Churchill Downs’ 14-day September Meet starts this week
The 12th annual September Meet of thoroughbred racing gets underway Thursday evening at Churchill Downs.
The meet will be staged over three weeks with racing on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The 14-date run ends Sept. 29.
The first race each day at the Louisville racetrack will begin at 12:45 p.m., with the exception of the three “Twilight Thursday” events on Sept. 12, 19 and 26, when racing starts at 5 p.m., and the “Downs After Dark” affair on Saturday, Sept. 28, when first post is 6 p.m.
The meet boasts several special events, including Military Appreciation Day on Sept. 12, College Day on Sept. 14 and a Stakes Room Brunch (Sept. 15).
Visit ChurchillDowns.com to view details and order tickets.
Opening day Thursday includes eight races. Saturday’s racing includes the first points races for next year’s Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.
The September Meet includes 11 stakes races worth $3.575 million, including six graded events.
The $400,000, Grade 3 Ack Ack Stakes on Sept. 28 is a “Win and You’re In” race for this year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
After the Churchill Downs September Meet, Kentucky racing shifts to Keeneland Race Course in Lexington Oct. 4-26.
The Breeders’ Cup World Championships are Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar Racetrack in California.
