The Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund Advisory Committee met Feb. 1 to discuss KTDF purse allotments to the state’s spring meets at Keeneland and Churchill Downs.
The committee approved Keeneland’s request for $5-5.2 million in KTDF funds to be added to purses for their spring meeting. The spring meeting runs for 16 days April 5-26.
Committee recommendations are subject to full Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approval.
Keeneland expects KTDF funds to make up 25-26% of total purses and will split as follows:
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$2.9 million towards maiden special weight and allowance races, making up 33% of the total purse
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$652,000 towards claiming races, making up 25% of the total purse
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$1.5 million towards stakes races, making up 15-25% of the total purse
Maiden special weights will be worth $100,000 for 3-year-olds and up and $80,000 for 2-year-olds. After debuting in Keeneland’s fall meeting, maiden auction races will join the spring meet and carry $70,000 purses in four races for 3-year-olds.
Kentucky Downs also received approval of a request to transfer $1.25 million KTDF funds to Keeneland for their spring meet. Kentucky Downs, which runs a short all-turf meet following the Ellis Park summer season and operates a successful historical horse racing gaming operation year-round, often shares KTDF purse funds with other Kentucky tracks.
KTDF funds have swelled for all Kentucky tracks due to HHR gaming.
Churchill Downs’ request for $10.5-11 million in KTDF funds for their spring meeting was also approved. Their spring meet runs April 27-June 30.
Churchill will use KTDF funds to put an additional $1 million towards stakes races held during Kentucky Derby (G1) week. Maiden special weights will remain at $120,000, with the KTDF portion for Kentucky-breds representing $45,000.
“We are looking forward to an exciting spring at both tracks,” said Ben Huffman, Churchill Downs’ vice president of racing and racing secretary at both Churchill Downs and Keeneland. “Early calls about stall application deadlines—they’re already ramping up this month. I think the excitement is building just for horsemen to be in Kentucky.”
Keeneland and Churchill Downs also had separate requests for their marketing teams approved by the committee.
The meeting began with praise for Turfway Park. In 2019, Turfway posted a handle of about $70 million. In 2023, they handled about $220 million. HHR gaming has led to larger purses and fields at the Northern Kentucky track, which is owned by Churchill Downs Inc.
“That is just eye-popping growth,” said CDI’s executive director of racing Gary Palmisano. “I think we’ve made incredible strides over the last few years.”
Charles O’Connor, vice chair of the committee and representing the KHRC, emphasized to track officials the importance of delivering a positive on-site experience for racing fans at Turfway.
“There’s still not enough area for the average racegoer to go and hang out, grab a dog and a beer and have a roof over their head,” O’Connor said. “That would be the only concern that I have from listening to a lot of people who’ve gone there.”
“We understand the concerns,” said Turfway Park general manager Chip Bach. “What we can do today, we’re trying to do. What needs to be done on a larger scale, we’re communicating that up to the company (CDI). We are listening.”
