“The points system was designed to make it easier for horses to qualify for the Kentucky Derby, and to ensure that the best horses were competing in the race.”
How Does the Kentucky Derby Point System Work?
The Kentucky Derby is one of the most famous horse races in the world. It takes place every year in May at Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is open to three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, and it is the first leg of the Triple Crown, which also includes the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. In this article, we will explain how the points system for the Kentucky Derby works.
The Kentucky Derby points system was introduced in 2013 to determine which horses qualify for the race. Before the points system, horses were selected based on their earnings in graded stakes races. The points system was designed to make it easier for horses to qualify for the Kentucky Derby, and to ensure that the best horses were competing in the race.
Under the points system, horses earn points for finishing in the top four positions in designated races. The number of points awarded depends on the quality of the race, with races that have a higher purse and greater prestige awarding more points. There are 35 designated races in total, and the points system begins in September of the previous year.
The horse with the most points at the end of the designated races earns a spot in the Kentucky Derby. If there are more than 20 horses with points, the horses with the most points will be entered into the race, up to a maximum of 20 horses.
The points system for the Kentucky Derby is divided into two phases. The first phase includes races for two-year-old horses, and the second phase includes races for three-year-old horses.
The first phase of the points system includes 19 designated races, which are known as the “Kentucky Derby Prep Season.” These races take place from September through February, and they are typically run at distances of one mile or less.
The second phase of the points system includes 16 designated races, which are known as the “Kentucky Derby Championship Series.” These races take place from late February through April, and they are typically run at distances of 1 1/16 miles or longer.
The highest-scoring horses from the Kentucky Derby Championship Series are typically the ones that go on to compete in the Kentucky Derby. Horses that have earned the most points in the Kentucky Derby Championship Series are often considered to be the strongest contenders in the race.
The most prestigious races in the Kentucky Derby Championship Series are the Louisiana Derby, the Florida Derby, the Wood Memorial Stakes, and the Santa Anita Derby. These races award the most points, with the winner of each race earning 100 points.
The remaining races in the Kentucky Derby Championship Series award between 40 and 20 points to the top four finishers, depending on the quality of the race. The races in the Kentucky Derby Prep Season award between 10 and 50 points to the top four finishers.
In addition to the designated races, horses can also earn points in the European Road to the Kentucky Derby and the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. These series consist of designated races that are held in Europe and Japan, and they award points to the top four finishers in each race. The horses with the most points from these series are also eligible to compete in the Kentucky Derby.
The points system for the Kentucky Derby has been successful in ensuring that the best horses are competing in the race. The system has also made it easier for trainers to plan their horses’ racing schedules, as they know which races are designated and how many points are at stake.
In conclusion, the Kentucky Derby points system is a way of determining which horses qualify for the race. Horses earn points for finishing in the top four positions in designated races, and the number of points awarded depends on the quality of the race. The horse with the most points at the end of the designated races earns a spot in the Kentucky Derby.
