Churchill Downs has removed the archaic graded stakes earnings qualifying system for the Kentucky Derby in favor of a points based system dubbed the “Road to the Kentucky Derby“.
KENTUCKY DERBY PREP SEASON
| Race | Distance | Track | Location | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| Royal Lodge | 1 M (T) | Newmarket | England | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Norfolk | 1 1/16 M | Santa Anita | California | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Breeders’ Futurity | 1 1/16 M (S) | Keeneland | Kentucky | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Champagne | 1 M | Belmont | New York | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Grey | 1 1/16 M (S) | Woodbine | Canada | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Breeders’ Cup Juvenile | 1 1/16 M | Santa Anita | California | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Delta Downs Jackpot | 1 1/16 M | Delta Downs | Louisiana | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Remsen | 1 1/8 M | Aqueduct | New York | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Kentucky Jockey Club | 1 1/16 M | Churchill Downs | Kentucky | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| CashCall Futurity | 1 1/16 M (S) | Hollywood Park | California | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Sham | 1 M | Santa Anita | California | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Smarty Jones | 1 M | Oaklawn Park | Arkansas | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Lecomte | 1 M 70 Y | Fair Grounds | Louisiana | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Holy Bull | 1 M | Gulfstream Park | Florida | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Robert B. Lewis | 1 1/16 M | Santa Anita | California | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Sam F. Davis | 1 1/16 M | Tampa Bay Downs | Florida | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Withers | 1 1/16 M | Aqueduct | New York | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| El Camino Real Derby | 1 1/8 M (S) | Golden Gate | California | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Southwest | 1 M | Oaklawn Park | Arkansas | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
KENTUCKY DERBY CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
| Race | Distance | Track | Location | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| First Leg of Series | |||||||
| Risen Star | 1 1/16 M | Fair Grounds | Louisiana | 50 | 20 | 10 | 5 |
| Fountain of Youth | 1 1/16 M | Gulfstream Park | Florida | 50 | 20 | 10 | 5 |
| Gotham | 1 1/16 M | Aqueduct | New York | 50 | 20 | 10 | 5 |
| Tampa Bay Derby | 1 1/16 M | Tampa Bay Downs | Florida | 50 | 20 | 10 | 5 |
| San Felipe | 1 1/16 M | Santa Anita | California | 50 | 20 | 10 | 5 |
| Rebel | 1 1/16 M | Oaklawn Park | Arkansas | 50 | 20 | 10 | 5 |
| Spiral | 1 1/8 M (S) | Turfway Park | Kentucky | 50 | 20 | 10 | 5 |
| Sunland Derby | 1 1/8 M | Sunland Park | New Mexico | 50 | 20 | 10 | 5 |
| Second Leg of Series | |||||||
| Florida Derby | 1 1/8 M | Gulfstream Park | Florida | 100 | 40 | 20 | 10 |
| UAE Derby | 1 3/16 M (S) | Meydan Racecourse | Dubai | 100 | 40 | 20 | 10 |
| Louisiana Derby | 1 1/8 M | Fair Grounds | Louisiana | 100 | 40 | 20 | 10 |
| Wood Memorial | 1 1/8 M | Aqueduct | New York | 100 | 40 | 20 | 10 |
| Santa Anita Derby | 1 1/8 M | Santa Anita | California | 100 | 40 | 20 | 10 |
| Arkansas Derby | 1 1/8 M | Oaklawn Park | Arkansas | 100 | 40 | 20 | 10 |
| Blue Grass | 1 1/8 M (S) | Keeneland | Kentucky | 100 | 40 | 20 | 10 |
| “Wild Card” | |||||||
| Lexington | 1 1/16 M (S) | Keeneland | Kentucky | 20 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
| The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial | 1 M | Churchill Downs | Kentucky | 20 | 8 | 4 | 2 |
This system will do a good job of combating the entry of sprinters that have little more hope than making the lead for a half mile before fading in a blaze of glory. However, it could compromise legitimate contenders.
I have two gripes with the new system.
- Why is the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile worth only 10 points? I understand this is a calender based system, but it does not make sense for a $2 million championship route race to be equivalent to the Smarty Jones Stakes and El Camino Real Derby. I also understand that the idea is to take emphasis away from two-year-old races, but I hate giving less significance to races like the Champagne Stakes and CashCall Futurity.
- In the past six years, the Spiral Stakes has a record of 6:1-1-0-1 in the Kentucky Derby. Yet, the Spiral is worth half the amount of points as the Louisiana and UAE Derbies which have a combined record of 8:0-0-0-0. This is a far from fair way to treat the Turfway Park prep race. It may have a reputation as a second hand prep, but the results show it as a harbinger for the Kentucky Derby.
All in all, this system is a step forward and I salute Churchill Downs for their forward thinking in an industry that hates to change. What are your thoughts on the new system? Leave a comment or contact me on Twitter.
Check out the Kentucky Derby Infographic.