RACING RETURNS TO CHURCHILL DOWNS THURSDAY AT 5 P.M.<\/b>FOR ACTION-PACKED 14-DAY SEPTEMBER MEET<\/b><\/p>\n
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Friday, Sept. 4, 2026)<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 Horse racing on the Kentucky horse racing circuit shifts to Churchill Downs on Thursday with the first of three\u00a0Twilight Thursday<\/b>\u00a0programs at 5 p.m. (all times Eastern) as the famed Louisville racetrack opens its 14th<\/sup>\u00a0annual\u00a0September Meet<\/b>\u00a0for an action-packed 14-date run through Sunday, Sept. 27.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thursday\u2019s eight-race opener lured 76 entries for an average of 9.5 horses per race. A field of nine 3-year-olds and up at one mile was entered for the featured seventh race, a $134,000 allowance\/optional claiming ($80,000 claiming tag) event at one mile.\u00a0Wathnan Racing<\/b>\u2019s 4-year-old Into Mischief colt\u00a0Hypnus<\/b>, who last ran fifth in the $1 million Godolphin Mile (G2) on the Dubai World Cup undercard, makes his United States homecoming against 2024 Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) winner\u00a0First Resort<\/b>, who is seeking a return to his best form.<\/p>\n The card also includes a $127,000 first level allowance for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs (Race 3) and two $120,000 maiden special weight for 2-year-olds at six furlongs (Races 4 and 6).<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Horsemen will compete for $15.2 million (all purses include prize money from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund<\/b>)\u00a0offered in\u00a0Vice President of Racing\u00a0Ben Huffman<\/b>\u2019s September Meet condition book, which features 135 races including an 11-race stakes schedule cumulatively worth $3.6 million.<\/p>\n Average daily purses are $1,085,000 and the average race is worth $112,562.\u00a0Maiden special weight races have a $120,000 purse while allowance races range from $127,000 to $141,000.<\/p>\n Five stakes races, including two important fixtures for juveniles that could produce starters in this year\u2019s Breeders\u2019 Cup and next spring\u2019s Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) and the Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI), will be showcased Saturday afternoon. Total prize money for the 11-race program is a hefty $2.237 million \u2013 the most lucrative day of the boutique three-week stanza.<\/p>\n The $300,000 Iroquois (GIII) kicks off the Road to the 153rd<\/sup>\u00a0Kentucky Derby series, while the $300,000 Pocahontas (GIII) starts the Road to the 153rd<\/sup>\u00a0Kentucky Oaks. Additionally, both races are part of the Breeders\u2019 Cup Dirt Dozen Bonus Series program that awards a tiered bonus bankroll which can be utilized towards pre-entry and entry fees at the Breeders\u2019 Cup for horses that finish first, second or third.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s Breeders\u2019 Cup World Championships will be held in Kentucky on Oct. 30-31 just 72 miles east of Churchill Downs at Keeneland.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A total of 25 juveniles is nominated to the Iroquois and another 19 fillies are eligible for the Pocahontas \u2013 both contested around a one-turn mile \u2013 but the most anticipated race of the day is expected to be a showdown between two of the nation\u2019s top fillies and mares in the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Locust Grove (GII). Eclipse Award champions\u00a0Nitrogen<\/b>, last year\u2019s Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, and\u00a0Splendora<\/b>, the 2025 Champion Sprint Female Horse, are expected to headline what could be a memorable faceoff in the 1 1\/16-mile race when entries are taken Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n D.J. Stable LLC<\/b>\u2019s 4-year-old filly Nitrogen, trained by\u00a0Mark Casse<\/b>, finished second to 2025 Kentucky Derby winner\u00a0Sovereignty<\/b>\u00a0against males in the prestigious $1 million Whitney (GI) at Saratoga after a 12 \u00be runaway romp against her own sex in the $500,000 Odgen Phipps (GI) \u2013 both at Saratoga.<\/p>\n Splendora, the 5-year-old mare owned by\u00a0Boyd Racing LLC<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0By Talla Racing LLC<\/b>\u00a0and trained by Hall of Famer\u00a0Bob Baffert<\/b>, has won four of her five starts this year, including the $300,000 Beholder Mile (GI), $300,000 Shawnee (GII) and $500,000 Molly Pitcher (GII).<\/p>\n Saturday\u2019s stakes-laden program also includes the $300,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society (Listed), an open sprint for 3-year-olds and up at 6 \u00bd furlongs \u2013 won last year by eventual Breeders\u2019 Cup Sprint (GI) champion\u00a0Bentornato<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 and the $300,000 Open Mind (Listed) for female sprinters at six furlongs.<\/p>\n Other marque events during the September Meet include a nighttime stakes tripleheader under the lights on Saturday, Sept. 19: the $300,000 Dogwood presented by Resolute Racing (GIII) for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs; $300,000 Harrods Creek for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs; and $200,000 Seneca Overnight Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1\/16 miles.<\/p>\n Closing weekend is anchored by the $500,000 Lukas Classic (GII) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1\/8 miles on Saturday, Sept. 26 and\u00a0honors the legendary late Hall of Fame trainer\u00a0D. Wayne Lukas<\/b>.\u00a0The Lukas Classic \u2013 the most lucrative race of the September Meet \u2013 serves as a prep for the $7 million Longines Breeders\u2019 Cup Classic (GI) five weeks in advance of the Halloween spectacular in Lexington.<\/p>\n Also run on Sept. 26 is the\u00a0$400,000 Ack Ack (GIII) for 3-year-olds and up at one mile and the $300,000 Bourbon Flight for 3-year-olds, which has been reduced to 1 1\/16 miles.<\/p>\n Five-Day Racing Weeks<\/i><\/b><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Churchill Downs\u2019\u00a014-day meet will be staged over three weeks from Thursday, Sept. 10 through Sunday, Sept. 27 with racing on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Outside of the three Twilight Thursdays (5 p.m. ET) and \u201cDowns After Dark: Oktoberfest\u201d on Saturday, Sept. 19 (6 p.m. ET), the first race for all other race days will be 12:45 p.m. ET. Nine races are scheduled on Wednesdays, eight races are scheduled on Thursdays with 10-race programs on Fridays and Sundays. Eleven races will be showcased each Saturday.<\/p>\n Popular 5 p.m. \u2018Twilight Thursdays\u2019 Return With $2 Beer at All General Admission Concession Bars<\/i><\/b><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Churchill Downs will host three\u00a0Twilight Thursdays<\/b>\u00a0from 5-8 p.m. which makes for an electric atmosphere with live racing, local music and a refreshed experience centered on the spacious and picturesque second-floor Paddock Terrace instead of its former location in the Paddock Plaza.<\/p>\n Another new wrinkle this meet is that guests can enjoy $2 select domestic beers at\u00a0all<\/i><\/b>\u00a0General Admission concession bars around the facility as well as bars in the Turf Club\/Roses\/Boxes, Finish Line Suites, Triple Crown Room and Champions\/Gold Room. Additionally, there will be $8 select cocktails and expanded local food offerings including\u00a0Big Nita\u2019s Cheesecakes<\/b>,\u00a0Board and You<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0CASK Southern Kitchen & Bar<\/b>\u00a0on opening day.<\/p>\n The live music lineup features\u00a0Haley Bundy<\/b>\u00a0(Sept. 10),\u00a0The Dad Bods<\/b>\u00a0(Sept. 17) and\u00a0Kevin Jaggers<\/b>\u00a0(Sept. 24).<\/p>\n General admission is $10 or a discounted rate for college students with a student ID or .edu email address purchased in advance through\u00a0https:\/\/www.churchilldowns.com\/visit\/september-meet\/twilight-thursdays-september-meet\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n Events for College Students on Twilight Thursdays: Equine Scholar Night, Greek Night, College Night<\/i><\/b><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n There\u2019s added attractions each Thursday for area college students this September. Equine Scholar Night is Sept. 10 with discounted student tickets and an opportunity to sign up for scholarships;\u00a0Greek Night is Sept. 17 where\u00a0Red Bull<\/b>\u00a0will be on hand to give away prizes and the fraternity or sorority that sells the most tickets will receive a $2,000 philanthropy donation; and College Night is Sept. 24. Churchill Downs has teamed with\u00a0the\u00a0Kentucky Thoroughbred Association<\/b>\u00a0(KTA) and\u00a0Kentucky Horsemen\u2019s Benevolent & Protective Association<\/b>\u00a0(KHBPA) to award a\u00a0$6,000 college scholarship to one winner on both Sept. 10 and Sept. 24.<\/p>\n First Responders Day on Friday, Sept. 11<\/i><\/b><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Friday, Sept. 11 is\u00a0First Responders Day<\/b>\u00a0as Churchill Downs salutes the service of local heroes, including firefighters, police officers, EMTs, paramedics and emergency dispatchers. There will be a special presentation of colors and \u201cThe Star-Spangled Banner\u201d by the\u00a0Kentucky State Police Honor Guard<\/b>\u00a0and KSP Officer\u00a0Frank Russell<\/b>. All first responders can purchase discounted tickets in Millionaires Row\u00a0by calling (502) 636-4450 or through\u00a0GOVX<\/b>, at\u00a0https:\/\/www.govx.com\/a\/601fe190-3f72-4d46-b698-08de73bbebad\/churchill-downs<\/a>.<\/p>\n Stakes Room Brunch Every Sunday<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n On Sundays during the September Meet, Churchill Downs is offering a\u00a0Stakes Room Brunch<\/b>. The $90 package for adults and $45 package for children includes a seat in the Stakes Room on the fourth floor of the Clubhouse and all-you-can-eat access to the brunch menu that includes scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, French toast, carved pork tenderloin, herb-rubbed chicken, southern short ribs, bacon, sausage, home-fried breakfast potatoes, cream cheese grits, vegetables, salads and assorted cookies, brownies, cakes and specialty desserts.<\/p>\n Senior Day on Friday, Sept. 18<\/i><\/b><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n The lone\u00a0Senior Day<\/b>\u00a0of the September Meet at Churchill Downs is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 18. Guests 60 and up can enjoy lunch and a day at the races in Millionaires Row for $50. Senior Day tickets can be purchased by calling (502) 636-4450.<\/p>\n \u2018Downs After Dark: Oktoberfest\u201d Set for Saturday, Sept. 19<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Churchill Downs will stage an Oktoberfest-themed edition of its always-energetic\u00a0Downs After Dark<\/b>\u00a0nighttime racing on Saturday, Sept. 19 that combines live racing with German-inspired food, drinks and entertainment under the lights. The first race is 6 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n A Biergarten on the first floor will offer a gathering space for guests, while Trackside Smokehaus near the paddock gate will serve Oktoberfest-themed dishes such as beer-braised Bierbratwurst with braised onions, German smoked brisket and a smoked chicken leg quarter finished with Krauterbutter herb butter.<\/p>\n Churchill Downs has a Prost & Smokehaus VIP Package that features two distinct seating options with access near the track, each including a Smokehaus meal. The package also provides an exclusive 24-ounce Churchill Downs Oktoberfest stein, subject to availability, along with two 12-ounce Oktoberfest-style beers during the night.<\/p>\n Additional entertainment includes live music on the Paddock Terrace Overlook between races, a national anthem performance by the German-American Club and a Beer Wagon photo-op on the first floor.<\/p>\n Guests are encouraged to participate in the festivities with fall fashions or even lederhosen or dirndl.<\/p>\n Betting Menu Features Popular $3 Late Pick 3<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Churchill Downs\u2019 September Meet betting menu will mirror the Spring Meet, which features a popular $3 Late Pick 3, with a low 15% takeout. The wager will span the final three races on each card and all other Pick 3s remain at 50-cent base.<\/p>\n Aside from the $3 Late Pick 3, the wagering menu includes the 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot on the last six races each day (15% takeout). The Derby City 6 jackpot will be paid only if there is a single winning wager with six winners placed at the required minimum bet value. If there are multiple winning wagers with six winners in the six-race sequence, 90 percent of the net money wagering into the pool will be paid, and the remaining 10 percent will carry to the Derby City 6 jackpot. If there are no tickets will all six winners, 100 percent of the pool will carry to the Derby City 6 jackpot. There will be a mandatory payout on closing day.<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0The daily betting menu also features multiple 50-cent Pick 5s with a low 15-percent takeout and 50-cent Pick 4s. Win, Place, Show, Exacta, 50-cent Trifecta, 10-cent Superfecta, Daily Double, 50-cent Pick 3 wagers (except for the $3 Late Pick 3) and rolling $1 Super Hi-5s will be offered every race (on all races that qualify under Kentucky statutes for minimum field size).<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Also on the daily betting menu is the $1 Jackpot 8 and the $2 Odd vs. Even. The Jackpot 8, which requires picking the first eight finishers in a row, will be offered in the final race each day (a minimum field size of 10 entrants is required to offer the wager). The Odd vs. Even wager will be offered on each race if there are a minimum three interests on each side of the wager.<\/p>\n Free Workout Videos for Horseplayers<\/i><\/b><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Thanks to the support of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, horseplayers and horsemen can view workouts of select horses at Churchill Downs free-of-charge throughout the year. The workouts are available at\u00a0https:\/\/www.kentuckybred.org\/workout-videos\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n Gaffalione, Cox, Jacobson Defend September Titles<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Tyler Gaffalione<\/b>\u00a0had the hot hand during last year\u2019s September Meet with 26 wins, three more than\u00a0Irad Ortiz Jr<\/b>.\u00a0Brad Cox<\/b>\u00a0was last September\u2019s champion trainer with nine wins, one more than\u00a0David Jacobson<\/b>, who won the owner\u2019s title with five of his wins coming from horses he owned.<\/p>\n During the 44-day Spring Meet,\u00a0Ortiz Jr.\u00a0<\/span>dominated with 64 wins and finished well clear of his younger brother\u00a0Jose Ortiz<\/b>\u00a0(50 wins), Gaffalione (37),\u00a0Luis Saez<\/b>\u00a0(37) and\u00a0Brian Hernandez Jr<\/b>. (17). Jose Ortiz, meanwhile, led all jockeys with 11 stakes victories \u2013 including the Kentucky Oaks on\u00a0Always A Winner<\/b>, Kentucky Derby on\u00a0Golden Tempo<\/b>\u00a0and Stephen Foster on\u00a0Magnitude<\/b>\u00a0\u2013 and more than $11.2 million in prize money.<\/p>\n Joe Sharp<\/b>\u00a0led all trainers with 27 wins and held off 10-time local champion Cox (26 wins), Hall of Famer and 29-time Churchill Downs leader\u00a0Steve Asmussen<\/b>\u00a0(19),\u00a0Brian Lynch<\/b>\u00a0(14) and\u00a0Brendan Walsh<\/b>\u00a0(13).<\/p>\n Jacobson was the top owner with eight wins, one more than runner-up\u00a0Juddmonte<\/b>.<\/p>\n Odds and Ends<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Travis Stone<\/b>\u00a0will describe the racing action throughout the September Meet for the 12th<\/sup>\u00a0straight year.\u00a0Nick Tammaro<\/b>\u00a0is in his first year as the morning line oddsmaker.<\/p>\n \u2018Churchill Downs Today\u2019 Airs Before First Race<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Horseplayers can get the latest advice and a preview of the day\u2019s card by watching \u201cChurchill Downs Today<\/b>\u201d one hour prior to first post every day except Saturday, when it will air an hour and 15 minutes prior to the opening race. Join\u00a0Joe Kristufek<\/b>,\u00a0Tony Calo<\/b>,\u00a0Kaitlin Free<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0Kevin Kilroy<\/b>\u00a0as they handicap the program, give ticket-structure advice and insight for horseplayers betting the racing program. Churchill Downs Today will be shown on\u00a0www.TwinSpires.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Churchill Downs Racing Televised on FanDuel TV<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n The racing action from Churchill Downs throughout the September Meet will be broadcast on FanDuel TV.<\/p>\n Wager on Churchill Downs Racing via TwinSpires.com<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Racing fans are encouraged to wager on racing from Churchill Downs via\u00a0www.TwinSpires.com<\/a>, the official advance-deposit wagering service for Churchill Downs Incorporated and its family of racetracks. Past performance information can be purchased online at\u00a0www.Brisnet.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n 2026 Churchill Downs September Meet Stakes Schedule<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n