Thoroughbred Championship Series adds division for fillies; date set for 2027 Travers

Churchill Downs Incorporated and the New York Racing Association announced Wednesday an expansion of their Thoroughbred Championship Series to include a separate division for 3-year-old fillies, and also revealed the 2027 dates for several of Saratoga Race Course's top races.

Most notably, the 2027 Travers Stakes will take place on Aug. 28. Won in 2026 by Leading Change, the Midsummer Derby is set to serve as the penultimate race in the now-named "Derby Division," which includes six races for 3-year-olds and was announced earlier this year.

That slate of Derby Division races, which also includes Saratoga's Jim Dandy, has the following schedule.

Kentucky Derby: May 1 at Churchill Downs Racetrack

Matt Winn Stakes: July 3 at Churchill Downs Racetrack

Jim Dandy Stakes: July 31 at Saratoga Race Course

Travers Stakes: Aug. 28 at Saratoga Race Course

TCS Championship: Sept. 25 at Churchill Downs Racetrack

The four-race Oaks Division for fillies has the following schedule.

Kentucky Oaks: April 30 at Churchill Downs Racetrack

Coaching Club American Oaks: July 24 at Saratoga Race Course

Alabama Stakes: Aug. 21 at Saratoga Race Course

The Oaks Division will carry a $1 million prize pool to be shared among the three highest-ranked horses in the final standings. The winner of the Oaks Division will also earn entry into the Sept. 25 TCS Championship Race and receive a bonus up to $1 million if she wins that race.

"The Oaks Division gives 3-year-old fillies a championship of their own, connecting four of the best races in the sport into one points race from Louisville to Saratoga," NYRA president David O'Rourke said in a news release. "And for the filly who comes out on top, it opens the door to take on the colts in September. It's a matchup fans have always wanted to see, and now there's a clear path to it."

Combined, the two horse racing series will offer more than $22 million in purses and prizes. Each of the 10 races will air on either NBC or Fox networks.

Previously, it was announced that the Derby Division will carry a $5 million prize pool.