The Road to the Kentucky Derby /ËdÉrbi/ is a points system which features 34 stakes races for 2 and 3-year-old thoroughbreds. The point system replaces the previous system which consisted of about 185 graded stakes races worldwide. The series is divided into two phases, the Kentucky Derby Prep Season and the Kentucky Derby Championship Series. The prep season consists of 17 races on dirt or synthetic surfaces over distances of at least one mile that typically are run between late September and late February. Points are awarded to the top 4 finishers in each race on a 10-4-2-1 scale. The championship season consists of two legs and a “wild card” round. The first leg includes eight races with a 50-20-10-5 scale. The second leg includes seven races with a 100-40-20-10 scale. The “wild card” consists of one race and has a 10-4-2-1 scale.
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