Bettors Strike While Iron is Hot at Brief Kentucky Downs Meet

Bettors Strike While Iron is Hot at Brief Kentucky Downs Meet

Category : News - Tue 09/09/2014 - 11:17 EDT

With increased takeout and short fields souring bettors on some of the major racetracks around the country, Kentucky Downs five-day race meet which began in earnest September 6 with three stakes races worth a combined $650,000 is a breath of fresh air albeit a brief window of opportunity for the serious horse player.

Remaining racing dates at the Franklin, KY track include one Saturday card – September 13, and three Wednesday cards – September 10, 17, and 24.  Handicappers with an affinity for turf races find Kentucky Down’s undulating, European style course a unique challenge as horses with stamina-laden pedigrees tend to excel.  The full field sizes and low percentage of takeout earned Kentucky Downs the number two slot in Horseplayers Association of North America’s (HANA) annual comprehensive track ratings just behind Keeneland and just ahead of Saratoga - not bad company.  

Lucrative purses make KY Downs a destination

Four stakes races worth a combined $1.2 million Saturday, September 13  highlight the meet but, the mid-week cards offer plenty of intrigue in their own right.  Wednesday, September 10, for example, features ten races with no field smaller than ten horses.  Of the ten races, there are four allowance events – each carrying purses of $100,000 and the two maiden special weight events on the card are worth $80,000 and $90,000 respectively.  

Allowance races draw stake-caliber fields 

Race 8 on the card, a $100,000 allowance event, is a stakes-quality field with the Wayne Catalano-trained Highball the 5/2 morning line favorite.  Highball most recently ran fifth in the Grade I Secretariat at Arlington Park.  The three-year old son of Lemon Drop Kid has looked like a promising runner in his four career starts. 

Category : News

Leave a comment

More articles...
News - 02/05/23

Kentucky Derby 2023: Versatile Mage can do some Derby magic

Kentucky Derby 2023: Versatile Mage can do some Derby magic

The first jewel of the 2023 Triple Crown is coming up on Saturday, May 6: the Kentucky Derby! The race is the most important betting race all year: with 20 […]

Read this article
News - 08/09/16

Super Derby Picks and Preview

Super Derby Picks and Preview

A familiar name from the 2016 Kentucky Derby trail is expected to go the gate for the Super Derby, as Mo Tom has been made the 7-5 favorite in the morning line.

Read this article
News - 04/05/16

Sheer Drama and Curalina Face Off in $300,000 La Troienne Stakes

Sheer Drama and Curalina Face Off in $300,000 La Troienne Stakes

On Friday at Churchill Downs, the graded stakes action will begin with the $300,000 La Troienne Stakes. Restricted to fillies and mares, the Grade 1 will be contested at a mile and a sixteenth and has drawn a field of seven.

Read this article
News - 16/04/16

Cavorting Kicks Off Season in $200,000 Distaff Handicap

Cavorting Kicks Off Season in $200,000 Distaff Handicap

On Sunday at Aqueduct, the featured race is the $200,000 Distaff Handicap. Restricted to fillies and mares, the Grade 3 event will be held at seven furlongs on the main track and has drawn a field of seven.

Read this article