The Road to the Kentucky Derby is a points system by which horses qualify for a position in the starting gate for the

Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby is a horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, almost always on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The competition is a Grade I stakes race for three-yea ...

. It features dozens of stakes races for 2 and 3-year-old

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...

s – the number and specific races have changed slightly over the years. The point system replaced a previous qualifying system that looked at earnings from all

graded stakes race A graded stakes race is a thoroughbred horse race in the United States that meets the criteria of the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA). A specific grade level (I, II, III or listed) is th ...

s worldwide. There are 20 positions available in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby. Starting in 2017, one of those spots is reserved for the winner of the separate Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. If the winner of the Japan Road declines the offer, their position is offered to the next ranked Japanese horse. If none of the top four finishers accepts the offer, this position in the starting gate reverts to qualifiers on the regular Road to the Kentucky Derby. Starting in 2018, Churchill Downs developed a similar European Road to the Kentucky Derby. The remaining 18 spots in the starting gate (or up 20 if the European and Japanese offers are declined) are offered to the top finishers on the main Road to the Kentucky Derby. If one of those horses does not enter the Derby, their position is given to the next ranked horses on the list. Up to 24 horses may enter the race, with the bottom four point-earners listed as "also eligible". If any of the top 20 is scratched after entries are taken but before betting begins, the next ranked horse on the also eligible list will be eligible to run. If two or more horses have the same number of points, the tiebreaker to get into the Kentucky Derby will be earnings in non-restricted stakes races, whether or not they are graded. In the event of a tie, those horses will divide equally the points they would have received jointly had one beaten the other. If an owner wants to run a

filly A filly is a female horse that is too young to be called a mare. There are two specific definitions in use: *In most cases, a ''filly'' is a female horse under four years old. *In some nations, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, t ...

in the Derby, she will have to earn points in the same races as the colts and geldings – points earned of the

Road to the Kentucky Oaks The Road to the Kentucky Oaks is a points system to qualify for the Kentucky Oaks, one of the most important races for three-year-old fillies and held the day before the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. It features roughly 30 stakes races for Thor ...

are not transferable to the Derby.

History

The ''Road to the Kentucky Derby'' point system was created in 2012 to establish a "clear, practical and understandable path" to the first leg of horse racing's Triple Crown, according to the official website of

Churchill Downs Churchill Downs is a horse racing complex located on Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, famed for hosting the annual Kentucky Derby. It officially opened in 1875 and was named for Samuel Churchill, whose family was p ...

. A poll conducted by Churchill Downs prior to the changes showed 83% of respondents did not understand how horses became starters for the Kentucky Derby. The previous system was based on earnings from all

s, which essentially gave equal weight to earnings from juvenile races, sprints and even races on the turf as to the traditional Derby prep races. The new system completely disregards sprint races, and places heavy weight on later races, thus putting a premium on recent results.Churchill Downs Refines 'Road to the Kentucky Derby', Oaks with Point System
/ref>Road to Kentucky Derby will be less complex in 2013
/ref>The New Road To The Kentucky Derby
/ref> The points system has changed the way horses are prepared for the Derby, the composition of the field and how the race itself is run given the absence of pure sprinters to ensure a fast early pace. The series is divided into two phases, the Kentucky Derby Prep Season and the Kentucky Derby Championship Series. The prep season consists of early races on dirt or synthetic surfaces over distances of at least one mile that typically are run between late September and late February. Points are awarded to the top 4 finishers in each race on a 10-4-2-1 scale, except for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, which has been awarded points on a 20-8-4-2 scale since 2016. The championship season consists of two legs and a "wild card" round. The first leg includes minor prep races, usually Grade II, with a 50-20-10-5 scale. The second leg consists of the Super Six Prep races, each worth 100 points to the winner. They include such historic races as the

Florida Derby The Florida Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Since 2005, it has been run five weeks before the Kentucky Derby, which is held on the first Saturd ...

(G1) at Gulfstream Park, the Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita Park, the

Arkansas Derby The Arkansas Derby is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually in April at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is currently a Grade I race run over a distance of 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on dirt. In 200 ...

(G1) at Oaklawn Park, the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Ground Race Course, the

Blue Grass Stakes The Blue Grass Stakes, currently the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes due to sponsorship by the Toyota Motor Corporation, is a horse race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds held annually in April at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky. The race is r ...

(currently G2) at Keeneland Race Course and the Wood Memorial Stakes (currently G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack. There are two wild card races with points offered on a 20-8-4-2 basis. The series originally consisted of 36 races in 2013Churchill Downs changes 2014 Kentucky Derby 'Road' map
/ref>2013–14 ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY
/ref> and has since changed over the years to include 46 races with the addition of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby (beginning in 2017) and European Road to the Kentucky Derby (beginning in 2018) series. In addition to qualifying via the Road to the Kentucky Derby, various fees are required to start in the Derby: a nomination fee, an entry fee and a starter fee. For example, in 2013 horses born in 2010 were eligible and the nomination fee was $600 which was to be paid by January 26, 2013. If the January date was missed, a late nomination fee of $6,000 could be paid by March 23, 2013. In addition, owners with qualifying horses were required to pay $25,000 to enter the Derby by May 1, 2013, and an additional $25,000 to start. If a qualifying horse was not nominated in either January or March, it could be supplemented to the Derby for $200,000.Road to the Kentucky Derby Point Standings March 16, 2013
/ref>

2013 season

The 2013 season consisted of 36 races (19 races for the Kentucky Derby Prep Season and 17 races for the Kentucky Derby Championship Season).

2014 season

The 2014 season consisted of 34 races (18 races for the Kentucky Derby Prep Season and 16 races for the Kentucky Derby Championship Season).Kentucky Derby 2014 points standings April 19, 2014
/ref> *Race changes: Added two races ( Iroquois Stakes; Jerome Stakes) and removed four others (

Royal Lodge Stakes The Royal Lodge Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old colts and geldings. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), ...

; CashCall Futurity;

Sam F. Davis Stakes The Sam F. Davis Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three years old horses over the distance of miles on the dirt scheduled annually in February at Tampa Bay Downs racetrack in Oldsmar, Florida. The event currently carrie ...

; Derby Trial Stakes). *Points system changes: Reduced the points for the ''wild card'' from 20–8–4–2 to 10–4–2–1.

2015 season

The 2015 season consisted of 35 races (19 races for the Kentucky Derby Prep Season and 16 races for the Kentucky Derby Championship Season).Road to the Kentucky Derby 2015
/ref> *Race changes: Added one race ( Los Alamitos Futurity).

2016 season

The 2016 season consisted of 35 races (19 races for the Kentucky Derby Prep Season and 16 races for the Kentucky Derby Championship Season).Road to the Kentucky Derby 2016
/ref> *Points system changes: Increased the points for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile from 10–4–2–1 to 20–8–4–2.

2017 season

The 2017 season consisted of 37 races (19 races for the Kentucky Derby Prep Season, 16 races for the Kentucky Derby Championship Season, and 2 races for the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby). *Race changes: Added one race (

) and removed another ( Grey Stakes). *Rules changes: Added a separate Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, which will consist of two races: the Cattleya Sho (points awarded: 40–16–8–4) for 2-year-olds in 2016 and the

Hyacinth Stakes The Hyacinth Stakes is an international listed flat horse race in Japan open to three-year-old horses. It is run at Tokyo Racecourse is located in Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan. Built in 1933 for horse racing, it is considered the "racecourse of racec ...

(points awarded: 50–20–10–5) to be run in early 2017. The winner of this series will be offered one of the 20 positions available in the Kentucky Derby starting gate. If the top finisher declines or is not able to participate in the Kentucky Derby, the second-place finisher will be offered a spot in the Kentucky Derby. If the second-place finisher declines or is unable to participate, then the third-place finisher will be offered a spot in the Kentucky Derby. No invitation will be offered for the Derby beyond the top three points earners.

2018 season

The 2018 season consisted of 46 races (20 races for the Kentucky Derby Prep Season, 16 races for the Kentucky Derby Championship Season, 7 races for the European Road to the Kentucky Derby, and 3 races for the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby). * Race changes: Added one race ( Springboard Mile) to the main series. Added one race to the Japan series (

Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun The Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun (全日本2歳優駿) is an internationally listed, Domestic Grade 1 flat horse race Horse racing is an equestrianism, equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (o ...

). * Points system changes: Spiral Stakes moved to a "Wild Card" race, along with the Lexington Stakes. Points for these races will be awarded on 20-8-4-2 basis, which is a decrease for the Spiral and an increase for the Lexington. Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby races Hyacinth Stakes (30-12-6-3 basis) and Cattleya Sho (10-4-2-1 basis) had a reduction in points value from the previous season.History of the Hyacinth Stakes
/ref> * Rules changes: European Road to the Kentucky Derby introduced on a similar basis to the Japan Road. Consists of seven races, four of them on turf and three on synthetic surfaces. Four races were run in

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It ...

(

/ Racing Post Trophy/ Conditions Stakes/

Burradon Stakes The Burradon Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old horses. It is run at Newcastle over a distance of 1 mile and 5 yards (1,614 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in March or Apr ...

), two in Ireland (

Beresford Stakes The Beresford Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to take place ...

/ Patton Stakes), and one in France ( Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère).

2019 season

The 2019 season consisted of 46 races (35 races in North America and Dubai on the main Road, 7 races for the European Road and 4 races for the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby). * Race changes: Added one race ( Cardinal Stakes) to the European series and removed one other (

). Added one race Fukuryu Stakes to the Japan series. Removed two races from the main series ( Delta Jackpot Stakes and

San Felipe Stakes The San Felipe Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade II event open to three-year-old horses. Normally held in early -March, it is raced at a distance of one and one-s ...

). * Points system changes: Japan Road: Fukuryu Stakes will be awarded on a 40-16-8-4 basis.

points will be awarded on a 20-8-4-2 basis, which is an increase from the prior year. Due to the cancellation of the

, the Rebel Stakes points were allocated at seventy-five percent of original points value as it became a two-division race (points awarded on a 37.5-15-7.5-3.75 basis).It's official: Rebel Stakes 2019 to split in two divisions
/ref>

2020 season

Originally, the 2020 season consisted of 46 races (35 races in North America and Dubai on the main Road, 7 races for the European Road and 4 races for the Japan Road), with only minor changes from 2019. However, the season was heavily disrupted by the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

, which caused the cancellation or rescheduling of most of the major prep races. * Race changes: The

returned after a one-year break caused by investigations into Santa Anita Park equine fatalities during the 2019 season. The

Risen Star Stakes The Risen Star Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses at a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the dirt run annually in February, usually during the President's Day weekend at Fair Grounds Race Course in ...

split into two divisions and was awarded on a 50-20-10-5 points format for each division.Popular Risen Star Stakes Split into Divisions
/ref> The

Sunland Derby The Sunland Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Sunland Park Racetrack in Sunland Park, New Mexico. Inaugurated in 2003, the race is open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt and is spo ...

, UAE Derby, Wood Memorial Stakes, and

Lexington Stakes The Lexington Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt run annually in April during at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky during their sp ...

were cancelled for the main road and the Cardinal Stakes was suspended for the European road.Maryland, New Mexico Close Tracks, Simulcast Facilities
/ref>Keeneland cancels spring meet due to coronavirus pandemic
/ref>Dubai World Cup Canceled Due To Coronavirus
/ref>BHA extends suspension of racing in Britain with no date set for sport's return
/ref> The

was rescheduled to May 2 and split into two divisions. * Extended season changes: The

and Santa Anita Derby were moved to an extended season due to the pandemic. Also, several races were added to the extended season including Pegasus Stakes,

Indiana Derby The Indiana Derby is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run over a distance of miles on the dirt held annually in July at Horseshoe Indianapolis in Shelbyville, Indiana. It is the racetrack's signature event offering ...

, Los Alamitos Derby, and

Ohio Derby The Ohio Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid-to-late June at Thistledown in North Randall, Ohio. The Grade III stakes for three-year-olds is run on dirt over a distance of 1 miles. The race currently offers a purs ...

awarded on a 20-8-4-2 points format, and

Matt Winn Stakes The Matt Winn Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of miles on the dirt at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The event currently offers a purse of $225,000. It is usually ru ...

, Ellis Park Derby,

Shared Belief Stakes The Shared Belief Stakes (formerly the El Cajon Stakes) is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the last week of August or the first week of September at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. Open to three-year-old horses, t ...

, and Peter Pan Stakes awarded on a 50-20-10-5 points format. Additionally, other high-profile races were added to the series including

Haskell Invitational Stakes The Haskell Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run over a distance of miles on the dirt held annually in July at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. The event is a signature event at Monmouth ...

and

Travers Stakes The Travers Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. It is nicknamed the "Mid-Summer Derby" and is the third-ranked race for American three-year-olds according to internati ...

awarded on a 100-40-20-10 points format and

Belmont Stakes The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is run over 1.5 miles (2,400 m). Colts and geldings carry a weight of ; fillies carry . The race, nickname ...

awarded on a 150-60-30-15 points format. Furthermore, the Japan road added Unicorn Stakes and

Japan Dirt Derby The is a Japanese Domestic Grade 1 flat horse race in Japan for three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies run over a distance of 2,000 metres (approximately 1 mile 2 furlongs) at the Oi Racecourse, Shinagawa, Tokyo in late July. It wa ...

awarded on a 40-16-8-4 points format.

2021 season

The 2021 road consisted of 36 races, 20 races for the ''Kentucky Derby Prep Season'' and 16 races for the ''Kentucky Derby Championship Season.'' * Race changes: The race format reverted to the format utilized in 2019, except with the addition of the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes to the prep season to be awarded by a 10-4-2-1 points format. * Points system changes: The Jeff Ruby Steaks was promoted to the championship season, with points awarded on a 100-40-20-10 format. * Rules changes: Horses that run in ''Road to the Kentucky Derby'' races using the medication

Furosemide Furosemide is a loop diuretic medication used to treat fluid build-up due to heart failure, liver scarring, or kidney disease. It may also be used for the treatment of high blood pressure. It can be taken by injection into a vein or by mo ...

will not qualify for earning points.New Lasix Rule Impacts 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby
/ref>

2022 season

The 2022 road consisted of 37 races, 21 races for the ''Kentucky Derby Prep Season'' and 16 races for the ''Kentucky Derby Championship Season.'' *Race changes: Added one race to the ''Kentucky Derby Prep Season'' with the addition of the Gun Runner Stakes. * Rules changes: Points will not be awarded to any horse trained by any individual who is suspended from racing in the 2022 Kentucky Derby or any trainer directly or indirectly employed, supervised, or advised by a suspended trainer.

2023 season

The 2023 road consists of 37 races, 21 races for the ''Kentucky Derby Prep Season'' and 16 races for the ''Kentucky Derby Championship Season.'' * Point system changes: Races will award points to the top five finishers. Previously, races were awarded points to the top four finishers. Most prep season races will award points changing from 10-4-2-1 to 10-4-3-2-1. Select prep season races will be increased from 10-4-2-1 to 20-8-6-4-2. These include

Lecomte Stakes The Lecomte Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses at a distance of one and one-sixteenths miles on the dirt run annually in mid-January, at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event c ...

Southwest Stakes The Southwest Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt run annually in late January at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The event c ...

Withers Stakes The Withers Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three years old horses over the distance of miles on the dirt scheduled annually in February at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. The event currently carries a purse o ...

Holy Bull Stakes The Holy Bull Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three year old horses run over the distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt, held annually in January at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event c ...

, Robert B. Lewis Stakes,

and the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes. Points awarded in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile will be increased from 20-8-4-2 to 30-12-9-6-3. The first leg of the championship series races will award points changing from 50-20-10-5 to 50-20–15-10-5. The second leg of the championship series will award points changing from 100-40-20-10 to 100-40-30-20-10. The wild card race will award points changing from 20-8-4-2 to 20-8-6-4-2. Similarly, the Japan Road and European Road will follow the top five finisher format of the primary Road to the Kentucky Derby.

References

External links

Churchill Downs official websiteRoad to the Kentucky Derby Point System
{{Road to the Kentucky Derby Kentucky Derby Racing series for horses 2012 establishments in Kentucky Recurring sporting events established in 2012