These races are run on dirt and synthetic surfaces across the country and are packed into a 10-week timeframe leading up to the Kentucky Derby. Next, then, are the 17 top events in the Championship Series. These races take place from September of the two-year-old season to February of their three-year-old season. The points system is currently divided into two sections: the “Kentucky Derby Prep Season” and the “Kentucky Derby Championship Series.” The Prep Season offers 19 races on synthetic and dirt surfaces at tracks across the country, with the minimum distance of one mile. We want to maximize the quality of the Derby field and protect the integrity of the race, while respecting the tradition and relevance of paths taken to the race by previous Kentucky Derby winners and prominent starters,” Evans said. “Additionally, the new system, which gives us greater stability, represents historical relevancy and helps to ensure our longstanding mission of assembling the finest group of three-year-olds in the starting gate for a race at the classic distance of 1 ¼ miles on the first Saturday in May.

According to a 2012 press release issued by Darren Rogers, senior director of communications & media services for Churchill Downs, Inc., “The ‘Road to the Kentucky Derby’ point system was created to establish a clear, practical and understandable path to the first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown, as opposed to the approximately 185 graded stakes races worldwide - including 60 open races and another 43 races restricted to fillies in North America - that counted toward the Derby selection under the previous eligibility process.”ĬDI CEO and Chairman Bob Evans had a primary concern when this change took place: to create new fans. Previously, horses earned a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate based on their graded stakes earnings. Initially, there were 36 stakes races offering a varying amount of points to two- and three-year-old colts competing for a spot in the Louisville track starting gate - 17 of which are marquee events making up a 10-week run up to the feature race, which is known as the “Kentucky Derby Championship Series.” This points system replaced the previous qualifying requirements for the Kentucky Derby. The points system was installed in time for the 139 th running of the Kentucky Derby. Branding has been important to Churchill Downs and, with its new implementation of a new points system, called “The Road to the Kentucky Derby,” it has faced both controversy and applause.

Churchill Downs (photo via 2013 was the first year of a new branding for the Kentucky Derby.

Horse track explanation of betting odds