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational ($1 million KTDF) – “Win and You’re In Breeders’ Cup Turf Division,” 3-year-olds & up, 1 1/2 miles.

$2.5 million G3 The Mint Millions Invitational ($1 million KTDF), 3-year-olds & up, mile.

$2 million G1 Franklin-Simpson ($1 million KTDF), 3-year-olds, 6 1/2 furlongs.

$2 million G2 Music City ($1 million KTDF), 3-year-old fillies, 6 1/2 furlongs.

$2 million G3 Ladies Marathon ($1 million KTDF), fillies & mares 3 years old & up, 1 5/16 miles.

$2 million Gun Runner ($1 million KTDF), 3-year-olds, mile.

Sunday Sept. 7

$1 million Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile ($500,000 KTDF), 2-year-olds, mile.

$1 million Untapable ($500,000 KTDF), 2-year-old fillies, 6 1/2 furlongs.

Wednesday Sept. 10

$2 million G3 Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational ($1 million KTDF), 3-year-old fillies, 1 5/16 miles.

Horsemen’s notes: Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) supplements are included in stakes purses, with the amount of KTDF listed in parentheses after stakes’ names. Free nominations stakes for Aug. 28-31 stakes close Monday Aug. 18, except for the Nashville Derby Invitational and the Bowling Green Gold Cup Invitational, for which invite requests are due Saturday Aug. 16 by emailing [email protected]. Nominations for the stakes held Sept. 4-Sept. 7 close August 20, except for the Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational, Mint Millions Invitational and Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon Invitational, for which invite requests are due by Aug. 23. Requests for an invite to the Dueling Grounds Oaks are due by Aug. 26.