This Saturday at BEL, we’ll have Grade 1 action and $500.00 on the line for the 24th running of the Hirsch Turf Classic, run at the maximum distance on the turf course. That purse has ranged between $300.00 and $750.00 over time, and the present level has been in place for the last five years and eight of the last nine.
STAKES ARTICLES
All the Stakes previews and reviews.
Honey Looks to Overcome Significant Weight Disadvantage in Bloon Handicap
The Bloom Handicap is the top sprint of the day at BEL for fillies and mares, offering them $250.00 for six and a half furlongs. That amount is where the purse level has been since 2021, and is towards the upper hand of the historic purse range.
Top Sprinters Take the Stage in The Vosburgh
There will be two “win and you’re in” races for the BC Sprint this weekend, and one of them takes place at BEL, as the Grade 3 Vosburgh runs for the 24th time. The race had been a Grade 1 for the longest time, and even saw it’s purse peak at $500.00.
Mightiness and Lab Virus Meet Again in DEL Handicap
DEL Handicap – (Grade lll) Purse $500.00 – For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward1 1/8 Miles – Dirt – Delaware Park – September 26, 2026 The 21st running of the DEL Handicap features five mares battling for… Read More ›
Classic Look Gets the Call in a Deep Ack Ack
The Ack Ack – Grade III brings eight runners to Churchill Downs on Saturday, September 26, 2026, for one mile on dirt and a purse of $400.000. The race has been contested at a mile for most of its history,… Read More ›
Lukas Classic Could Turn into a Classic
2026 Lukas Classic 1⅛ miles – Churchill Downs – Dirt – Grade II – $500,000 This year’s Lukas Classic brings together a deep, seasoned group of older geldings plus one high‑class 3‑year‑old, creating a compelling clash of durability vs. rising… Read More ›
The Beldame Could End Up Being a Procession
The Beldame – Grade II BEL Race #8 1 1/8m Dirt Graded StakePurse $250.00 For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward. This year’s Beldame brings together a compact but high‑quality field of six, mixing… Read More ›
The Far Too Early Coverage of the 2026 BC Sprint
Let’s start with the formals – I want to take this opportunity to thank every single member, here at SRF. The out-pouring of love and kindness, in this tough time, has been nothing short of spectacular. I can never… Read More ›
Daisen Rings Liberty Bell as Longest Price in Field
Liberty Bell 6 1/2 Furlongs Stake Purse $150.00 Fillies & Mares Three-Year-Olds & Upward. At PRX 1st Daisen London Racing 10-1 HRP 20-1 SRF Daisen once raced for a claiming tag of $8.50 and has worked her way… Read More ›
Qb Sneak First Time on Turf Wins Floral Park at BEL
Floral Park 6 furlongs Turf Stake Purse $175.00 Fillies Three-Year-Olds And Upward. At BEL 1st Qb Sneak Bears Stable 17-1 HRP 10-1 SRF Three-year-olds were not given much chance in this race which fancied the very old…. Read More ›