Kentucky Adds New ‘Red Mile Million’ to Create Biggest Ever Standardbred Race Day
LEXINGTON, KY – Owners of the Red Mile, the Hambletonian Society and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission have announced the creation of a $3 million race day. The event will take place on Sunday, September 29, 2019, and will include the Commonwealth’s first-ever $1 million race in The Red Mile Million for Standardbreds.
“The Red Mile Million is intended to attract the world’s best two-year-old trotters to Lexington to compete at the historic Red Mile and highlight the Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Day as part of The Grand Circuit meet in 2019,” said Joe Costa, the track’s President. “More than that, it is intended to attract fans and guests to our exciting new entertainment destination.”
John Campbell of the Hambletonian Society explained the Red Mile Million format.
“This is a new idea for our sport,” said Campbell. “With ten slots to be acquired for $100,000 each, the race for two-year-old trotters will be a signature event for The Grand Circuit at The Red Mile going forward. There is already tremendous interest from our racing community.”
Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Executive Director Marc Guilfoil noted that the September 29 card at The Red Mile with The Red Mile Million and eight $250,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship races will be the second richest race day in the Commonwealth, trailing only Kentucky Derby Day.
“Beginning next year, our state will play host to an amazing day of racing and unprecedented purse structure for Standardbred racing,” said Guilfoil. “The Red Mile Million will become a can’t-miss event.”
With the Red Mile Million, The Grand Circuit Meet and the revitalized Kentucky Sire Stakes Program, over $11 million in harness racing purses will be competed for at The Red Mile over a seven-week period from August 2019 to October.
“We are working closely not only with our racing industry, but also local and state tourism officials to make this a memorable weekend for our region,” added Costa. “Stay tuned as we plan more announcements in the coming weeks.”
For more information, contact Brian Miller at the Bluegrass Sports Commission at bmiller@bluegrasssports.org or by phone at 859-420-4191.
Red Mile
Since 1875, Red Mile has been an important part of the cultural and physical fabric of Lexington, Central Kentucky, and the world of horse racing. A $42 million joint venture with Red Mile and The Keeneland Association features the trifecta of racing offering live racing, simulcast wagering and 900 Historical Horseracing terminals. The expansion and renovation of the all-new Red Mile features 110,000 square feet of entertainment and expanded wagering options.
Hambletonian Society
The Hambletonian Society is a non-profit organization formed in 1924 to sponsor the race for which it was named, the Hambletonian Stake. The Society’s mission is to encourage and support the breeding of Standardbred horses through the development, administration and promotion of harness racing stakes, early-closing races and other special events.
Kentucky Horse Racing Commission
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) is an independent agency of state government charged with the responsibility of regulating the conduct of horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing and related activities within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The KHRC is a leader in both the safety and integrity of the sport as well as the welfare of the horse. The KHRC’s passion and commitment is evident in the adoption of steroid bans, riding crop rule, standardbred whip rule, higher standards for animal welfare, and amended regulations for licensing and racing associations.
The Bluegrass Sports Commission
Governed by a board of directors, the Bluegrass Sports Commission (BSC) is an independent, non-profit 501c3 responsible for recruiting, growing, executing and attracting sporting events of all sizes and types that serve the Central Kentucky by increasing economic activity and/or improving the quality of life for its citizens.