Cover image courtesy of Churchill Downs
A new six-race series of races for 3-year-olds, to be conducted at Churchill Downs, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course from May to September, will debut in 2027 under a partnership between Churchill Downs Incorporated and New York Racing Association, the two organizations announced in a press release Monday.
The series will begin with the GI Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May and continue with the GI Belmont Stakes on June 5. Those two marquee Classic races will be followed by the Matt Winn Stakes, at Churchill on a date in July to be determined, the GII Jim Dandy Stakes in late July or early August, the GI Travers Stakes in late August, and concluding with a championship race at Churchill Downs in September.
“The Thoroughbred Championship Series will extend the excitement of the sport across a five-month season,” said Bill Carstanjen, Chief Executive Officer of CDI. “The Kentucky Derby introduces millions of fans to a new generation of Thoroughbred stars each year, and this series gives those fans a reason to stay engaged with the sport's biggest stars throughout the season.
“This series gives those fans a reason to stay engaged with the sport's biggest stars throughout the season.” - Bill Carstanjen
By connecting these premier events through one championship, we're creating a season-long storyline that benefits the future of Thoroughbred racing.”
David O'Rourke, President and Chief Executive Officer of NYRA, added, “This series is designed to showcase the sport's best 3-year-olds across a season-long championship, elevating our biggest events and creating the next generation of fans. The return of the Belmont Stakes to a newly transformed Belmont Park makes this an especially exciting moment for our sport.
Bill Carstanjen | Image courtesy of Churchill Downs Incorporated
“Together with Churchill Downs and our television partners, we are building on tradition to carry the excitement of these marquee races through the entire season.”
Split broadcasting to enhance spread
A unified points system will be designed to encourage the nation's leading 3-year-olds to compete against one another more frequently and, in addition to individual race purses, a US$5 million (AU$7.12 million) prize pool will be awarded based on the final standings.
Each race will be broadcast to a national television audience. The Churchill Downs races will air on NBC, while the NYRA races will air on FOX.
CDI and NYRA will work collaboratively on the series' rules, nominations process, marketing, sponsorship, wagering opportunities and television distribution. Broadcast, sponsorship and commercial partnership details will be announced as agreements are finalized.
Prominent owner Mike Repole expressed his support for the concept.
“For me, just reading it that Churchill and NYRA are working together is a super-important part of the story,” he said. “What I really am encouraged by is not only the fact that the tracks are working together, but that Fox and NBC are working together. “What I really am encouraged by is not only the fact that the tracks are working together, but that Fox and NBC are working together.” - Mike Repole
“What I really am encouraged by is not only the fact that the tracks are working together, but that Fox and NBC are working together.” - Mike Repole
“In every successful sport, all the teams in the leagues work together, and NYRA and Churchill Downs are the two biggest teams in our industry. In any pro sports league, there are multiple media outlets who cover it, and multiple national networks. In racing, they compete and don't work together. So the fact that they're going to split the coverage and have Fox talking about the next one on NBC and NBC talking about the next one on Fox is significant.”
Mike Repole | Image courtesy of Keeneland
Repole is not only a horse owner, but is also part of the ownership group of the United Football League and heads their business operations.
“My lesson from the UFL is the more people talking about your sport, the better,” he said. “It creates news on top of news. Four years ago, when I said I was starting the National Thoroughbred Alliance, I said we need unity, alignment, and collaboration. We saw a little bit with thoroughbred aftercare and the SAFE Act, but inside the industry I think this is the first sign that two major tracks, instead of trying to compete, are trying to align.
“Everyone is talking about why we walk all over each other with the big race days and race schedules, and so if the two biggest entities out there are willing to have a relationship, that can trickle down.
“This is something we have to do with every facet of the game–tracks, breeders, trainers, etc. This biggest sign of collaboration and unity. I have a great relationship with Bill Carstanjen and David O'Rourke and they definitely speak a language that other people don't speak. The sport doesn't just need innovation; it needs evolution. I'm not sure which one is more important. But if you combine the two, it's a really great start.”
Additional information regarding the race schedule, points system, eligibility rules, prize distribution, and branding will be released shortly.
A momentum builder
Carstanjen and O'Rourke each read from prepared statements during a media teleconference Monday afternoon, echoing their comments from the morning press release.
“At its core, the Thoroughbred Championship series is about the future of our sport. Thoroughbred racing has everything people love about sports. It has extraordinary equine athletes, iconic races, legendary venues, and traditions that have captivated fans for generations,” said Carstanjen.
David O'Rourke | Image courtesy of Saratoga Race Course
“Each of the six races matter as we build new traditions and standards of equine excellence, culminating with the crowning of a champion at the finale of the series to be held in September at Churchill Downs. You do not have to win every race or even any particular race to become the champion. The winner will be the horse who demonstrates consistent excellence and stamina in the face of the world's toughest competition across the six races.”
“The winner will be the horse who demonstrates consistent excellence and stamina in the face of the world's toughest competition across the six races.” - David O'Rourke
Added O'Rourke: “The Triple Crown shows us every year how powerful these events capture the public imagination. Our aim is to carry that energy across the full season and give the fans a reason to stay with the sport's best 3-year-olds from May into the fall. We also believe a stronger, more connected 3-year-old season is good for everyone in the sport, for the horses, for the horsemen, and for the fans who follow them.”
After the teleconference was truncated due to apparent technical issues, a Zoom meeting with O'Rourke was quickly organized by New York Racing Association officials.
“This is a very familiar format to the casual sports fan,” he offered. “It's a points system across the entire season essentially. This builds on top of the Triple Crown alongside it. It doesn't change anything with that.”
A festival enhancer
The absence of the Preakness in the TCS was the issue of much discussion across social media on Monday, and elicited a post on X from trainer Bob Baffert.
“I am in favor of any and all new ideas to grow racing and increase interest in our sport. So I welcome The Thoroughbred Series introduced by Churchill and the NYRA and I look forward to competing in the new series,” Baffert wrote.
“But the greatest achievement in racing will always be winning the Triple Crown–The Kentucky Derby, The Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. The Triple Crown has sustained our sport for more than 150 years, and it will continue to do so for another 150 or more, if we appreciate it and care for it.
“The Preakness is integral to racing's history, present, and future, and I hope nothing detracts from its significance. If I have the right horse, I'll continue to run in Baltimore every May, as well as in The Thoroughbred Series.”
Bob Baffert | Image courtesy of Fasig Tipton
O'Rourke said that the Series, which requires a horse to participate in four of the legs to be eligible for any bonus structure, will only serve to enhance the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and could lead to similar series down the road.
“This builds momentum into the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, but through it as well,” he said. “I think this is huge. It gives us a foundation to build off us. We're starting with 3-year-olds, but the conversations could go into other divisions. This is the conversation starter now and we have a foundation we can layer things on top of. So I think we're open to conversations together with Churchill.”
“This builds momentum into the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, but through it as well.” - David O'Rourke
O'Rourke said that while no conversations have taken place to date involving two of the summer's seven-figure sophomore preps–the GI Haskell Stakes and GI Pennsylvania Derby–those discussions could take place going forward.
“Those conversations would have to make sense,” he said. “This was just formed now, and now that (the details of the TCS) have been released, those conversations will happen. It's quite a busy couple weeks up (in Saratoga), but I'm sure there will be lots of conversations.”
For their part, the Maryland Jockey Club had no immediate comment on Monday's announcement, but its CEO Bill Knauf confirmed that the organization would be issuing a statement on the situation this coming Wednesday, August 5.
