Churchill Downs Ready To Pop Gate on September Meet

Churchill Downs Ready To Pop Gate on September Meet.

The first of three Twilight Thursday programs starts at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15 at Churchill Downs. The September Meet runs from Thursday 15th until Sunday 2nd. There are 93 entries for the opening race. A record $13.791 million is offered in purses. Each of the 135 scheduled races will be contested on the main dirt track. Turf racing is projected to return for Fall Meet (Oct. 30-Nov. 27). The barns are at full capacity.

Louisville Thoroughbred Society is an open sprint for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs. The $275,000 Dogwood is for three- year-old fillies at seven furs. There is a stakes quartet in primetime under the light for the final Downs After Dark on Saturday, Sept. 24.

The Lukas Classic for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles is run on Saturday, Oct. 1. It's a prep for the Breeders’ Cup‘s $6 million Longines Classic five weeks in advance of the Nov. 5 Dirt Mile at Keeneland. Rich Strike, the surprise winner of this year's Kentucky Derby, could face Mandaloun and Hot Rod Charlie.

Churchill Downs’ 14-day meet will be staged over three weekends through Sunday, Oct. 2. There will also be Twilight Thursdays (5 p.m. on Thursdsdays) and Downs After Dark on Sept. 24.

The opening weekend weather in Louisville will be ideal. There will also be sunny skies and mid-80s temperatures.

Churchill Downs is preparing for the 2022 September Meet.

Churchill Downs is ready to pop gate on September Meet. There are possible stakes entries.

Churchill Downs is preparing for the September Meet. Kenny McPeek, Envoutante, Gold Spirit, and Played Hard are going to be on the team.

Churchill Downs is preparing for the September Meet.

Churchill Downs is preparing for the September Meet. Pocahontas is a team with Norm Casse, Kenny McPeek, John Ortiz, Wayne Lukas, Sarah Hamilton, Outofnothingatall (Ricky Courville), and Southlawn (Casse).

Churchill Downs Ready To Pop Gate on September Meet. Louisville Thoroughbred Society: Bagboss, Gagetown, Isolate, Miles Ahead, Special Reserve, and Top Gunner.

Twilight Thursdays in Churchill Downs’ Plaza from 5-8 p.m. will feature $2 select domestic can beer, live music, food trucks and a wrestling match.

The final Downs After Dark of the year takes place on Saturday, Sept. 24. The event highlights include music from DJ Roberton, salsa lessons in the Plaza from Louisville Salsa Underground and strolling mariachi performances by Mariachi Alegre. General admission to the event is $14 and includes an official program. Limited premium dining packages are available starting at $82 per person. Outdoor-third floor box seats are on sale for $17 per place.

Churchill Downs is preparing for the September meet. Betting menu features 20-cent minimum "Derby City 6" jackpot. Daily betting menu also features 50- cent Pick 5s with a low 15% takeout and 50 cent "Pick 4s". Win, Place, Show, Exacta, 50 cents Trifecta and 10 cents Superfecta are offered.

Tyler Gaffalione won his eighth Churchill Downs riding title with 62 wins during the Spring Meet. Kenny McPeek won last year's September Meet with 16 wins. Steve Asmussen won the training title last September with 25 wins from 25 races.

General admission to Churchill Downs is $7. Reserved box seats are $10, and indoor dining options are $42. Children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.

Travis Stone will describe the racing action throughout the September Meet for the eighth straight year. Veteran odds maker Mike Battaglia has morning line odds duty for 48 consecutive years.

‘Churchill Downs Today’ airs one hour before the first race of the day. Joe Kristufek is the on-track and simulcast host and Scott Shapiro is chief analyst. Additional race-by-race analysis will be provided by Kaitlin Free, James Scully and Brandon Stauble.

The racing action from Churchill Downs throughout the September Meet will be broadcast on FOX Sports’ “Americas Day at the Races” which will air every race day on either FS2 or FS1.

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