Churchill Downs Brings Six-Race ‘Thoroughbred Championship Series’ to Starting Gate

In a bid to court more fans and generate increased buzz around horse racing, Churchill Downs (NASDAQ: CHDN) announced the creation of the “Thoroughbred Championship Series” — a six-race contest with a $5 million prize pool.

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) is partnering with Churchill Downs on the series, which commences in 2027. The series’ six races include two legs of the Triple Crown — the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes — and will be held at Churchill Downs’ eponymous Kentucky track as well as Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. Those are three of horse racing’s most storied venues.

The Thoroughbred Championship Series taps into elements from other sports that have long been absent from horseracing. Namely, a defined championship, standings and establishment of rivalries.

Three of the legs of the series — the Kentucky Derby, the Matt Winn Stakes and the title race — will be held at Churchill Downs.

Horse Racing Ripe for the Concept

Other non-team sports leverage tournament-like concepts to provide fans with more marquee events and storylines to track. For example, the PGA Tour has the FedEx Cup, which is exclusive of the sport’s four majors, and this year, NASCAR rolled out its $1 million, 32-driver In-Season Challenge.

Regarding the Thoroughbred Championship Series, top three-year-old horses will compete under a unified points system with the $5 million prize pool distributed based on the final standings. Churchill Downs and the NYRA are optimistic that way of doing things “will also provide owners and trainers with meaningful financial incentives to remain active throughout the championship series.”

As for how horses can claim the series crown, it’s more about consistency than winning a race only to follow it up with a bad showing in the next leg.

“You do not have to win every race or even any particular race to become the champion. The winner will be the horse who demonstrates consistent excellence and stamina in the face of the world’s toughest competition across the six races,” said Carstanjen. “Each year, the champion of the race for the race will have earned a special place in our sports history. This isn’t simply about adding another series to the calendar. It’s about connecting our greatest events into one compelling season.”

Leveraging Prime Media Relationships

The Thoroughbred Championship Series is also an opportunity for Churchill Downs and the NYRA to potentially put the sport of kings in front of more fans because all six races will be nationally broadcast.

The three races to be held at the Kentucky track will be shown on NBC, which has a long-standing relationship with Churchill Downs, while the Belmont and Saratoga races will be broadcast by FOX.

The series could also be an opportune time for Churchill Downs to capitalize on capital spending projects at its namesake racecourse, including the Homestretch Club expansion and an enhanced infield seating area, which are expected to be ready ahead of the 2027 Derby.