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KY Derby, Oaks Will Allow Four Also-Eligibles
Photo: Skip Dickstein
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Churchill Downs will permit four also-eligible entrants to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), beginning with the respective 138th runnings of those races in 2012.
For the first time in the history of those races, the new system allows as many as four horses to remain eligible to compete in each race beyond the official time of entry and one or more of the also eligible horses could be allowed to run in their respective race if members of the original fields for their races scratch from the race within a specified period of time.
A maximum of 20 horses is allowed to compete in the Kentucky Derby, while the Kentucky Oaks is limited to 14 starters.
Entries for the Kentucky Derby are due the Wednesday before the race, while Oaks entries are taken on the Tuesday before its annual Friday renewal. Also-eligible horses would be permitted to compete in the Kentucky Derby or the Kentucky Oaks if there are scratches from either race prior to their shared official scratch time of 9 a.m. EST on Friday. That time is the opening of wagering on the Kentucky Oaks Day racing program and the beginning of preliminary betting on the Kentucky Derby.
In the event of a scratch or scratches from either race, preference among also-eligible entrants would be determined under the current eligibility system for the Derby and Oaks. Horses with the highest total earnings in graded stakes races would draw-in to the field for their respective race. If the total entrants for either of those races should exceed the maximum field size plus four, the four horses listed as also-eligible entrants would be determined by the same system.
