A year ago, a significant question emerged - when would the Breeders’ Cup synthetic championships make their grand entrance? While we patiently await the Breeders’ Cup, Turfway Park and its parent company, Churchill Downs Inc., have stepped up to the plate and are now leading the charge.

Unleashing the Potential of Synthetic Racing at Turfway

Establishing a Synthetic Racing Legacy

We are well aware that synthetic surfaces offer the safest racing environment. With each passing year, the emphasis on synthetic tracks continues to grow, making it a logical move to create new and exciting big days on synthetic. Turfway Park is at the forefront of this movement. Earlier this year, they established the $1 million synthetic championships day, scheduled for this Saturday. The night is set to be a spectacle, with the $250,000 Prairie Bayou sharing the spotlight alongside the $250,000 Holiday Cheer, the $250,000 Holiday Inaugural, and the $250,000 My Charmer. Gary Palmisano, the vice president of racing for CDI, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "I think this event can continue to build year after year and take on a life of its own. I could see a scenario down the road where there are win-and-you’re-in type races at other tracks that point towards this race card. The sky is the limit for this event, we hope."This year, all four stakes are ungraded, but Palmisano envisions a change on the horizon. "We expect to see more races on synthetic become graded," he said.

The Perfect Timing for Racing and Sports

Palmisano pointed out that for racing, it makes perfect sense for synthetic specialists to have a clear target at the end of the year. But the sports calendar also aligns perfectly. "We’re really excited about this particular day on the calendar," he said. "Looking at the sports landscape, there is little to no football on that Saturday, providing an opportunity to reach horseplayers undistracted by other sports."

A Comparison of Synthetic Graded Races in the US and Canada

In 2024, only three U.S. races run on synthetic are graded: The Grade 2, $700,000 Jeff Ruby and $300,000 Kentucky Cup Classic (G3) in late March and the $300,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters (G3) in late September. Golden Gate had run the Golden Gate Handicap (G3) in November 2023 before closing. Gulfstream Park does not have any graded stakes on synthetic.North of the border, Woodbine held 24 graded races this year, including four Grade 2 races like the Eclipse Stakes, Seagram Cup, Autumn Stakes, and Kennedy Road, along with 20 Grade 3 events. However, the Kings Plate, worth CA$1 million, is not eligible for grading as a restricted event.

The Highest Purse Races on Synthetic in North America

Here are the 12 highest purse events on synthetic in North America in 2024 year-to-date.TrackGradeRacePurseWOKing’s Plate S.$1,000,000TP3Jeff Ruby Steaks$700,000WOWoodbine OaksCA$500,000TP3Kentucky Cup Classic S.$300,000TPBourbonette Oaks$300,000PID2Presque Isle Downs Masters S.$300,000TPAnimal Kingdom S.$250,000TPRushaway S.$250,000TPLatonia S.$250,000WOBison City S.CA$250,000WOPrincess Elizabeth S.CA$250,000WOCoronation FuturityCA$250,000

The Saturday Night Card at Turfway Park

The four stakes anchor a remarkable night of racing filled with Turfway’s renowned large fields. On average, 13.6 horses are entered in each of the nine races. With a maximum field of 12, three of the stakes are oversubscribed, and one has a field of 11. This showcases the popularity and excitement surrounding synthetic racing at Turfway Park.