The live racing meet at Kentucky Downs drew entrants from all across the globe
Danny Brewer
The sport of kings is alive and well in the great state of Kentucky. The recently completed live racing meet at Kentucky Downs offers more evidence of the health and welfare of Thoroughbred racing on the Bluegrass.
Between August 28 and September 10, Kentucky Downs hosted seven racing days and offered up $41 million in purse money to horsemen. These huge purse payouts attracted horses from all over the world. In an effort to cultivate things for the hooves that hit the ground in Kentucky upon birth, Bluegrass-bred horses did receive more of that 41 mill as supplements were included in that figure. Regardless of where the runner was born, the payouts are still the highest per race in the United States.
Kentucky-bred horses receive extra purse money at Kentucky Downs in an effort to cultivate racing within the state.
Danny Brewer
Showing them the money has been a great way to attract horsemen. In the 79 races run at the 2025 meet there were 843 entrants running on the Franklin, Kentucky lawn. For those scoring at home, that means the average field size was ten which makes for great competition. All in all 26 horses ran in two races at the meet with three of them (Stellify, Street Beast, Quatrocento) being victorious in both.
“I found myself with several turf horses and decided a while back to try and run them at Kentucky Downs”, says Brad Cox, who earned the 2025 training title with nine wins including two by Stellify. “With the money that’s there and the constant improvements they are making we felt like we needed to take advantage of it. It is a very desirable place to run and they are a big reason Kentucky racing is thriving right now. I am glad to be a part of it and happy to call Kentucky my home.”
Large fields and steep competition makes for lots of excitement and nice payouts for the speculating public. The biggest day of the meet, Turf Cup Day on September 6, saw a wagering handle in excess of $25 million. Payouts across the seven days were plentiful with the 50-cent late pick five averaging $8,874.
The major infusion of purse money and track improvements at Kentucky Downs has been a real bonus for the Thoroughbred racing circuit in Kentucky. Providing both a blueprint for success and supplemental funds to other racing venues within the state, the piece of property within rock-throwing distance of the Tennessee state line has helped initiate a renaissance. Turf runners from all over the globe have made Franklin, Kentucky a late summer destination spot and that in turn has helped other tracks recruit entrants.
Joining Brad Cox as 2025 Kentucky Downs meet champions are LaFranco Dettori as leading rider (9 wins) and Godolphin as top owner (4 wins).