The official “Road to the Kentucky Derby” will begin Sept. 18, as Churchill Downs stages the US$300,000 Iroquois (G3) for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on opening weekend of its 12-day September meet.
The “Road to the Kentucky Derby,” a series of select races that award a sliding scale of points to the top four finishers, has determined preference for its 20-horse Kentucky Derby field since 2013. Effective September 30, points from any race in the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” will not be awarded to any horse trained by any individual who is suspended from racing in the 2022 Kentucky Derby. A Churchill Downs representative confirmed to Horse Racing Nation that Bob Baffert is the only trainer currently suspended from the 2022 Kentucky Derby.
Additionally, any trainer directly or indirectly employed, supervised, or advised by a suspended trainer cannot earn Kentucky Derby qualifying points. Should a horse trained by a suspended trainer, or any trainer directly or indirectly employed, supervised, or advised by a suspended trainer, finish in a position that would have earned points in a “Road to the Kentucky Derby” race occurring after September 30 the points associated with that finish position will be vacated.
The 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby for 3-year-olds will be run at the Louisville, Ky. racetrack for the 148th consecutive year on Saturday, May 7, 2022. As was the case this year, the 2022 Kentucky Derby will be run without the permitted use of Furosemide (often referred to by the brand name, Lasix).
Points will only be awarded to horses who compete on race day without Lasix in Road to the Kentucky Derby races. The same rules apply for the “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” series, which awards points to fillies to qualify for the Kentucky Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on Friday, May 6, 2022. The total number of races in the primary “Road to the Kentucky Derby” series has increased by one to 37.
