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An Even Better Kentucky Downs Meet Awaits

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An Even Better Kentucky Downs Meet Awaits


The 2024 Kentucky Downs meet promises to be the track’s best yet. Flush with even more purse money than ever before thanks to historical horse racing legislation and the nearby Mint Gaming Hall, Kentucky Downs is on course to host the one of the most lucrative race meets in North American history.

WATCH: KENTUCKY DOWNS MEET PREVIEW

This year, a record $37 million in purses could be paid out over the seven-day all-turf meet. The Franklin, Ky., track will hold 19 stakes, nine of them graded, across the European-style turf course.

“My expectations are the same every year for this meet,”  said Kentucky Downs vice president for racing Ted Nicholson. “You plan for 48-50 weeks out of the year and it happens, you blink, and it’s over. But we’re excited. The purses are even higher than the purses last year and we feel like we’re going to attract some bigger and better horses. We have some horses coming to compete from Europe.”

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For the first time in the track’s 33 years of operation, Kentucky Downs will stage its first grade 1 event, the $1 million Franklin-Simpson Stakes (G1T) for 3-year-olds going 6 1/2 furlongs. The Franklin-Simpson is the sole grade 1 race in the country for sophomores sprinting on the turf. Although the race is not part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, Kentucky Downs will pay the entry fees for the winner should they compete in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Del Mar this fall.

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“We’re excited to put together a grade 1 race but we’re not resting on that,” Nicholson said. “We’re working very hard to make sure our grade 2s get elevated to grade 1 status after this year and some of the 3s could even get a double jump or single jump. We’re focusing on bettering all of our stakes for when the Graded Stakes Committee meets again in December.”

Two of those grade 2s, the lucrative Kentucky Turf Cup (G2T) and the Ainsworth Turf Sprint (G2T) serve as Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series qualifying races for the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) and Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, respectively. Both contests will take place Sept. 7 on a race card that is the second-richest in the country surpassed only by the Breeders’ Cup Championships. Race purses Sept. 7 are equivalent to $13 million.

While the Kentucky Downs races act as a platform for registered Kentucky-bred horses, with $15 million on the table in purses from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund for which horses bred out of state are ineligible, Nicholson said there will be an influx of European contenders arriving for this year’s meet.

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Nicholson credited the hire of Martin Panza, co-director of racing operations at Kentucky Downs, for the heightened interest from Europe.

“(Panza) has really helped us attract the Europeans to come to our meet,” Nicholson said. “We’ve given them their own barn. It’s like an isolation barn for them. A lot of horses will come through from Churchill Downs where they’ve done their quarantine so it works out pretty well.”

Among the European horses scheduled to compete at Kentucky Downs include the Charlie Hills-trained pair of Ancient Rome , back to defend his title in the Mint Millions Stakes (G3T), and Khaadem , a two-time winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.

Kentucky Downs is a unique track in that it provides a country fair-like atmosphere for its guests. The relaxed, family-friendly environment buries the divide between horsemen, owners, and fans and makes for a memorable day at the races. Nicholson noted that management has made several capital improvements ahead of opening day, including a new pavilion behind the finish line, a suite available for purchase by the eighth pole, and a newly asphalted parking lot off Highway 31W.

A card of 11 races with an average field size of 11.5 kicks off opening day of the meet Aug. 29. The highlight of the card is the $500,000 Tapit Stakes, contested over one mile and 70 yards for horses aged 3 years and up who have not won a sweepstakes in 2024. Contenders for the Tapit include 2023 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) winner Atone  and the 1-2 finishers in last year’s race, Harlan Estate  and English Bee .

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First post is 12:25 pm CT.



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Kentucky

Kentucky vs. Texas Injury Report: Things stay the same

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Kentucky vs. Texas Injury Report: Things stay the same


We are less than 48 hours away from the Kentucky Wildcats kicking off their week 13 matchup with the Texas Longhorns in Austin.

In what is going to be a tough matchup for the Cats, but for the first time this season the Cats will be the closest to healthy as they have been all season. Now it will feature some big players that will miss the marquee matchup with the Longhorns, but it appears the Cats could return some key players.

In tonight’s update, the UK staff had the report hold the same as Courtland Ford and Kahlil Saunders remain questionable and JJ Weaver stays in a probable status.

The Cats will need all the help they can get this weekend if they hope to pull off the upset. Adding a player back like Weaver to the defense can only help the Cats’ chances of a monster road upset.

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Drone Shows Wintry Mist in Southern Kentucky

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Drone Shows Wintry Mist in Southern Kentucky


Stormy conditions hit east of Somerset, Kentucky, on Thursday, November 21, as scattered showers passed through the region. Footage filmed and posted to X by Johnnie Nicholson shows fog and wintry precipitation shrouding an area east of Somerset on Thursday. Three rounds of precipitation are expected to move through the region on Thursday and Friday, according to a local news outlet. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the first measurable snow of the season is forecast for parts of eastern Kentucky on Friday as well. Credit: Johnnie Nicholson via Storyful



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Kentucky vs. Jackson State viewing info, what to watch for, and predictions

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Kentucky vs. Jackson State viewing info, what to watch for, and predictions


The Kentucky Wildcats are back in action Friday to face the Jackson State Tigers in the second game of the BBN Invitational.

To put it simply, Jackson State is bad, very bad. Sitting at 0-5 and ranked 321st in KenPom, the Tigers will likely be the worst opponent Kentucky will play all season.

Coached by Mo Williams, one of LeBron James’ old teammates with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Tigers have only finished above .500 twice in the last decade. This season, Jackson State is predicted to finish fourth in the SWAC.

Mark Pope recently said he wanted to build a standard, regardless of opponent and, and that will be tested on Friday.

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Let’s take a look at the matchup.

More 3-Point Attempts

Admittedly nitpicking, one of the things that Mark Pope was not happy with in Kentucky’s win over Lipscomb was the amount of three-point attempts. While they shot nearly 50 percent from deep, going 12-25, Pope wants to see the number of attempts closer to 35.

The Tigers have allowed their opponents to shoot 47.8 percent from deep, the second-worst mark in the country. Pope and the staff will certainly generate a game plan to take advantage of this. Expect to see 30+ attempts.

Ball Movement

Despite beating Lipscomb by 29 points, the Wildcats had a season-low in assists with just ten. For context, Kentucky had averaged more than 23 assists per game entering the matchup.

“That’s not us. That’s not who we are,” Pope said after the game.

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While there wasn’t a lot of selfishness, the ball just wasn’t ‘flying’ as it has been early this season. This is a priority for the staff and this mature group, and they will aim for 25+ assists.

Keep JSU off Free-Throw Line

Jackson State ranks in the top 100 nationally in one area: Free throws made per game. So, Kentucky, defend without fouling.

Kentucky’s offense makes headlines, but the defense has played very well to start the season, holding all four opponents to under 73 points. Let’s see if they can get down in a stance and defend well for 40 minutes vs. a team that stresses contact and drawing fouls.

Opposing Players to Watch

C Shannon Grant 6-11, 290 lbs

  • 7.5 PPG
  • 4.8
  • Preseason All-SWAC First Team selection

G Jayme Mitchell Jr 6-5, 190 lbs

  • 15.0 PPG
  • 3.8 RPG
  • 44.4% 3P

F Romelle Mansel 6-9, 220 lbs

  • 10.8 PPG
  • 5.8 RPG
  • 31.7% FG (second most FG attempts on the team)

Time: 7 PM ET on November 22nd

Location: Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY

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TV Channel: This game will not be on TV and is streaming only,

Online Stream: SEC Network+, ESPN+, and the ESPN app.

Radio: Tom Leach and Jack Givens have the radio call on the UK Sports Radio Network.

Replay: WatchESPN and SEC Network (check local listings).

Rosters: UK | JSU

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Stats to Know: UK | JSU

KenPom: UK | JSU

Team Sheet: UK | JSU

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Odds: FanDuel Sportsbook has yet to release the odds for the game, so check Thursday afternoon for an official spread. Multiple projections give Kentucky a 99% chance of winning: Bart Torvik (99%), EvanMiya (99.9%), and ESPN (99.0%). The exception is KenPom (92%).

Predictions: KenPom (93-63), Haslametrics (96-63), Bart Torvik (95-61), and EvanMiya (96-59) all are going with a 30+ point victory, Kentucky!

Be sure to send us your Kentucky vs. Jackson State score predictions! And Go CATS!!

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