Churchill Downs Incorporated has partnered with the Japan Racing Association (JRA) to create a series of races in Japan that could annually produce a starter in the GI Kentucky Derby, the two organizations announced Monday. The new “Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby” includes two one-mile dirt stakes races at Tokyo Racecourse, the Cattleya Sho for juveniles Nov. 26 and the Hyacinth for 3-year-olds in early 2017. Separate from the existing “Road to the Kentucky Derby” series in North America, the horse who accrues the most points in the two Japanses races will be awarded a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate.
“All of us at Churchill Downs are thrilled to partner with the Japan Racing Association to create this exciting new series to provide an entry in the Kentucky Derby for a horse from Japan,” said Bill Mudd, President and Chief Operating Officer at Churchill Downs Incorporated. “Horse racing in Japan is a tremendously popular sport. The competition is world-class and features some of the most accomplished runners in the world. This series provides a path for the top 3-year-old in the country to participate in the 'greatest two minutes in sports. We saw sizeable international interest through Lani (Tapit)'s participation in this year's Triple Crown and we're thrilled that, through this partnership, we can add to the worldwide popularity of the Kentucky Derby.”
Lani, a Kentucky-bred, became the second horse based in Japan to compete in the Kentucky Derby earlier this year after he won the G2 UAE Derby in Dubai. The gray competed in all three races in the American Triple Crown, culminating with a third-place run in the GI Belmont S. June 11. Earlier in his career, Lani won the Cattleya Sho and finished fifth in the Hyacinth.
“I am very pleased to be able to launch the 'Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby' in partnership with Churchill Downs Incorporated,” said Mr. Masayuki Goto, President and CEO of the JRA. “It is with great pride that 'My Old Kentucky Home' will reach Japanese racing fans and it is my earnest wish to sing it with a traditional Mint Julep in my hand, together with Japanese horsemen and all the many fans next year at Churchill Downs Racetrack.”
The top four finishers in the Cattleya Sho will earn point values of 40-16-8-4, respectively, while the top four in the Hyacinth will earn 50-20-10-5. The points were structured to avoid an automatic qualifier for the winner of one particular race over the other.
Churchill Downs also released the list of 35 select stakes races that comprise the “Road to the Kentucky Derby”, with a sliding scale of points awarded to the top four finishers in qualifying races. One notable change to the 2016-2017 schedule is the addition of Tampa Bay Downs' GIII Sam F. Davis S., which will replace Woodbine's GIII Grey S. as a points race. The current qualifying system has been used since 2013, with the 20 horses who have accumulated the most points securing a spot in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby.
The “Road to the Kentucky Derby” commences Saturday at Churchill Downs with the GIII Iroquois S.
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