Large purses and four new stakes events are the highlight of the 2023 Ellis Park Racing & Gaming $3.075 million stakes calendar.
The Ellis Park meet will open Friday, July 7, and run through Sunday, Aug. 27. Owners, trainers, and jockeys will be racing for large prize money on a newly-released stakes schedule, which has been increased by $1.65 million since 2022 (all prize money includes funds distributed by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund and is pending approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission).
There are four new stakes events on the calendar including the $300,000 Pucker Up Stakes (G3T), which was previously run at Arlington Park and Churchill Downs.
The Pucker Up is one of seven stakes events across Kentucky Downs Preview Weekend Aug. 5-6. Saturday's trio of stakes contests are the $200,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Mint Millions Turf Mile Stakes, the $200,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Dueling Grounds Derby, and the $200,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Mint Ladies Turf Sprint Stakes.
Sunday's program will be highlighted by the Pucker Up along with the $250,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Cup, the $200,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Mile, and the $200,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Sprint.
There are six stakes events scheduled Aug. 13 headlined by the $250,000 Ellis Park Derby for 3-year-olds run at one mile on dirt.
