The six-race championship series will run across three of the most popular US racetracks in New York and Kentucky

Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has joined forces with the New York Racing Association (NYRA) to introduce a new six-race championship series to be run across three iconic racing venues.

The Thoroughbred Championship Series will begin in 2027 and establish an annual season-long championship for America’s leading three-year-old Thoroughbreds.

The country’s most iconic racing venues – Churchill Downs Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course – will host the six-race series which is slated to begin on the first Saturday in May.

“The Thoroughbred Championship Series will extend the excitement of the sport across a five-month season,” said CDI chief executive officer Bill Carstanjen. “The Kentucky Derby introduces millions of fans to a new generation of Thoroughbred stars each year, and this series gives those fans a reason to stay engaged with the sport’s biggest stars throughout the season. 

“By connecting these premier events through one championship, we’re creating a season-long storyline that benefits the future of Thoroughbred racing.”

NYRA president and CEO David O’Rourke commented: “This series is designed to showcase the sport’s best three-year-olds across a season-long championship, elevating our biggest events and creating the next generation of fans.

“The return of the Belmont Stakes to a newly transformed Belmont Park makes this an especially exciting moment for our sport. Together with Churchill Downs and our television partners, we are building on tradition to carry the excitement of these marquee races through the entire season.”

A unified points system is designed to encourage the nation’s leading three-year-olds to compete against one another more frequently. 

In addition to individual race purses, a $5 million prize pool will be awarded based on the final standings, which will also provide owners and trainers with meaningful financial incentives to remain active throughout the championship series.

Each race will be broadcast to a national television audience; the Churchill Downs races will air on NBC, while the NYRA races will air on FOX.

CDI and NYRA will work collaboratively on the series’ rules, nominations process, marketing, sponsorship, wagering opportunities and television distribution. 

The inaugural 2027 Thoroughbred Championship Series is expected to include:

  • Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve at Churchill Downs Racetrack on May 1
  • Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets at Belmont Park on June 5
  • Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs Racetrack in July (exact date to be determined)
  • Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in late July/early August (exact date TBD)
  • Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in late August (exact date TBD)
  • Championship Race at Churchill Downs Racetrack in September (exact date TBD)

Shares in Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ:CHDN) were trading 0.85 per cent lower at $83.58 per share in early trading in New York Monday.