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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Horse racing’s premier event is held in Lousiville, Kentucky the first weekend in May. Enjoy watching horse racing’s elite groups compete for the roses and lilies in the dirt track at Churchill Downs.
Princeton Group works with large corporations, family-owned businesses, and individuals who want to enjoy the energy and splendor of Louisville.
Let Princeton Group do all the work to ensure that everything is smooth and easy for you and your valued guests. Our programs include high-end hotel accommodations, exclusive tours, and event access, as well as a dedicated operations team to answer questions and plan your event prior to your arrival in Lousiville.
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THE PRINCETON GROUP EXPERIENCE
With seating options in every section of Churchill Downs, we can accommodate every group’s needs and preferences.
Visit a Kentucky horse farm and learn about the state’s long history in the sport. Also, visit a distillery along the famous Bourbon Trail – tour the facility and have a taste!
We offer dedicated customer service prior to and during the event. Have questions or need help planning? We are here for you!
WHY CHOOSE PRINCETON GROUP?
We have many years of providing customers a high-class experience at both The Kentucky Derby and The Kentucky Oaks. The event is more than just attending a horse race. With exclusive access, unique tours, and access to exclusive parties, it is a weekend unlike any other.
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.
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.
Iroquois | 1+1⁄16 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+1⁄16 miles | $301,500 | Santa Anita | Oct 8 2022 | Cave Rock[d] | National Treasure[d] | Hejazi[d] | Gandolfini[d] | Man Child | [7] |
Breeders' Futurity | 1+1⁄16 miles | $600,000 | Keeneland | Oct 8 2022 | Forte | Loggins | Red Route One | Instant Coffee | Newgate[d] | [3] |
Breeders' Cup Juvenile | 1+1⁄16 miles | $2,000,000 | Keeneland | Nov 4 2022 | Forte | Cave Rock[d] | National Treasure[d] | Blazing Sevens | Curly Jack | [11] |
Kentucky Jockey Club | 1+1⁄16 miles | $399,625 | Churchill Downs | Nov 26 2022 | Instant Coffee | Curly Jack | Haynes Strike | Red Route One | Denington | [8] |
Remsen | 1+1⁄8 miles | $250,000 | Aqueduct | Dec 3 2022 | Dubyuhnell | Arctic Arrogance | Tuskegee Airmen | Quick to Accuse | Midnight Trouble | [6] |
Los Alamitos Futurity | 1+1⁄16 miles | $300,000 | Los Alamitos | Dec 17 2022 | ||||||
Springboard Mile | 1 mile | $400,000 | Remington | Dec 17 2022 | ||||||
Gun Runner Stakes | 1+1⁄16 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+1⁄8 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
Lecomte | 1+1⁄16 miles | $200,000 | Fair Grounds | Jan 21 2023 | ||||||
Southwest | 1+1⁄16 miles | $750,000 | Oaklawn | Jan 28 2023 | ||||||
Withers | 1+1⁄8 miles | $250,000 | Aqueduct | Feb 4 2023 | ||||||
Holy Bull | 1 mile | $250,000 | Gulfstream | Feb 4 2023 | ||||||
Robert B. Lewis | 1+1⁄16 miles | $150,000 | Santa Anita | Feb 4 2023 | ||||||
Sam F. Davis Stakes | 1+1⁄16 miles | $250,000 | Tampa Bay | Feb 11 2023 | ||||||
John Battaglia Memorial Stakes | 1+1⁄16 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
Risen Star | 1+1⁄8 miles | $400,000 | 2 | Fair Grounds | Feb 18 2023 | ||||||
Rebel | 1+1⁄16 miles | $1,000,000 | 2 | Oaklawn | Feb 25 2023 | ||||||
Fountain of Youth | 1+1⁄16 miles | $400,000 | 2 | Gulfstream | Mar 4 2023 | ||||||
Gotham | 1 mile | $300,000 | 3 | Aqueduct | Mar 4 2023 | ||||||
San Felipe | 1+1⁄16 miles | $400,000 | 2 | Santa Anita | Mar 4 2023 | ||||||
Tampa Bay Derby | 1+1⁄16 miles | $350,000 | 2 | Tampa Bay | Mar 11 2023 | ||||||
Sunland Derby | 1+1⁄8 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
Louisiana Derby | 1+3⁄16 miles | $1,000,000 | 2 | Fair Grounds | Mar 25 2023 | ||||||
UAE Derby | 1,900 metres (~1+3⁄16 miles) | $2,000,000 | 2 | Meydan | Mar 25 2023 | ||||||
Jeff Ruby | 1+1⁄8 miles | $200,000 | 3 | Turfway | Mar 25 2023 | ||||||
Florida Derby | 1+1⁄8 miles | $1,000,000 | 1 | Gulfstream | Apr 1 2023 | ||||||
Arkansas Derby | 1+1⁄8 miles | $1,250,000 | 1 | Oaklawn Park | Apr 1 2023 | ||||||
Blue Grass Stakes | 1+1⁄8 miles | $1,000,000 | 1 | Keeneland | Apr 8 2023 | ||||||
Santa Anita Derby | 1+1⁄8 miles | $1,000,000 | 1 | Santa Anita | Apr 8 2023 | ||||||
Wood Memorial | 1+1⁄8 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
Lexington | 1+1⁄8 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.
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+1⁄8 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
The top four horses (colored brown within the standings) are eligible to participate in the Kentucky Derby provided the horse is nominated.
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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.
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
The top four horses (colored brown within the standings) are eligible to participate in the Kentucky Derby provided the horse is nominated.
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Notes:
- brown highlight – qualified
- grey highlight – did not qualify
Notes[edit]
- ^ See the following list[1] for details
- ^ Earnings from non-restricted stakes prior to the running of the Kentucky Derby serve as a tie-breaker.
- ^ In 2022 the Champagne Stakes was moved to Aqueduct due to track construction at Belmont Park[9]
- ^ 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]
- ^ There were only four starters in the Royal Lodge Stakes
References[edit]
- ^ "2022/23 Kentucky Derby Prep Races" (PDF). Churchill Downs Inc. September 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b c d e "2022 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity Grade 1 – (race 9)". Equibase. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "2022 Iroquois Stakes Grade 3 – (race 9)". Equibase. 17 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "2022 Champagne Stakes Grade 1 – (race 10)". Equibase. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "2022 Remsen Stakes Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 3 December 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ a b "2022 American Pharoah Stakes Grade 1 – (race 8)". Equibase. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ a b "2022 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes Grade 2 – (race 11)". Equibase. 26 November 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ King, Byron (1 October 2021). "Corniche Delivers as Heavy Favorite in American Pharoah". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
- ^ "Breeders' Cup Juvenile (Grade 1 - race 9)". equibase.com. 4 November 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ "Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2)". SportingLife.com. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
- ^ "Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford Stakes (Group 2)". SportingLife.com. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
- ^ "Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium) (Group 1)". SportingLife.com. 2 October 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ "Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes (Group 1)". SportingLife.com. 22 October 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2022.