LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Churchill Downs Incorporated and the New York Racing Association announced Monday the creation of a new six-race Thoroughbred Championship Series, an effort to extend the sport's biggest 3-year-old storylines beyond the Triple Crown and into the fall.
The series, which will debut in 2027, will begin with the Kentucky Derby and conclude with a new championship race at Churchill Downs in September. Participants will compete for a share of a $5 million bonus pool in addition to the purses offered by each race.
Churchill Downs and NYRA said the championship is designed to keep the nation's top 3-year-olds competing against one another throughout the summer while giving fans a season-long storyline that stretches from the first Saturday in May through September.
"The Thoroughbred Championship Series will extend the excitement of the sport across a five-month season," Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen said in a statement. "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."
NYRA President and CEO David O'Rourke said the series is intended to "showcase the sport's best 3-year-olds across a season-long championship" while building on the return of the Belmont Stakes to a renovated Belmont Park.
The inaugural series is expected to include:
- Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs (May 1)
- Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park (June 5)
- Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs (July, date to be announced)
- Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course (late July/early August)
- Travers Stakes at Saratoga (late August)
- Championship Race at Churchill Downs (September, date to be announced)
Churchill Downs and NYRA said horses will accumulate points throughout the series, with final standings determining distribution of the $5 million championship bonus pool. Details on the points system, eligibility requirements and prize distribution are expected to be announced later.
Each race will continue to air on national television, with NBC carrying the Churchill Downs races and FOX broadcasting the NYRA events.
The announcement represents a rare collaboration between Churchill Downs and NYRA, whose tracks host many of the nation's most prestigious races. The organizations said they will jointly oversee the championship's rules, marketing, sponsorships, wagering opportunities and television presentation.
Notably absent from the announced series is the Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of the Triple Crown, which is conducted by the Maryland Jockey Club. Churchill Downs and NYRA did not address the omission in Monday's announcement.
Officials from Churchill Downs and NYRA are scheduled to discuss the new championship during a joint virtual news conference Monday afternoon.
Additional details, including the championship race, scheduling and series format, are expected to be released following that presentation.
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