Kentucky Downs fielding some of state’s and nation’s richest horse races. Here’s how.

The same fund fueling this spring’s record purses at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington is helping Kentucky Downs in western Kentucky construct a record-setting 2023 meet of its own.

Kentucky Downs, located in Franklin, announced this week a seven-day race meet for late this summer totaling 17 stakes, nine of those graded, worth a total of $14 million.

Headlining the Kentucky Downs all-turf lineup will be the Grade 3 Mint Millions which is doubling in value this year from $1 million to $2 million, making it the richest turf race in America outside the Breeders’ Cup World Championships and one of the largest purses in the country overall.

The new purse for the Mint Millions is topped in the U.S. by only the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf, the $3 million Kentucky Derby and the $3 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park.

Half of the Mint Millions’ purse will be provided by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund for horses born or sired in the commonwealth.

Three-quarters of 1% of all money wagered on Kentucky Thoroughbred live races and historical horse races at Thoroughbred tracks is deposited in the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund. Two percent of all money wagered on Thoroughbred races via inter-track wagering and whole card simulcasting is also deposited.

The KTDF contributed $1.5 million toward Keeneland’s record-setting 2023 Sprint Meet purses of $8.05 million.

Kentucky Downs’ 2023 race dates are Aug. 31 and Sept. 2, 3, 7, 9, 10 and 13.

Of Kentucky Downs’ $14 million in purses, $7.6 million is available for all horses and another $6.4 million goes to horses foaled in Kentucky and sired by a Kentucky stallion.

The Mint Millions is a 1-mile race for 3-year-olds and up on Sept. 2.

“We want the Mint Millions to be the pre-eminent launching pad to the Breeders’ Cup Mile,” said Ron Winchell, a co-managing partner of Kentucky Downs with Marc Falcone. “Turf milers are among the biggest stars in Europe, and we’re giving them a million more reasons to come to Kentucky Downs.”

Six other graded stakes during the meet will offer $1 million — the Grade 2 Franklin-Simpson, the Grade 2 Kentucky Turf Cup, the Grade 2 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint, the Grade 2 Mint Ladies Sprint, the Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf and the Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon. Those stakes all take place Sept. 9.

Two other Kentucky Downs stakes — the Grade 3 Music City and the Gun Runner on Sept. 2 — had their purses boosted to $750,000 from $500,000 and $400,000, respectively.

2023 Kentucky Downs stakes schedule

Aug. 31: $500,000 Tapit for 3 year olds and up who have not won a stakes in 2023, at 1 mile and 70 yards.

Sept. 2: $750,000, Grade 3 Music City for 3-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Sept. 2: $750,000 Gun Runner for 3-year-olds at 1 mile.

Sept. 2: $2 million, Grade 3 Mint Millions for 3-year-olds and up at 1 mile.

Sept. 3: $750,000, Grade 3 Dueling Grounds Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 5/16 miles.

Sept. 3: $750,000 Dueling Grounds Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 5/16 miles.

Sept. 7: $500,000 One Dreamer for fillies and mares 3 years old and up who have not won a stakes in 2023 at 1 mile and 70 yards.

Sept. 9: $1 million, Grade 2 Franklin-Simpson for 3-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Sept. 9: $1 million, Grade 2 Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint for 3-year-olds and up at 6 furlongs.

Sept. 9: $1 million, Grade 2 Kentucky Turf Cup for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/2 miles.

Sept. 9: $1 million, Grade 2 The Mint Ladies Sprint for fillies and mares 3 years old and up at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Sept. 9: $1 million, Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf for fillies and mares 3 years old and up at 1 mile.

Sept. 9: $1 million, Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon for fillies and mares 3 years old and up at 1 5/16 miles.

Sept. 10: $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile for 2-year-olds at 1 mile.

Sept. 10: $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies for 2-year-old fillies at 1 mile.

Sept. 13: $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint for 2-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Sept. 13: $500,000 Untapable Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs.