The Kentucky Derby qualifying system changes from graded stakes earnings to point system
There is a new system introduced for the qualifying criteria of the 139th running of the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby – which also affects its sister race, the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.
The previous qualifying system, which was used since 1986 until this recently passed 138th running of the Kentucky Derby 2012, had horses qualified for the 1 ¼ mile event over the graded stakes earnings that the runners amassed on and before the
Derby trail – mostly started as juveniles in race that had big purses to offer that would automatically make it easier for horses who won those races in their 2-year-old careers.
The change in the qualifying system has abandoned the graded stakes earnings criteria, and has instituted a point system to qualify for the first jewel of the Triple Crown.
The new system was formally announced on 14 June, 2012, by the shareholders of Churchill Downs incorporated in their annual meeting, and in that meeting, the new point system was classified as the “Road to the Kentucky Derby.”
“Our primary driving motive is to create new fans for horse racing,” said CDI Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Bob Evans. “We’re implementing a more fan-friendly, cohesive and simplified system that should create compelling drama and appeal to a wider
customer base. Fans, as well as the owners and trainers of the horses, will know exactly which races are included and what races matter the most based on a sliding scale of points.”
This is how it works, the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” will consist of 185 graded stakes races worldwide, with additional races that will have 60 open races, and 43 restricted ones – only for the North American fillies.
The new point system series will be broke down in to two phases, and the top four finishers of these races will be awarded points that will accumulate at the end to decide whether they make the Kentucky Derby gate or not.
The first part of the series will contain 19 races altogether, run on either dirt or synthetic surface, going over a distance of at least a mile.
This phase will start late September, and will commence in late February. In that span of time, the races that had a significant amount of purse that usually helped horses to ease the pressure as a sophomore are the Grade 3 Delta Jackpot and the Grade 1,
$1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile only have 10 points for the winner.
The second phase has been branded as the Kentucky Derby Championship Series, and it consists of three legs, and the races contain 50 points in the first leg, 100 in the second, and 20 in the third.
The whole of second phase 17 marquee stakes, again either run on dirt or the synthetic surfaces.
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