Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Turfway Park Fall Meet Opens September 3
Posted on Sunday, August 31st, 2008
Live thoroughbred horse racing returns to Turfway Park September 3 as the track opens its 50th Fall Meet which runs through October 2.
The 22-day meet at Turfway Park features 9 stakes races, including the 5 that comprise the Kentucky Cup series, the first quarter horse race at the track since 1972, and a venerable race newly named a 2008 Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” qualifier.
15th running of the Kentucky Cup Day of Champions; NARA exhibition
The highlight of the meet is the 15th running of the Kentucky Cup Day of Champions, anchored by the $350,000 Kentucky Cup Classic (G2). Part of a 12-race card on Saturday, September 27, the five Kentucky Cup stakes races prep horses aiming for the $25.5 million Breeders’ Cup World Championships in October.
Since its inception in 1994, Kentucky Cup races have produced six Breeders’ Cup winners and five Eclipse Award winners.
Before the Kentucky Cup day card begins, Turfway Park will present an exhibition race featuring jockeys who are graduates of the North American Racing Academy (NARA). Founded by Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron in 2006, the academy is based at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington and is part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.
Fall Championship, Quarter Horse Sprint Stakes, Other Stakes, New Wager
Also significant to the Breeders’ Cup is the $100,000 Turfway Park Fall Championship on Saturday, September 6. At its new distance of 1 1/2 miles, the Grade III contest for race horses three years old and up is now a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” race. The winner will automatically qualify to enter the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Marathon on October 25.
Conducted on Turfway Park’s all-weather Polytrack, this year’s Kentucky Cup Stakes and Fall Championship provide especially useful preps for Breeders’ Cup hopefuls. The 2008 Breeders’ Cup, set for October 24-25 at Santa Anita Park in California, is the first in which the series’ traditional dirt races will be run over an all-weather surface.
The first American Quarter Horse race run at Turfway Park since 1972 and the first ever run on Polytrack is set for Friday, September 12. A field of eight or more is expected to contest the $25,000 John Deere Sprint Stakes at a distance of 330 yards.
Rounding out the fall stakes schedule are the $75,000 Marfa Stakes on September 13 and the $75,000 Weekend Delight Stakes on September 20.
Already popular at other tracks, the Super Hi 5 wager makes its first appearance at Turfway Park this fall. A winning wager selects the first five finishers in order on a designated race. At Turfway Park, the Super Hi 5 is available on the last Turfway race of the day.
"Turfway Park Fall Meet Opens September 3" was posted on Sunday, August 31st, 2008 at 10:21 pm and is filed under Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Race Tracks News, Stakes Races, Turfway Park, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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