Road to the Derby Point System Adjusted for 2025

With the Kentucky Deby field traditionally oversubscribed over the last couple of decades, Churchill Downs, home of the Derby, had to create a point system to prioritize entrants. That gave rise to the creation of the Road to the Kentucky Derby Series in 2012.

While 2012 was the year of creation, the system was implemented for the first time for the 2013 Derby. At that time, the series comprised 36 Derby "prep" races that awarded points for horses finishing first through fourth in a designated race. The points awarded for horses differ from one Derby prep race to another based on the grade and the perceived importance of each race.

Over the years, some races have been dropped while others have been added, including key races from Europe. As of 2024, the number of Kentucky Derby Series races sat at 37.

Kentucky Derby Series Adjustment for 2025

It's great to see that Churchill Downs is always working to make the Kentucky Derby Series better and more equitable. With that in mind, several tweaks have been made for the upcoming 2025 Kentucky Derby. Here's a look at the key changes.

- Any prep race that has fewer than six horses entering the starting gate will have that race's designated points reduced by 25%. If the race is designated to offer 50 points to the winner, the winner would then be awarded 40 points.

- The number of races to be included in 2025 will be 36 races, including the addition of the Grade III Virginia Derby from Colonial Downs in Virginia.

- At the international level, the rebranded Euro/Mideast Series has been reconfigured. The Euro series will include two (2) races from Europe and the UAE Derby from Meyden Race Course in the Middle East. The Japanese series will include four (4) races, which are scheduled to be run between Nov. 23 and March 22. The leading point earner from each of these series will get an invitation to participate in the 2025 Kentucky Derby.

It's worth noting that Forever Young from Japan finished 3rd in last year's Derby, the best finish to date from a foreign participant.

About Road to the Kentucky Oaks Series

At the same time the Kentucky Derby Series was created, Churchill Downs created a similar series for 3-year-old fillies. The Road to the Kentucky Oaks features approximately 30 races, of which 14 entrants will be selected. The point system used to prioritize entrants is similar.

At the same press briefing regarding the Kentucky Derby series, one change was announced for the Kentucky Oaks Series. That series will now include the Virginia Oaks, which is scheduled to be run on the same day on the Virginia Derby at the same track. It's worth noting that historically the Virginia Derby and Oaks have been run on the turf (grass). Next year's editions are both scheduled to be run on dirt.

The first Kentucky Derby series race for the 2025 Derby is the Iroquois Stakes to be run on September 18, 2024, at Churchill Downs.