There will be four also-eligible for the Kentucky Derby and the Oaks in the 2012 season
Churchill Downs have permitted the decision to include four also eligible entrants in their main event of the 2012 season, the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. The possibility has been allowed since the first time it took place in the
early 1980’s and it will be effective with the beginning of their respective 138th running of those races in 2012.
Back in the early 1980’s, Churchill Downs adjusted the Kentucky Derby rules by allowing up to eight also-eligible in the 1982 running of the Derby. However, Churchill Downs reverted back from their previous policy in 1983 and in each year twenty horse field
was reeled in for the Derby.
Due to a field of 20 horses in each year, the run of also-eligible never got applied. This time around the rule is going to come into play for the first time in recent history.
The four horses that will be eligible to run will be on the sidelines unless until a member from the original fields for their races scratch from the race and only then one or more of the eligible horses will take their place in the original field.
It’s a replacement rule, but the focus at the end of the day is to run a full field in either of the two races, as Kentucky Derby will run 20 maximum horses in the race and the Kentucky Oaks will feature a full field of 14 starters.
“Also-eligible horses for the Oaks will have nearly three days of opportunity to get into their race, while the Derby’s window for also-eligible entrants to participate is just under 48 hours. We feel strongly that the deadline for also-eligible horses to
join the Derby field must be set before preliminary wagering on the race begins. Despite the more limited window for also-eligible horses for the Derby, this system provides owners and trainers an opportunity to keep their Derby dreams alive that has never
existed before.”
If a horse is scratched from the respective races, then the horses in post positions outside of the scratched horses would move in a spot and the also-eligible horses will take the outermost posts in the race.
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