Schedule for the Churchill Downs' Spring Meet Stakes Has Been Released

Churchill Downs is set to host its 2021 Spring Meet, which will run from April 24 through to June 26, 2021. A record $13.44 million purse will be up for grabs in its 40 stakes races. The events will kick-off with Derby week, which will end with the 147th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 1. For the Derby week, we will witness 18 stakes worth over $10 million.

2020 was not a good year for the Spring Meet at Churchill Downs as the effects of the covid-19 pandemic resulted in the postponement of most of the traditional Derby stakes till September 2020. For the 2021 Spring Meet, half of the Derby day races are stakes races. Also, a combination of grade 1 ann's grade 2 events will hold on the day including;

• $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1)
• $500,000 Churchill Downs Presented by Ford (G1)
• $500,000 Derby City Distaff (G1)
• $500,000 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2)
• $500,000 Pat Day Mile Presented by LG&E and KU (G2)
• $500,000 American Turf (G2)

The day before Derby Day (April 30) is also packed with high-profile races, with the $1.25-million GI Kentucky Oaks headlining the card. The 1 1/8 miles race is perhaps the nation's most lucrative race for 3-year-old fillies.

The Isaac Murphy Marathon

The legacy of the legendary jockey, Isaac Murphy, will be recognized at the upcoming Churchill Downs Spring Meet. The recognition will be done through the $120,000 Isaac Murphy Marathon on April 27. Churchill Downs racetrack president, Mike Anderson, has come out to say that Churchill Downs will always remember and honor jockeys who have played an integral role in the legacy of the Kentucky Derby. The Champions Day Marathon is what has been renamed the Isaac Murphy Marathon.

Full Race Schedule

Date | Grade | Purse | Race | Conditions | Distance | Surface

Saturday, April 24 | Listed | $125,000 | William Walker | 3yo | 5 ½ F | Turf

Tuesday, April 27 | - | $120,000 | Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes | 4&up | 1 ½ M | Dirt

Wednesday, April 28 | - | $125,000 | Kentucky Juvenile | 2yo | 5 F | Dirt

Thursday, April 29 | - | $150,000 | Unbridled Sidney | 3&up, f&m | 5 ½ F | Turf

Thursday, April 29 | - | $120,000 | Opening Verse Overnight Stakes | 4&up | 1 M | Turf

Friday, April 30 | I | $1,250,000 | Longines Kentucky Oaks | 3yo f | 1 1/8 M | Dirt

Friday, April 30 | I | $500,000 | La Troienne | 4&up, f&m | 1 1/16 M | Dirt

Friday, April 30 | II | $400,000 | Alysheba | 4&up | 1 1/16 M | Dirt

Friday, April 30 | II | $300,000 | Eight Belles presented by Smithfield | 3yo f | 7 F | Dirt

Friday, April 30 | II | $300,000 | Edgewood | 3yo f | 1 1/16 M | Turf

Friday, April 30 | II | $250,000 | Twin Spires Turf Sprint presented by Sysco | 3&up | 5 ½ F | Turf

Saturday, May 1 | I | $3,000,000 | Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve | 3yo | 1 ¼ M | Dirt

Saturday, May 1 | I | $1,000,000 | Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic | 4&up | 1 1/8 M | Turf

Saturday, May 1 | I | $500,000 | Churchill Downs presented by Ford | 4&up | 7 F | Dirt

Saturday, May 1 | I | $500,000 | Derby City Distaff | 4&up, f&m | 7 F | Dirt

Saturday, May 1 | II | $500,000 | Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile | 4&up, f&m | 1 M | Turf

Saturday, May 1 | II | $500,000 | Pat Day Mile presented by LG&E and KU | 3yo | 1 M | Dirt

Saturday, May 1 | II | $500,000 | American Turf | 3yo | 1 1/16 M | Turf

Saturday, May 8 | $100,000 | Mamzelle Overnight Stakes | 3yo f | 5 F | Turf

Saturday, May 15 | III | $125,000 | Louisville | 4&up | 1 ½ M | Turf

Saturday, May 22 | III | $125,000 | Winning Colors | 4&up, f&m | 6 F | Dirt

Saturday, May 22 | - | $100,000 | Keertana Overnight Stakes | 4&up, f&m | 1 ½ M | Turf

Saturday, May 29 | III | $125,000 | Matt Winn | 3yo | 1 1/16 M | Dirt

Saturday, May 29 | III | $125,000 | Regret | 3yo f | 1 1/8 M | Turf

Saturday, May 29 | Listed | $125,000 | Aristides | 4&up | 6 F | Dirt

Saturday, May 29 | - | $125,000 | Blame | 4&up | 1 1/8 M | Dirt

Saturday, May 29 | - | $125,000 | Shawnee | 4&up, f&m | 1 1/16 M | Dirt

Saturday, May 29 | - | $100,000 | Audubon | 3yo | 1 1/8 M | Turf

Saturday, May 29 | - | $100,000 | Douglas Park Overnight Stakes | 4&up | 1 1/16 M | Turf

Saturday, June 5 | - | $100,000 | Mighty Beau Overnight Stakes | 3&up | 5 F | Turf

Saturday, June 12 | III | $125,000 | Old Forester Mint Julep | 4&up, f&m | 1 1/16 M | Turf

Saturday, June 19 | - | $100,000 | Roxelana Overnight Stakes | 3&up, f&m | 6 ½ F | Dirt

Friday, June 25 | - | $100,000 | Kelly's Landing Overnight Stakes | 3&up 7 F | Dirt

Saturday, June 26 40th | II | $600,000 | Stephen Foster | 4&up | 1 1/8 M | Dirt

Saturday, June 26 | II | $250,000 | Fleur de Lis | 4&up, f&m | 1 1/8 M | Dirt

Saturday, June 26 | II | $250,000 | Wise Dan | 4&up | 1 1/16 M | Turf

Saturday, June 26 | III | $125,000 | Bashford Manor | 2yo | 6 F | Dirt

Saturday, June 26 | Listed | $125,000 | Debutante | 2yo f | 6 F | Dirt

Saturday, June 26 | - | $125,000 | War Chant | 3yo | 1 M | Turf

Saturday, June 26 | - | $125,000 | Tepin | 3yo f | 1 M | Turf