After months of prep races, the build-up for the Grade 1 Longines Kentucky Oaks finally comes to an end this Friday, May 6 at Churchill Downs in Louisville Kentucky. The best three year old fillies in the land will assemble and race 1 1/8 miles on Churchill Downs dirt track searching for the winner's share of the $1 million purse and the honor of calling themselves a Kentucky Oaks champion.
Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas will be the scene of the Grade 3 Texas Mile Stakes on Friday, May 6. A purse of $200,000 will be on the line for horses three years old and upward willing to go one mile on Lone Star's dirt track.
The Grade 1 Royal Heroine Stakes is on tap for this Thursday, May 5 from Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Fillies and mares four years old and upward will be featured when they take to Santa Anita's turf track and race one mile for a purse of $200,000.
Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida will play host to the Grade 3 Miami Mile Stakes on Saturday, April 30. Horses three years old and upward will take to Gulfstream's turf track and race one mile for the winner's share of the $100,000 purse.
Golden Gate Fields in Berkeley, California will be the scene of the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on Saturday, April 20. Horses three years old and upward will take to Golden Gate's turf track and race one mile searching for the winner's share of the $100,000 purse.
Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky will play host to the Grade 3 Bewitch Stakes on Friday, April 29. Fillies and mares four years old and upward will be featured when they take to Keeneland's turf track and race 1 1/2 miles around three turns for the winner's share of the $150,000 purse.
Featuring the second annual Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, itself anchored by the 148th renewal of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 11, live thoroughbred racing will return to Belmont Park on Friday, April 29 for its 54-day spring/summer meet packed with exciting racing action and a variety of special events designed for fans of all ages.
The Kentucky Derby is less than two weeks away - all of the preps have been completed and the top 20 are basically set for the most famous race on North American soil. But just like Cupid, there may be a potential entry that drops out of the Run for the Roses leaving one, maybe two of the next highest point getters on the Road to the Kentucky Derby drawing the start.
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia will play host to the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic on Saturday, April 23. A very nice purse of $1.25 million will be on the line for horses four years old and upward willing to go 1 1/8 miles on Charles Town's dirt track.
Los Alamitos Race Course in the great state of California will be the scene of the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes on Saturday, April 23. A purse of $200,000 will be on the line for fillies and mares three years old and upward willing to dash 6.5 furlongs on Los Alamitos dirt track.