$3.1M Nashville Derby
At 0h02, on August 30, 2024 • By Kentucky Downs
The field is set for Kentucky Downs’ landmark DK Horse Nashville Derby Invitational, with its $3.1 million purse for Kentucky-breds and $1.9 million for other horses.
A capacity twelve 3-year-olds were entered today for next Saturday’s 1 5/16-mile turf stakes, with another two invited on as also-eligibles with the opportunity to run if there are scratches. The Grade 3 DK Horse Nashville Derby is carded as the eighth of 11 races, with an approximate post time of 4:16 p.m. Central.
In addition, next Saturday’s card includes the $1.5 million Exacta Systems Ladies Turf Sprint (G2) at 6 1/2 furlongs and $1.5 million Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf (G3) at a mile. Both attracted overflow fields, as did 10 of the 11 races on Saturday’s program. First post is 12:25 p.m. Central.
“Huge shout out to the horsemen and our racing office,” said Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs’ Vice President of Racing. “Our goal is to improve every year, and I’d say we’re achieving that mission. What’s really gratifying is how geographically diverse these stakes fields are, with horses coming from all over, including from Europe.”
For Kentucky-breds, the DK Horse Nashville Derby will be America’s second richest race, behind only the $5 million Kentucky Derby, among stakes held at one track. The $1.9 million base purse itself is the most lucrative turf stakes in North America outside three Breeders’ Cup races.
Three New York horses figure to be the Nashville Derby favorites: Carson’s Run, winner of the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby in his last start for trainer Christophe Clement; Belmont Derby (G1) runner-up White Palomino, scratched by Chad Brown out of the postponed Saratoga Derby to await this race; and the Shug McGaughey-trained Cugino, Churchill Downs’ impressive Audubon winner who missed the Saratoga Derby with an untimely temperature.
