The Road to the Kentucky Derby is under going a bit of construction in 2025, but there will be no delays.
The $500,000 dollar Virginia Derby held at 1 1/8 miles will be run on March 15th during a special four-day spring meet at Colonial Downs.
The contest has been added to the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series.
The series consists of select races that determine the preference list for the 151st Kentucky Derby on May 3rd, 2025 at Churchill Downs.
The Virginia Derby will run seven weeks in advance of the $5 million Kentucky Derby, that date on the racing calendar was previously void of any qualifying races.
The race will award 105 points to the top five finishers, including 50 points to the Winner.
The Road to the Kentucky Derby, which began in 2013, annually awards a sliding scale of points to the top five finishing positions in select qualifying races.
At the conclusion of the series, the leaderboard will determine the preference list for entries into the 20-horse Kentucky Derby.
At least 20 horses have entered the Run for the Roses in 23 of the last 26 years.
The 1 1/16-mile Virginia Oaks will be run on the Virginia Derby undercard and become a qualifier on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series, which awards points to 3-year-old fillies to qualify for the 151st Kentucky Oaks at 1 1/8 miles May 2, 2025.
Two other rule changes of note have been instituted:
1) In the event a Championship Series race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby or Kentucky Oaks is run with a five-horse field, only 75% of the points will be proportionally awarded.
2) A Championship Series race field with four or fewer horses will be proportionally awarded 50% of the total points.
The Road to the Kentucky Derby begins September 14th at Churchill Downs with the 43rd running of the $300,000 dollar Iroquois Stakes– for 2-year-olds at one mile.
That race is a part of Churchill Downs opening weekend, during its 14-day September Meet.
