What city is the Kentucky Derby in 2023?

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Every year, Kentucky Derby is one of the most highly anticipated sporting events of the Spring. Held on the first Saturday of May, the Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown and offers the largest purse of any thoroughbred race at $2,000,000.

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What city is the Kentucky Derby in 2023?

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What city is the Kentucky Derby in 2023?

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What city is the Kentucky Derby in 2023?

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What city is the Kentucky Derby in 2023?

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The 2023 Road to the Kentucky Derby is a series of races through which horses qualified for the 2023 Kentucky Derby, which will be held on May 6. The field for the Derby is limited to 20 horses, with up to four 'also eligibles' in case of a late withdrawal from the field. There are three separate paths for horses to take to qualify for the Derby: the main Road consisting of races in North America (plus one in Dubai), the Japan Road consisting of four races in Japan, and the European road consisting of seven races in England, Ireland and France. The top four finishers in the specified races receive points, with higher points awarded in the major prep races in March and April. Earnings in non-restricted stakes races act as a tie breaker.

For 2023, the main Road to the Kentucky Derby resembled the 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby, consisting of 37 races, one more event than in 2021, with 21 races for the Kentucky Derby Prep Season and 16 races for the Kentucky Derby Championship Season with the following changes:[a]

  • Points will now be awarded to the top-five finishing positions in qualifying races, and the significance of the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile and select races traditionally run in late January have been increased. Prep season races will now award points on a sliding scale of 10-4-3-2-1.
  • Points awarded in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, will be increased from 20-8-4-2 to 30-12-9-6-3 in order to differentiate what has historically been a high-quality grade 1 race from others during the prep season.
  • Select prep season races that traditionally serve as steppingstones to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series have been elevated from 10-4-2-1 to 20-8-6-4-2. These include G3 Lecomte Stakes, G3 Southwest Stakes, G3 Withers Stakes, G3 Holy Bull Stakes, G3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes, G3 Sam F. Davis Stakes and the Listed John Battaglia Memorial Stakes.[2]

Standings[edit]

The following table shows the points earned in the eligible races for the main series.

Rank Horse Points Earnings[b]Trainer Owner Ref
1 Forte 40 $1,545,650 Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable [3]
2 Curly Jack 17 $270,720 Thomas M. Amoss Michael McLoughlin [4]
3 Blazing Sevens 16 $411,000 Chad C. Brown Rodeo Creek Racing [5]
4 Instant Coffee 12 $265,065 Brad H. Cox Gold Square [3]
5 Dubyuhnell 10 $137,500 Danny Gargan West Paces Racing & Stonestreet Stables [6]
6 Red Route One 5 $53,250 Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds [3]
7 Hayes Strike 5 $14,550 Kenneth G. McPeek Dixiana Farm [4]
8 Verifying 4 $140,000 Brad H. Cox Jonathan Poulin, Westerberg, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor [5]
9 Loggins 4 $106,500 Brad H. Cox Spendthrift Farm, Steve Landers Racing, Martin S. Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing Stables, Kueber Racing, Big Easy Racing & Winners Win [3]
10 Honed 4 $58,200 Kenneth G. McPeek Three Chimneys Farm & Magdalena Racing [4]
11 Arctic Arrogance 4 $50,000 Linda L. Rice Chester Broman Sr. & Mary Broman [6]
12 Gulfport 3 $267,070 Steven M. Asmussen William L. & Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm, Whispering Oaks Farm & Coolmore Stud [5]
13 Tuskegee Airmen 3 $90,000 John C. Servis Cash Is King LLC & LC Racing [6]
14 Jace's Road 3 $29,100 Brad H. Cox West Point Thoroughbreds & Albaugh Family Stables [4]
15 Andiamo a Firenze 2 $51,000 Kelly Breen Mr. Amore Stable [5]
16 Quick To Accuse 2 $15,000 Horacio De Paz Rupp Racing [6]
17 Midnight Trouble 1 $79,000 Peter R. Walder Paradise Farm Corps., David Staudacher & Peter R. Walder [6]
18 Man Child 1 $39,750 Ryan Hanson California Racing Partners, Ciaglia Racing, Michelle Hanson, Richard C. Pearson, Timothy J. Husted & Robert Drenk [7]
19 Champions Dream 1 $20,000 Danny Gargan Rosedown Racing Stables [5]
20 Denington 1 $11,610 Kenneth G. McPeek Fern Circle Stables and Magdalena Racing [8]
21 Confidence Game 1 $8,730 J. Keith Desormeaux Don't Tell My Wife Stables [4]

Prep season[edit]

Initial prep events[edit]

Note: 1st=10 points; 2nd=4 points; 3rd=3 points; 4th=2 points; 5th=1 point (except the Breeders' Cup Juvenile: 1st=30 points; 2nd=12 points; 3rd=9 points; 4th=6 points; 5th=3 points)

The dates for most races shown below are based on the placement in the racing calendar from 2021/2022. Similarly, the purses shown below are based on the amounts from the previous year and will be updated when finalized.

Race Distance Purse Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Iroquois 1+116 miles $299,250 Churchill Downs Sep 17 2022 Curly Jack Honed Jace's Road Hayes Strike Confidence Game [4]
Champagne[c] 1 mile $500,000 Aqueduct Oct 1 2022 Blazing Sevens Verifying Gulfport Andiamo a Firenze Champions Dream [5]
American Pharoah 1+116 miles $301,500 Santa Anita Oct 8 2022 Cave Rock[d] National Treasure[d] Hejazi[d] Gandolfini[d] Man Child [7]
Breeders' Futurity 1+116 miles $600,000 Keeneland Oct 8 2022 Forte Loggins Red Route One Instant Coffee Newgate[d] [3]
Breeders' Cup Juvenile 1+116 miles $2,000,000 Keeneland Nov 4 2022 Forte Cave Rock[d] National Treasure[d] Blazing Sevens Curly Jack [11]
Kentucky Jockey Club 1+116 miles $399,625 Churchill Downs Nov 26 2022 Instant Coffee Curly Jack Haynes Strike Red Route One Denington [8]
Remsen 1+18 miles $250,000 Aqueduct Dec 3 2022 Dubyuhnell Arctic Arrogance Tuskegee Airmen Quick to Accuse Midnight Trouble [6]
Los Alamitos Futurity 1+116 miles $300,000 Los Alamitos Dec 17 2022
Springboard Mile 1 mile $400,000 Remington Dec 17 2022
Gun Runner Stakes 1+116 miles $200,000 Fair Grounds Dec 26 2022
Jerome 1 mile $150,000 Aqueduct Jan 1 2023
Smarty Jones 1 mile $250,000 Oaklawn Jan 1 2023
Sham 1 mile $100,000 Santa Anita Jan 8 2023
El Camino Real Derby 1+18 miles $100,000 Golden Gate Feb 11 2023

Select prep events[edit]

Note: 1st=20 points; 2nd=8 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points

Race Distance Purse Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Lecomte 1+116 miles $200,000 Fair Grounds Jan 21 2023
Southwest 1+116 miles $750,000 Oaklawn Jan 28 2023
Withers 1+18 miles $250,000 Aqueduct Feb 4 2023
Holy Bull 1 mile $250,000 Gulfstream Feb 4 2023
Robert B. Lewis 1+116 miles $150,000 Santa Anita Feb 4 2023
Sam F. Davis Stakes 1+116 miles $250,000 Tampa Bay Feb 11 2023
John Battaglia Memorial Stakes 1+116 miles $100,000 Turfway Feb 25 2023

Championship series events[edit]

First leg of series[edit]

Note: 1st=50 points; 2nd=20 points; 3rd=15 points; 4th=10 points; 5th=5 points

Race Distance Purse Grade Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Risen Star 1+18 miles $400,000 2 Fair Grounds Feb 18 2023
Rebel 1+116 miles $1,000,000 2 Oaklawn Feb 25 2023
Fountain of Youth 1+116 miles $400,000 2 Gulfstream Mar 4 2023
Gotham 1 mile $300,000 3 Aqueduct Mar 4 2023
San Felipe 1+116 miles $400,000 2 Santa Anita Mar 4 2023
Tampa Bay Derby 1+116 miles $350,000 2 Tampa Bay Mar 11 2023
Sunland Derby 1+18 miles $500,000 3 Sunland Park Mar 26 2023

Second leg of series[edit]

These races are the major preps for the Kentucky Derby, and are thus weighted more heavily. Note: 1st=100 points; 2nd=40 points; 3rd=30 points; 4th=20 points; 5th=10 points

Race Distance Purse Grade Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Louisiana Derby 1+316 miles $1,000,000 2 Fair Grounds Mar 25 2023
UAE Derby 1,900 metres
(~1+316 miles)
$2,000,000 2 Meydan Mar 25 2023
Jeff Ruby 1+18 miles $200,000 3 Turfway Mar 25 2023
Florida Derby 1+18 miles $1,000,000 1 Gulfstream Apr 1 2023
Arkansas Derby 1+18 miles $1,250,000 1 Oaklawn Park Apr 1 2023
Blue Grass Stakes 1+18 miles $1,000,000 1 Keeneland Apr 8 2023
Santa Anita Derby 1+18 miles $1,000,000 1 Santa Anita Apr 8 2023
Wood Memorial 1+18 miles $1,000,000 2 Aqueduct Apr 8 2023

"Wild Card" events[edit]

Note: 1st=20 points; 2nd=8 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points

Race Distance Purse Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Lexington 1+18 miles $200,000 Keeneland Apr 15 2023

Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby[edit]

The Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby is intended to provide a place in the Derby starting gate to the top finisher in the series. If the connections of that horse decline the invitation, their place is offered to the second-place finisher and so on through the top four finishers.

Race Distance Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Ref
Cattleya Sho 1,600 metres
(~1 mile)
Tokyo Racecourse
Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun 1,600 metres
(~1 mile)
Kawasaki Racecourse
Hyacinth 1,600 metres
(~1 mile)
Tokyo Racecourse
Fukuryu 1,800 metres
(~1+18 miles)
Nakayama Racecourse

Note: Cattleya Sho: 1st=10 points; 2nd=4 points; 3rd=2 points; 4th=1 point
Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun: 1st=20 points; 2nd=8 points; 3rd=4 points; 4th=2 points
Hyacinth: 1st=30 points; 2nd=12 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=3 points
Fukuyru : 1st=40 points; 2nd=16 points; 3rd=8 points; 4th=4 points
ƒ Filly

Qualification Table

The top four horses (colored brown within the standings) are eligible to participate in the Kentucky Derby provided the horse is nominated.

Rank Horse Points Eligible
Earnings
Trainer Owner Ref
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

Notes:

  • brown highlight – qualified
  • grey highlight – did not qualify

European Road to the Kentucky Derby[edit]

The European Road to the Kentucky Derby is designed on a similar basis to the Japan Road and is intended to provide a place in the Derby starting gate to the top finisher in the series. If the connections of that horse decline the invitation, their place is offered to the second-place finisher and so on. If none of the top four accept, this place in the starting gate reverts to the horses on the main road to the Derby.

The series consists of seven races – four run on the turf in late 2022 when the horses are age two, plus three races run on a synthetic surface in early 2023.

Race Distance Track Date 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Ref
Royal Lodge Stakes[e] 1 mile Newmarket Sep 24 2022 The Foxes Dubai Mile Flying Honours Greenland [12]
Beresford Stakes 1 mile The Curragh Sep 24 2022 Crypto Force Adelaide River Young Ireland Roaring Gallagher Lakota Seven [13]
Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère 1,400 metres
(about 7 furlongs)
Longchamp Oct 2 2022 Belbek Gamestop Breizh Sky Shartash Vicious Harry [14]
Vertem Futurity Trophy 1 mile Doncaster Oct 22 2022 Auguste Rodin Epictetus Holloway Boy Dancing Magic Salt Lake City [15]
Road to the Kentucky Derby Conditions Stakes 1 mile Kempton Park Mar 1 2023
Patton Stakes 1 mile Dundalk Mar 3 2023
Cardinal Stakes 1 mile Chelmsford City Mar 30 2023

Note:

  • the four races in 2022 for two-year-olds: 1st=10 points; 2nd=4 points; 3rd=3 points; 4th=2 points; 5th=1 point
  • the first two races in 2023: 1st=20 points; 2nd=8 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=4 points; 5th=2 points
  • The Cardinal Condition Stakes: 1st=30 points; 2nd=12 points; 3rd=9 points; 4th=6 points 5th=3 points
Qualification Table

The top four horses (colored brown within the standings) are eligible to participate in the Kentucky Derby provided the horse is nominated.

Rank Horse Points Eligible
Earnings
Trainer Owner Ref
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

Notes:

  • brown highlight – qualified
  • grey highlight – did not qualify

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ See the following list[1] for details
  2. ^ Earnings from non-restricted stakes prior to the running of the Kentucky Derby serve as a tie-breaker.
  3. ^ In 2022 the Champagne Stakes was moved to Aqueduct due to track construction at Belmont Park[9]
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Horse trained by an individual suspended from the 2022 Kentucky Derby does not receive any qualification points. Cave Rock, National Treasure, Hejazi, Gandolfini and Newgate are trained by Bob Baffert who is suspended by Churchill Downs Inc. through 2023.[10]
  5. ^ There were only four starters in the Royal Lodge Stakes

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2022/23 Kentucky Derby Prep Races" (PDF). Churchill Downs Inc. September 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Churchill Downs Adjusts Derby-Qualifying Points System Horses trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert remain ineligible this year for points". Churchill Downs Inc. 16 September 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e "2022 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity Grade 1 – (race 9)". Equibase. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "2022 Iroquois Stakes Grade 3 – (race 9)". Equibase. 17 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "2022 Champagne Stakes Grade 1 – (race 10)". Equibase. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "2022 Remsen Stakes Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 3 December 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  7. ^ a b "2022 American Pharoah Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  8. ^ a b "2022 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes Grade 2 – (race 11)". Equibase. 26 November 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  9. ^ Ehalt, Bob (28 July 2022). "NYRA Shifts Belmont Fall Meet to Aqueduct Change will allow construction of infield tunnel, redevelopment plan to begin". Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  10. ^ King, Byron (1 October 2021). "Corniche Delivers as Heavy Favorite in American Pharoah". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Breeders' Cup Juvenile (Grade 1 - race 9)". equibase.com. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
  12. ^ "Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2)". SportingLife.com. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  13. ^ "Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford Stakes (Group 2)". SportingLife.com. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  14. ^ "Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium) (Group 1)". SportingLife.com. 2 October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  15. ^ "Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes (Group 1)". SportingLife.com. 22 October 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2022.

Where will the Kentucky Derby be in 2023?

Apr 2023 | Churchill Downs Racetrack | Home of the Kentucky Derby.

What's the date of the 2023 Kentucky Derby?

May 6, 2023 Held on the first Saturday of May, the Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown and offers the largest purse of any thoroughbred race at $2,000,000.

How much does it cost to go to the Kentucky Derby 2023?

Right now, Kentucky Derby tickets at Churchill Downs for May 6 begin at $81. Kentucky Derby Louisville tickets have an average price of $5006.

Where is the Kentucky Derby 2024?

Sep 2024 | Churchill Downs Racetrack | Home of the Kentucky Derby.