SPORTS

Churchill Downs' September Meet at a glance

Jennie Rees
@CJ_Jennie
Shot from Churchill Downs' 2013 September meet.

When

Friday, Sept. 5-Sept. 28, racing Friday-Sunday.

How much

Sept. 5 & Sept. 19 (Downs After Dark), $10; other days $3 ($1 seniors 60 & up)

Parking

Free in Longfield Ave. lot (Gates 10 & 12); $3 other lots; $5 valet.

Post times

  • Fridays Sept. 5 & 19 (Downs After Dark), 6 p.m. ET
  • Saturdays & Sundays 12:45 p.m. ET
  • Fridays Sept. 12 & 26 (Happy Hour), 2:45 p.m. ET.

Purses

Daily purses expected to average $335,800, including stakes, vs. $372,805 in 2013.

Pending milestones

  • Robby Albarado is nine wins shy of becoming the third jockey to win 1,000 races at Churchill, trailing only Pat Day (2,482) and Calvin Borel (1,163).
  • Trainer Rusty Arnold is at 299 wins and jockey Jesus Castanon 299 wins.

Stakes

  • Sept. 6 – $200,000 Pocahontas (G2), 2yo fillies, 1 1/16 miles; $100,000 Iroquois (G3), 2yos, 1 1/16 miles; $100,000 Ack Ack (G3), 3yo&up, mile; $100,000 Locust Grove, f&m 3yo&up, 1 1/16 miles.
  • Sept. 13 -- $100,000 Open Mind, f&m 3yo&up, 6 furlongs.
  • Sept. 20 -- $100,000 Dogwood (G3), 3yo fillies, 7 furlongs.
  • Sept. 27 -- $125,000 Homecoming Classic, 3yo&up, 1 1/8 miles; $100,000 Jefferson Cup (G3) 3yos, mile (turf).

Opening night

Churchill stages its second College Rivalry Night with track donating $1 to the V Foundation for Cancer Research for every fan in attendance. Fans are encouraged to wear their team colors and the track is offering a chance to win a trip to the Jimmy V Men's Basketball Classic (UofL vs. Indiana) in New York on Dec. 9.

Special events

Sept. 6 – Road to the Derby kickoff: Churchill's Kentucky Derby (and Oaks) points series begin with the Iroquois and Pocahontas.

Sept. 13 – Football watch party, with Churchill showing the Louisville game at Virginia (12:30 kickoff) uninterrupted on its giant 16 X 20 foot video screen, extra bleacher seating added to the new grandstand Plaza and $2 Bud and Bud Lights sold during the game. Admission free to college students with a current student I.D.

Sept. 14 – Family Adventure Day, requiring a Family Pavilion ticket ($10 adults, $5 per child, including gate admission and access to family seating in the grandstand terrace).

Sept. 19 – Oktoberfest in the new grandstand plaza.

Sept. 26 – Ladies Day at the Races, benefiting the Backside Learning Center. The popular fundraiser will be on Millionaires Row 6 from 1:30 p.m. through the final race. $75 tickets include late lunch buffet, fashion show and silent and live auctions. For more information, call 502-634-6543.

Sept. 28 – Autumn N'Spires Festival featuring live entertainment, food trucks and a bourbon bar in the Plaza.