September brings a full month of major Thoroughbred racing. The schedule includes valuable turf events at Kentucky Downs and Woodbine, Grade 1 races for 2-year-olds, important Breeders’ Cup qualifiers and the beginning of the Road to the 2027 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.
September 2–7: Saratoga Closing Week
Saratoga concludes its summer meet with several major races.
Spinaway Stakes – September 5
- Track: Saratoga
- Grade: Grade 1
- Purse: $300,000
- Distance: 7 furlongs
- Surface: Dirt
- Eligibility: 2-year-old fillies
The Spinaway gives emerging 2-year-old fillies an opportunity to compete at the highest graded-stakes level.
With Anticipation Stakes – September 5
- Track: Saratoga
- Grade: Grade 3
- Purse: $225,000
- Distance: 1 1/16 miles
- Surface: Turf
- Eligibility: 2-year-olds
Hopeful Stakes – September 6
- Track: Saratoga
- Grade: Grade 1
- Purse: $300,000
- Distance: 7 furlongs
- Surface: Dirt
- Eligibility: 2-year-olds
The Hopeful is one of Saratoga’s signature races for promising young Thoroughbreds.
Prioress Stakes – September 6
- Track: Saratoga
- Grade: Grade 3
- Purse: $225,000
- Distance: 6 furlongs
- Surface: Dirt
Eligibility: 3-year-old fillies
September 3–9: Kentucky Downs
Kentucky Downs features several of the month’s richest turf races, including the three-day U.S. Open of Turf Championships.
Bowling Green Gold Cup Invitational – September 3
- Purse: $750,000
- Distance: 2 1/16 miles
- Surface: Turf
- Eligibility: Horses ages 3 and older
At more than two miles, the Bowling Green Gold Cup is one of the month’s longest major turf races.
Nashville Derby Invitational – September 5
- Grade: Grade 2
- Purse: $3 million
- Distance: 1 5/16 miles
- Surface: Turf
- Eligibility: 3-year-olds
The Nashville Derby is one of the richest races in the country exclusively for 3-year-olds.
Kentucky Turf Cup Invitational – September 5
- Grade: Grade 2
- Purse: $2 million
- Distance: 1 1/2 miles
- Surface: Turf
- Eligibility: Horses ages 3 and older
The Kentucky Turf Cup is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” race. The winner earns an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint – September 5
- Grade: Grade 2
- Purse: $1.75 million
- Distance: 6 furlongs
- Surface: Turf
- Eligibility: Horses ages 3 and older
The winner earns an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
Music City Stakes – September 5
- Grade: Grade 2
- Purse: $1.5 million
- Distance: 6 1/2 furlongs
- Surface: Turf
- Eligibility: 3-year-old fillies
Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf – September 5
- Grade: Grade 2
- Purse: $1.5 million
- Distance: 1 mile
- Surface: Turf
- Eligibility: Fillies and mares ages 3 and older
Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon Invitational – September 6
- Grade: Grade 3
- Purse: $1.5 million
- Distance: 1 5/16 miles
- Surface: Turf
- Eligibility: Fillies and mares ages 3 and older
Mint Millions Invitational – September 7
- Grade: Grade 3
- Purse: $2 million
- Distance: 1 mile
- Surface: Turf
- Eligibility: Horses ages 3 and older
Franklin-Simpson Stakes – September 7
- Grade: Grade 2
- Purse: $1.5 million
- Distance: 6 1/2 furlongs
- Surface: Turf
- Eligibility: 3-year-olds
Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational – September 9
- Grade: Grade 3
- Purse: $2 million
- Distance: 1 5/16 miles
- Surface: Turf
- Eligibility: 3-year-old fillies
This race is one of the featured events on the final day of the Kentucky Downs meet.
September 5–6: Del Mar Closing Weekend
Del Mar Debutante – September 5
- Grade: Grade 1
- Purse: $300,000
- Distance: 7 furlongs
- Surface: Dirt
- Eligibility: 2-year-old fillies
Del Mar Juvenile Turf – September 5
- Grade: Grade 3
- Purse: $100,000
- Distance: 1 mile
- Surface: Turf
- Eligibility: 2-year-olds
Del Mar Futurity – September 6
- Grade: Grade 1
- Purse: $300,000
- Distance: 7 furlongs
- Surface: Dirt
- Eligibility: 2-year-olds
The Del Mar Futurity traditionally highlights promising young horses who may continue toward major races later in the year.
September 12: Turf Champions Day at Woodbine
Woodbine will present four Grade 1 turf races on one card. Three are Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” events.
Woodbine Mile
- Grade: Grade 1
- Purse: $1 million
- Distance: 1 mile
- Surface: Turf
- Eligibility: Horses ages 3 and older
- Breeders’ Cup qualifier: Breeders’ Cup Mile
The Woodbine Mile regularly attracts accomplished turf horses from Canada, the United States and overseas.
E. P. Taylor Stakes
- Grade: Grade 1
- Purse: $750,000
- Distance: 1 1/4 miles
- Surface: Turf
- Eligibility: Fillies and mares
Natalma Stakes
- Grade: Grade 1
- Purse: $500,000
- Distance: 1 mile
- Surface: Turf
- Eligibility: 2-year-old fillies
- Breeders’ Cup qualifier: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
Summer Stakes
- Grade: Grade 1
- Purse: $500,000
- Distance: 1 mile
- Surface: Turf
- Eligibility: 2-year-olds
Breeders’ Cup qualifier: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
September 12: Road to the Kentucky Derby Kickoff
Churchill Downs begins the qualifying trails for the 2027 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.
Iroquois Stakes
- Track: Churchill Downs
- Grade: Grade 3
- Surface: Dirt
- Eligibility: 2-year-olds
The Iroquois awards qualifying points toward the 2027 Kentucky Derby.
Pocahontas Stakes
- Track: Churchill Downs
- Grade: Grade 3
- Surface: Dirt
- Eligibility: 2-year-old fillies
The Pocahontas awards qualifying points toward the 2027 Kentucky Oaks.
September 18: Belmont Park Reopening
Jockey Club Gold Cup
- Track: Belmont Park
- Grade: Grade 1
- Purse: $1 million
- Distance: 1 1/4 miles
- Surface: Dirt
- Eligibility: Horses ages 3 and older
The Jockey Club Gold Cup headlines the reopening of Belmont Park. It is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
September 19: Pennsylvania Derby Day
Parx Racing presents two $1 million Grade 1 races for 3-year-olds.
Pennsylvania Derby
- Grade: Grade 1
- Purse: $1 million
- Distance: 1 1/8 miles
- Surface: Dirt
- Eligibility: 3-year-olds
The Pennsylvania Derby gives leading members of the 3-year-old division another opportunity to compete before the Breeders’ Cup.
Cotillion Stakes
- Grade: Grade 1
- Purse: $1 million
- Distance: 1 1/16 miles
- Surface: Dirt
- Eligibility: 3-year-old fillies
Gallant Bob Stakes
- Grade: Grade 2
- Purse: $400,000
- Distance: 6 furlongs
- Surface: Dirt
Eligibility: 3-year-olds
September 26: Churchill Downs Stakes Racing
Locust Grove Stakes
- Grade: Grade 3
- Purse: $400,000
- Surface: Dirt
- Eligibility: Fillies and mares ages 3 and older
The Locust Grove is a major late-season event for older fillies and mares.
September 27: Oklahoma Derby Day
Oklahoma Derby
- Track: Remington Park
- Grade: Grade 3
- Purse: $400,000
- Distance: 1 1/8 miles
- Surface: Dirt
- Eligibility: 3-year-olds
The Oklahoma Derby headlines an eight-stakes card worth more than $1.3 million. Other featured races include the Remington Park Oaks, Great West Turf Sprint and Clever Trevor Stakes.
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