Kentucky Derby Prep Races 2021
The Road to the Kentucky Derby includes many prep events as horses try to score points to earn enough to be invited to race on the first Saturday of May every year. In 2021 that race will be on Saturday 1 May.
The winners of the Japanese and European roads will earn an invitation, should the top horse turn it down then the offer will go to the next qualifying horse. If none of the top four horses accept the offer then an extra place will be awarded to the next placed horse on the American road who didn't earn an automatic qualification bid.
As we get closer to the Kentucky Derby, in general the points for each prep race increases significantly.
20 horses will earn an offer with four more classed as 'also eligible' should any of the main field drop out.
Our Road to Kentucky Derby Points standings are updated after every event and you can find that link at the bottom of the page.
Below please find all the prep races for the 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby along with their venue, date and the points up for grabs in each race.
Note: The Dates/Schedule are not final and the Japanese Road has not yet been announced...
- Date
- Race
- Track
- Winner
- Points
Date
- September 5
- September 26
- October 3
- October 10
- November 6
- November 28
- December 5
- December 5
- December 12
- January 1
- January 2
- January 16
- January 23
- January 30
- January 30
- January 30
- February 6
- February 13
- February 13
- February 13
- February 19
- February 27
- March 6
- March 6
- March 6
- March 13
- March 13
- March 20
- March 27
Race
- Iroquois Stakes
- American Pharoah Stakes
- Breeders' Futurity
- Champagne Stakes
- Breeders' Cup Juvenile
- Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes
- Remsen Stakes
- Los Alamitos Futurity
- Springboard Mile
- Jerome Stakes
- Sham Stakes
- Lecomte Stakes
- Smarty Jones Stakes
- Robert B. Lewis Stakes
- Withers Stakes
- Holy Bull Stakes
- Sam F. Davis Stakes
- El Camino Real Derby
- Risen Star Stakes (Div. I)
- Risen Star Stakes (Div. II)
- Southwest Stakes
- Fountain of Youth Stakes
- Gotham Stakes
- Tampa Bay Derby
- San Felipe Stakes
- Jeff Ruby Steaks
- Rebel Stakes
- Louisiana Derby
- Florida Derby
Track
- Churchill Downs
- Santa Anita Park
- Keeneland
- Belmont Park
- Keeneland
- Churchill Downs
- Aqueduct
- Los Alamitos
- Remington Park
- Aqueduct
- Santa Anita Park
- Fair Grounds
- Oaklawn Park
- Santa Anita Park
- Aqueduct
- Gulfstream Park
- Tampa Bay Downs
- Golden Gate Fields
- Fair Grounds
- Fair Grounds
- Oaklawn Park
- Gulfstream Park
- Aqueduct
- Tampa Bay Downs
- Santa Anita Park
- Turfway Park
- Oaklawn Park
- Fair Grounds
- Gulfstream Park
Winner
- Sittin On Go
- Get Her Number
- Essential Quality
- Jackie's Warrior
Points
- 10-4-2-1
- 10-4-2-1
- 10-4-2-1
- 10-4-2-1
- 20-8-4-2
- 10-4-2-1
- 10-4-2-1
- 10-4-2-1
- 10-4-2-1
- 10-4-2-1
- 10-4-2-1
- 10-4-2-1
- 10-4-2-1
- 10-4-2-1
- 10-4-2-1
- 10-4-2-1
- 10-4-2-1
- 10-4-2-1
- 50-20-10-5
- 50-20-10-5
- 10-4-2-1
- 50-20-10-5
- 50-20-10-5
- 50-20-10-5
- 50-20-10-5
- 20-8-4-2
- 50-20-10-5
- 100-40-20-10
- 100-40-20-10
- Date
- Race
- Track
- Winner
- Points
Date
- September 26
- September 27
- October 4
- October 24
- March 1
- March 4
- April 1
Race
- The Royal Lodge Stakes
- The Beresford Stakes
- Prix diJean Luv Larardere
- Vertem Futurity at Doncaster
- Patton Stakes
- Road to the Derby Stakes
- Cardinal Stakes
Track
- Newmarket
- The Curragh
- Longchamp
- Doncaster
- Dundalk
- Kempton Park
- Chelmsford
Winner
- New Mandate
- High Definition
- Sealiway
Points
- 10-4-2-1
- 10-4-2-1
- 10-4-2-1
- 10-4-2-1
- 20-8-4-2
- 20-8-4-2
- 20-8-4-2