Keeneland fall meet stakes schedule worth record $9.05 million

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Keeneland will award a total of $9.05 million – a record for any racing season at the track – for 22 stakes to be run during the 2023 Fall Meet, which covers 17 days from Oct. 6-28. The meet’s richest race is the $1 million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) during the signature Fall Stars Weekend, while Keeneland has added $100,000 to the purse of the Darley Alcibiades (G1) to increase its value to $600,000 and has raised by $50,000 the purse of the $350,000 Franklin (G2), which also was upgraded for 2023.

Keeneland will present 12 stakes on grass and 10 on dirt while offering multiple stakes on six days. The Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund is contributing $1.3 million to Fall Meet stakes purses, pending approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

“The strength of the Fall Meet stakes schedule reflects our focus on providing the highest-quality racing for our horsemen and fans,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing Gatewood Bell said. “With these additional increases, all Grade 1 stakes are now worth a minimum of $600,000 apiece; all Grade 2 stakes are $350,000; Grade 3 races are $300,000; and listed stakes are $250,000. We believe these purse levels will attract the best in the sport and make for an exciting fall season of racing.”

The October season opens with Fall Stars Weekend, which features eight stakes in the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.” Winners will earn automatic starting positions and free entry into the 40th Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita Park.

Opening day, Oct. 6, will card three stakes, all Win and You’re In events: the $600,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1) (NetJets Juvenile Fillies-G1), the $350,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) (Qatar Racing Sprint-G1) and the $350,000 Jessamine (G2) Presented by Keeneland November (Juvenile Fillies Turf-G1).

This marks the first year that Keeneland’s November Breeding Stock Sale is sponsoring the Jessamine for 2-year-old fillies. The November Sale begins Nov. 7.

Joining the Coolmore Turf Mile (FanDuel Mile-G1) as Win and You’re In races on opening Saturday, Oct. 7, are the $600,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) (FanDuel Juvenile-G1) and the $350,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) (PNC Bank Filly and Mare Sprint-G1).

This marks the 10^th year the historic Breeders’ Futurity has been sponsored by Claiborne Farm.

Other stakes on the first Saturday of the meet are the $750,000 First Lady (G1) Presented by UK HealthCare and the $350,000 Woodford (G2) Presented by FanDuel. Both races are expected to attract Breeders’ Cup hopefuls.

Sunday of Fall Stars Weekend has three Win and You’re In races: the $600,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) (Distaff-G1), the $350,000 Castle & Key Bourbon (G2) (Juvenile Turf-G1) and the $250,000 Indian Summer (L) Presented by Keeneland Select.

On the second week of the Fall Meet, Keeneland will run the $300,000 Sycamore (G3) on Friday, Oct. 13; the $600,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana on Saturday, Oct. 14; and the $350,000 Franklin (G2) on Sunday, Oct. 15.

This marks the 40^th running of Queen Elizabeth II Presented by Dixiana, an internationally recognized invitational for 3-year-old fillies racing 1 1/8 miles on the turf. The stakes were inaugurated during the 1984 Fall Meet in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Keeneland.

Stakes action resumes the next Saturday, Oct 21, with the $350,000 Lexus Raven Run (G2) and the $250,000 Perryville (L), which are followed by the $300,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager (G3) on Sunday, Oct. 22.

The Fall Meet will conclude with two multiple-stakes days beginning with the $300,000 Valley View (G3) and the $200,000 Myrtlewood on Friday, Oct. 27. Beginning this season. The Valley View will be run at 1 mile.

Closing day will feature the $350,000 Hagyard Fayette (G2), the $300,000 Bryan Station (G3) and the $200,000 Bowman Mill.

Five Fall Stars stakes will be televised live by NBC Sports as part of the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.”

On Oct. 7, CNBC and Peacock coverage from 4-6 p.m. ET will include the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, the Coolmore Turf Mile and the Thoroughbred Club of America.

On Oct. 8, the CNBC and Peacock presentation will feature the Juddmonte Spinster and the Castle & Key Bourbon from 5-6 p.m.

Public ticket sales for the Fall Meet will begin Aug. 15 at 9 a.m. For more information, visit tickets.keeneland.com.

Keeneland 2023 Fall Meet Stakes Schedule: Oct. 6-28