America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby (G1) will be offered for the 145th consecutive year on May 4, 2019, and the Road to the Kentucky Derby series (RTKD) has determined preference for the 20-horse field since 2013. A series of select races awarding points on a sliding scale to the top four finishers, the RTKD begins Saturday with the $150,000 Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs.
The total number of races in the primary Road to the Kentucky Derby series remains unchanged from last year’s lineup with 35 marquee races scheduled. Saturday’s Iroquois kicks off the 19-race “Prep Season,” which features foundation-building races over a minimum of one mile between mid-September and mid-February. Points awarded during the “Prep Season” are worth 10-4-2-1 to the top four placings, respectively, except for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), which is worth twice as much (20-8-4-2). This year’s 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile will be held at Churchill Downs for a ninth time on Future Stars Friday, November 2.
The 16-race “Championship Series,” which comprise springboard events that often bring the three-year-old picture into sharper focus, is the same as it was in 2018. Most first leg races offer 50-20-10-5 points to the top 4 finishers while the most meaningful races – the UAE Derby (UAE-G2), Louisiana Derby (G2), Florida Derby (G1), Wood Memorial (G2), Blue Grass (G2), Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Arkansas Derby (G1) – are worth 100-40-20-10.
Some tweaks were made to the second-year European Road to the Kentucky Derby and third-year Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, which are separate series that each carve out one spot for a potential horse from Europe and Japan.
The new Cardinal Condition Stakes, to be run April 11 over one mile on Polytrack at England’s Chelmsford City Racecourse, will replace Newcastle’s Burradon as the final race of the seven-race European series.
A fourth race has been added to the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. The series will now culminate with the 1 1/8-mile Fukuyru on March 31 at Nakayama Racecourse and is worth 40-16-8-4 points to the top four placings. Also, points for the December 19 Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki Racecourse – the race that often decides Japan’s champion two-year-old dirt horse – were raised from 10-4-2-1 to 20-8-4-2.
This is the seventh consecutive year that Churchill Downs has used a point system to determine entrants for its famed Kentucky Derby. At least 20 horses have entered the Run for the Roses every year since 2014, and 18 of the last 20 years.
A similar series remains in place to qualify for the Kentucky Derby’s sister race, the Kentucky Oaks (G1) for three-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on Friday, May 3, 2019. As was the case in 2018, there will be 30 races for the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series – 15 Prep Season races, which starts with Saturday’s 50th running of the $200,000 Pocahontas (G2) at Churchill Downs, and 15 Championship Series races.
Churchill Downs’ 11-day September Meet opens Friday with a 10-race program at 12:45 p.m. (ET) and will continue for three weeks through Sunday, September 30. Following a 17-day run at Keeneland (October 5-27) in Lexington, racing on the Kentucky circuit will return to Churchill Downs for the 21-day Fall Meet from October 28-November 25, which includes the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Friday, November 2 and Saturday, November 3.
2018-19 ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY SCHEDULE
35 Races
Kentucky Derby Prep Season (19 races)
| Date | Race | Racetrack | Distance | 1st (Points) | 2nd (Points) | 3rd (Points) | 4th (Points) |
| Sept. 15 | Iroquois | Churchill Downs | 1 1/16 Miles | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Sept. 29 | American Pharoah | Santa Anita | 1 1/16 Miles | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Oct. 6 | Champagne | Belmont Park | 1 Mile | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Oct. 6 | Breeders’ Futurity | Keeneland | 1 1/16 Miles | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Nov. 2 | Breeders’ Cup Juvenile | Churchill Downs | 1 1/16 Miles | (20) | (8) | (4) | (2) |
| Nov. 24 | Kentucky Jockey Club | Churchill Downs | 1 1/16 Miles | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Dec. 1 | Remsen | Aqueduct | 1 1/8 Miles | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Dec. 8* | Los Alamitos Futurity | Los Alamitos | 1 1/16 Miles | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Dec. 16 | Springboard Mile | Remington Park | 1 Mile | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Jan. 1* | Jerome | Aqueduct | 1 Mile | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Jan. 5* | Sham | Santa Anita | 1 Mile | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Jan. 12* | Lecomte | Fair Grounds | 1 Mile 70 Yards | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Jan. 25 | Smarty Jones | Oaklawn Park | 1 Mile | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Feb. 2* | Withers | Aqueduct | 1 1/8 Miles | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Feb. 2* | Robert B. Lewis | Santa Anita | 1 1/16 Miles | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Feb. 2* | Holy Bull | Gulfstream Park | 1 1/16 Miles | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Feb. 9* | Sam F. Davis | Tampa Bay Downs | 1 1/16 Miles | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Feb. 16* | El Camino Real Derby | Golden Gate | 1 1/8 Miles (S) | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Feb. 18 | Southwest | Oaklawn Park | 1 1/16 Miles | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
Kentucky Derby Championship Series (16 races)
| Date | Race | Racetrack | Distance | 1st (Points) | 2nd (Points) | 3rd (Points) | 4th (Points) |
| Feb. 16* | Risen Star | Fair Grounds | 1 1/16 Miles | (50) | (20) | (10) | (5) |
| March 2* | Fountain of Youth | Gulfstream Park | 1 1/16 Miles | (50) | (20) | (10) | (5) |
| March 9* | Tampa Bay Derby | Tampa Bay Downs | 1 1/16 Miles | (50) | (20) | (10) | (5) |
| March 9* | Gotham | Aqueduct | 1 Mile | (50) | (20) | (10) | (5) |
| March 9* | San Felipe | Santa Anita | 1 1/16 Miles | (50) | (20) | (10) | (5) |
| March 16* | Jeff Ruby Steaks | Turfway Park | 1 1/8 Miles (S) | (20) | (8) | (4) | (2) |
| March 16 | Rebel | Oaklawn Park | 1 1/16 Miles | (50) | (20) | (10) | (5) |
| March 23* | Louisiana Derby | Fair Grounds | 1 1/8 Miles | (100) | (40) | (20) | (10) |
| March 24* | Sunland Derby | Sunland Park | 1 1/8 Miles | (50) | (20) | (10) | (5) |
| March 30* | UAE Derby | Meydan Racecourse | 1 3/16 Miles | (100) | (40) | (20) | (10) |
| March 30* | Florida Derby | Gulfstream Park | 1 1/8 Miles | (100) | (40) | (20) | (10) |
| April 6* | Wood Memorial | Aqueduct | 1 1/8 Miles | (100) | (40) | (20) | (10) |
| April 6* | Blue Grass | Keeneland | 1 1/8 Miles | (100) | (40) | (20) | (10) |
| April 6* | Santa Anita Derby | Santa Anita | 1 1/8 Miles | (100) | (40) | (20) | (10) |
| April 13* | Lexington | Keeneland | 1 1/16 Miles | (20) | (8) | (4) | (2) |
| April 13 | Arkansas Derby | Oaklawn Park | 1 1/8 Miles | (100) | (40) | (20) | (10) |
Schedule subject to change. … (T) = Turf … (S) = Synthetic … * = race dates and distances to be announced by host track; date based on recent historical placement.
2018-19 EUROPEAN ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY SCHEDULE
7 Races
| Date | Race | Racetrack | Distance | 1st (Points) | 2nd (Points) | 3rd (Points) | 4th (Points) |
| Sept. 29 | Juddmonte Royal Lodge | Newmarket (GB) | 1 Mile (T) | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Sept. 30 | Juddmonte Beresford | Naas (Ire) | 1 Mile (T) | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Oct. 7 | Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère | Chantilly (Fr) | 1 Mile (T) | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Oct. 27 | October Trophy | Doncaster (GB) | 1 Mile (T) | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| March 6 | Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes | Kempton Park (GB) | 1 Mile (S) | (20) | (8) | (4) | (2) |
| March 8 | Patton (Listed) | Dundalk (Ire) | 1 Mile (S) | (20) | (8) | (4) | (2) |
| April 11 | Cardinal Condition Stakes | Chelmsford City (GB) | 1 Mile (S) | (30) | (12) | (6) | (3) |
Schedule subject to change. … (T) = Turf … (S) = Synthetic … * = race dates and distances to be announced by host track; date based on recent historical placement.
2018-19 JAPAN ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY SCHEDULE
3 Races
| Date | Race | Racetrack | Distance | 1st (Points) | 2nd (Points) | 3rd (Points) | 4th (Points) |
| Nov. 24 | Cattleya Sho | Tokyo Racecourse | 1 Mile | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Dec. 19 | Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun | Kawasaki Racecourse | 1 Mile | (20) | (8) | (4) | (2) |
| Feb. 17* | Hyacinth | Tokyo Racecourse | 1 Mile | (30) | (12) | (6) | (3) |
| March 31* | Fukuyru | Nakayama Racecourse | 1 1/8 Miles | (40) | (16) | (8) | (4) |
Schedule subject to change. … (T) = Turf … (S) = Synthetic … * = race dates and distances to be announced by host track; date based on recent historical placement.
2018-19 ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY OAKS SCHEDULE
30 Races
Kentucky Oaks Prep Season (15 races)
| Date | Race | Racetrack | Distance | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| Sept. 15 | Pocahontas | Churchill Downs | 1 1/16 Miles | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Sept. 29 | Chandelier | Santa Anita | 1 1/16 Miles | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Oct. 5 | Alcibiades | Keeneland | 1 1/16 Miles | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Oct. 7 | Frizette | Belmont Park | 1 Mile | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Nov. 2 | BC Juvenile Fillies | Churchill Downs | 1 1/16 Miles | (20) | (8) | (4) | (2) |
| Nov. 24 | Golden Rod | Churchill Downs | 1 1/16 Miles | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Dec. 1 | Demoiselle | Aqueduct | 1 1/8 Miles | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Dec. 8* | Starlet | Los Alamitos | 1 1/16 Miles | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Jan. 6* | Santa Ynez | Santa Anita | 7 Furlongs | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Jan. 12* | Silverbulletday | Fair Grounds | 1 Mile 70 Yards | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Jan. 20* | Busanda | Aqueduct | 1 1/8 Miles | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Feb. 2* | Forward Gal | Gulfstream Park | 7 Furlongs | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Feb. 2 | Martha Washington | Oaklawn Park | 1 Mile | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Feb. 3* | Las Virgenes | Santa Anita | 1 Mile | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| Feb. 9* | Suncoast | Tampa Bay Downs | 1 Mile 40 Yards | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
Kentucky Oaks Championship Series (15 races)
| Date | Race | Racetrack | Distance | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| Feb. 16* | Rachel Alexandra | Fair Grounds | 1 1/16 Miles | (50) | (20) | (10) | (5) |
| Feb. 28* | UAE Oaks | Meydan Racecourse | 1 3/16 Miles | (50) | (20) | (10) | (5) |
| March 2* | Davona Dale | Gulfstream Park | 1 Mile | (50) | (20) | (10) | (5) |
| March 2* | Busher | Aqueduct | 1 Mile | (50) | (20) | (10) | (5) |
| March 2* | Santa Ysabel | Santa Anita | 1 1/16 Miles | (50) | (20) | (10) | (5) |
| March 9 | Honeybee | Oaklawn Park | 1 1/16 Miles | (50) | (20) | (10) | (5) |
| March 16* | Bourbonette Oaks | Turfway Park | 1 Mile (S) | (20) | (8) | (4) | (2) |
| March 23* | Fair Grounds Oaks | Fair Grounds | 1 1/16 Miles | (100) | (40) | (20) | (10) |
| March 24* | Sunland Park Oaks | Sunland Park | 1 1/16 Miles | (50) | (20) | (10) | (5) |
| March 30* | Gulfstream Park Oaks | Gulfstream Park | 1 1/16 Miles | (100) | (40) | (20) | (10) |
| April 6* | Gazelle | Aqueduct | 1 1/8 Miles | (100) | (40) | (20) | (10) |
| April 6* | Ashland | Keeneland | 1 1/16 Miles | (100) | (40) | (20) | (10) |
| April 6* | Santa Anita Oaks | Santa Anita | 1 1/16 Miles | (100) | (40) | (20) | (10) |
| April 7* | Beaumont | Keeneland | 7 Furlongs | (10) | (4) | (2) | (1) |
| April 12 | Fantasy | Oaklawn Park | 1 1/16 Miles | (100) | (40) | (20) | (10) |
Schedule subject to change. … (T) = Turf … (S) = Synthetic … * = race dates and distances to be announced by host track; date based on recent historical placement.
