Yahoo Sports 2024 Fall Meet at Keeneland boasts track’s largest-ever purse total
Keeneland Race Course will offer a track record $9.6 million for 22 stakes races during 17 days of 2024 Fall Meet horse racing from Oct. 4-26 in Lexington.
The record purse total is the result of the track adding a total of $550,000 to four stakes races.
The Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup increases from $600,000 to $750,000. The Grade 2 Bryan Station doubles from $300,000 to $600,000. The Grade 2 Bank of America Valley View and Grade 3 Perryville move from $300,000 to $350,000.
Track vice president Gatewood Bell said the Queen Elizabeth II and Bryan Station purse increases resulted from “Keeneland’s working relationship with Kentucky Downs, with the goal being to bolster the overall purse structure in Kentucky and specifically to strengthen the turf program for 3-year-olds.
“Keeneland and Kentucky Downs would like to help facilitate a pattern of races for 3-year-old fillies and 3-year-old colts on the turf in the U.S. by trying to coordinate and work with other tracks throughout the country.”
Bell said the program would also boost purses for the Appalachian and Transylvania Stakes during the 2025 Spring Meet at Keeneland, both of which are turf races.
The 2024 Fall Meet gets underway with the track’s annual Fall Stars Weekend Oct. 4-6, which offers $5.55 million in stakes purses and features eight stakes included in the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In Challenge Series.
The 41st Breeders’ Cup World Championships are set for Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar in California.
Closing day of Keeneland’s Fall Meet is Oct. 26 and will be highlighted by three stakes races.
2024 Keeneland Fall Meet stakes schedule
Oct. 4: $600,000, Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.
Oct. 4: $350,000, Grade 2 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix for 3-year-olds and up at 6 furlongs.
Oct. 4: $350,000, Grade 2 Jessamine Presented by Keeneland Sales for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles (turf).
Oct. 5: $1 million, Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile for 3-year-olds and up at 1 mile (turf).
Oct. 5: $600,000, Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.
Oct. 5: $750,000, Grade 1 First Lady Presented by UK Healthcare for fillies and mares 3 years old and up at 1 mile (turf).
Oct. 5: $350,000, Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America for fillies and mares 3 years old and up at 6 furlongs.
Oct. 5: $350,000, Grade 2 Woodford Presented by FanDuel for 3-year-olds and up at 5½ furlongs (turf).
Oct. 6: $600,000, Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster for fillies and mares 3 years old and up at 1 1/8 miles.
Oct. 6: $350,000, Grade 2 Castle & Key Bourbon for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles (turf).
Oct. 6: $250,000 Indian Summer Presented by Keeneland Select for 2-year-olds at 5½ furlongs (turf).
Oct. 11: $300,000, Grade 3 Sycamore for 3-year-olds and up at 1½ miles (turf).
Oct. 12: $750,000, Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Dixiana for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles (turf).
Oct. 13: $350,000, Grade 2 Franklin for fillies and mares 3 years old and up at 5½ furlongs (turf).
Oct. 19: $350,000, Grade 2 Lexus Raven Run for 3-year-old fillies at 7 furlongs.
Oct. 19: $300,000, Grade 3 Perryville for 3-year-olds at 7 furlongs.
Oct. 20: $300,000, Grade 3 Rood & Riddle Dowager for fillies and mares 3 years old and up at 1½ miles (turf).
Oct. 25: $350,000, Grade 2 Bank of America Valley View for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles (turf).
Oct. 25: $200,000 Myrtlewood for 2-year-old fillies at 6 furlongs.
Oct. 26: $350,000, Grade 2 Hagyard Fayette for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles.
Oct. 26: $600,000, Grade 3 Bryan Station for 3-year-olds at 1 mile (turf).
Oct. 26: $200,000 Bowman Mill for 2-year-olds at 6 furlongs.
