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Saratoga Lands Two Races in New Thoroughbred Championship Series
A new championship series will connect some of horse racing’s biggest events in 2027, including two major races at Saratoga Race Course.
The New York Racing Association and Churchill Downs Incorporated announced the creation of the Thoroughbred Championship Series on August 3, 2026. The six-race competition will establish a season-long championship for the nation’s leading three-year-old Thoroughbreds.
The inaugural series is scheduled to span five months, beginning with the Kentucky Derby in May and concluding with a new championship race at Churchill Downs in September.
Six Major Races Will Form the New Championship Series
The 2027 Thoroughbred Championship Series is expected to include races at Churchill Downs, the newly transformed Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course.
The preliminary schedule includes:
- Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 1
- Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 5
- Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs in July
- Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in late July or early August
- Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in late August
- A championship race at Churchill Downs in September
Exact dates for the 2027 Matt Winn, Jim Dandy, Travers, and championship races will be announced later.
The series will use a unified points system intended to encourage leading three-year-olds to compete against one another more frequently. In addition to the purses offered for each race, a $5 million prize pool will be awarded based on the final standings.
NYRA and Churchill Downs are still developing the complete rules, eligibility requirements, nominations process, prize distribution, sponsorships, wagering opportunities, and championship branding.
The Jim Dandy and Travers Will Play Major Roles
The inclusion of two Saratoga races gives local fans an important place in the new championship storyline.
The Jim Dandy Stakes has traditionally served as a significant prep race for the Travers Stakes. Under the new format, both races will also help determine which horses remain in contention for the season-ending championship.
By the time the series reaches Saratoga, racing fans will have followed the leading three-year-olds through the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Matt Winn Stakes. Their performances in the Jim Dandy and Travers could then reshape the standings before the final race at Churchill Downs.
The Travers Stakes is already one of the most anticipated events of the Saratoga meet. Its place in the new series could add even more importance to the “Mid-Summer Derby,” particularly when several championship contenders arrive in Saratoga with points on the line.
Every Race Will Receive National Television Coverage
Each race in the Thoroughbred Championship Series will be broadcast to a national audience.
The NYRA races at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course will air on FOX. The Churchill Downs races will be shown on NBC. Additional broadcast and commercial partnership details will be released as agreements are finalized.
NYRA President and CEO David O’Rourke said the series is designed to showcase the best three-year-olds across an entire season while creating new fans and elevating the sport’s marquee events.
Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen added that connecting the races through one championship will give fans introduced to the sport during the Kentucky Derby a reason to continue following the horses throughout the season.
More Thoroughbred Championship Details Are Coming
Several pieces of the championship format are still being finalized, including the complete points system, eligibility rules, prize breakdown, and final race dates.
The inaugural Thoroughbred Championship Series is expected to begin on May 1, 2027. Saratoga racing fans can look forward to seeing the championship contenders compete in both the Jim Dandy and Travers Stakes during the 2027 summer meet.
Read the official announcement from NYRA and follow our Saratoga Racing News for future schedule and series updates.
