Churchill Downs Debuts 'Sire Power' Event

Churchill Downs Racetrack will introduce a new element to its renowned Stars of Tomorrow II program for 2-year-old Thoroughbreds on Saturday, Nov. 28 with a first-ever golf-style skins competition among Kentucky stallion farms. The event billed as "Sire Power" has been created to showcase participating stud farms and their stallion rosters, to deliver a friendly and spirited (non-wagering) competition amongst the farms, and to provide a hospitable environment where farm managers and their staff can meet and mingle with breeders and owners. Eight Kentucky-based stallion farms have registered to participate in the introductory Sire Power event and have each paid a $10,000 sponsorship fee. All fees will go directly into an awards pool that will be distributed to the farms upon completion of the competition. Each of the 12 races on Stars of Tomorrow II, now in its 22nd year, are for juveniles, and horses that are sired by eligible stallions will earn points for finishing first through fourth place. To be eligible and earn points for the farms, sires must be registered with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund and have stood at the participating farm in the 2026 breeding season. (Additional rules are in place regarding pensioned/deceased and moved/exported stallions.) Horses not sired by a stallion at a participating farm that finish in first through fourth place do not earn points and points for those specific finishing positions will roll over to the next race, which creates an exciting daylong competition for the stallion farms. That's the "skins" component. Carryovers can potentially pile up across multiple races, making some finishing positions dramatically more valuable. Points will be earned as follows: 1st place = 4 points 2nd place = 3 points 3rd place = 2 points 4th place = 1 point Point totals at the end of the day determine the order of finish and monetary awards for the stallion farms - and bragging rights. Participating farms: Airdrie Stud Claiborne Farm Coolmore America - Ashford Stud Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa Lane's End Spendthrift Farm Taylor Made Stallions WinStar Farm "We're delighted to add a component to our longstanding Stars of Tomorrow II program that showcases the Kentucky breeding industry, with a focus on the 'sire power' that exists in our state," said Churchill Downs General Manager Mike Ziegler. "We've been working closely with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA) to introduce this idea, and we look forward to hosting and celebrating the farms, owners, and breeders at the track for a fun day." Chauncey Morris, Executive Director of the KTA, sees the occasion as an innovative marketing opportunity for the stallion farms and adds that breeders will benefit on the day as well. "Churchill Downs is hosting the party and providing the platform to showcase the farms and their stallions," Morris said. "It's a unique idea and we're excited to try something new. Plus, the Kentucky HBPA and KTA are awarding $360,000 in Breeder Bonuses on this day. Ideally, breeders will have some early discussions with farm managers about the upcoming breeding season while at Churchill Downs on Nov 28." The Sire Power competition on the Saturday of Thanksgiving Weekend somewhat blends the traditions of professional golf's "Skins Game" (which was renewed last year after a 17-year hiatus and is held on Black Friday) and college football's "Rivalry Week" (which takes place during the same time period, including the University of Louisville visiting the University of Kentucky). The 12-race Stars of Tomorrow II program on Nov. 28 includes four stakes events led by the open Kentucky Jockey Club and Fasig-Tipton Golden Rod for fillies. Each race is a Grade II event worth $400,000, run at the 1 1/16-mile distance and part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks series, respectively, which award points to the top five finishers (10-5-3-2-1). Last year's 12-race Stars of Tomorrow II program handled a Fall Meet-best $13.6 million in wagers.