The Breeders' Futurity Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early October at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky.^[2] Currently offering a purse of $500,000, the race is open to two-year-old horses and is run at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt. From 1997 to 2008, the race was sponsored by Lane's End Farm.^[3] From 2009 to 2013 it was sponsored by Dixiana Farm.^[4] It is now sponsored by Claiborne Farm.^[1]

Structure

The race is a Road to the Kentucky Derby Prep Season qualifying race. The winner receives 10 points toward qualifying for the Kentucky Derby.^[5] It is also currently part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series. The winner automatically qualifies for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

History

The Breeders' Futurity was first raced at the Kentucky Association track in Lexington in 1910^[6] and was renewed each year thereafter through 1930. In 1931 through 1935, the race was shifted to the Latonia Race Track in Covington, Kentucky.^[7] The Futurity was revived at Keeneland in the fall of 1938 and during World War II, from 1943 through 1945 was renewed as part of the Churchill Downs fall meetings.^[8]

The race was a Grade III event from 1973 to 1975, a Grade II from 1976 through 2003, and became a Grade 1 stakes in 2004. Over the years, it has been raced at various distances:

• Six furlongs (1938–1949)^[9]
• Seven furlongs (1950–1955)
• Seven furlongs, 184 feet (1956–1980)
• 1+1⁄16 miles (1981–present)

From 2006 to 2013, the race was run on a Polytrack artificial dirt surface. In 2014, the Polytrack was replaced by a new dirt surface.^[10]

Records (since 1938)

Fastest Time: (at Current Distance 1+1⁄16 miles)

• 1:42.20 – Polar Expedition (1993)

Most wins by an owner

• 5 – Claiborne Farm (1956, 1963, 1968, 1983, 1987)

Most wins by a jockey

• 5 – Don Brumfield (1969, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1979)

Most wins by a trainer

• 6 – D. Wayne Lukas (1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2004)

Winners of the Breeders' Futurity Stakes since 1938