Reigning Eclipse Champion Jockey Flavien Prat secured his first Kentucky Downs riding title at the 2026 1/ST BET Kentucky Downs Meet, while Kentucky Downs' all-time leading trainer Mike Maker collected his eighth leading meet at Kentucky Downs.
Prat earned 16 victories for the meet, just two ahead of second-leading jockey Jose Ortiz, who completed the meet with 14 wins. Together, Prat and Ortiz won 37% of all races run this season at Kentucky Downs.
A vast majority of Prat's 16 victories came on two six-win days. He earned six victories on Sunday's program, including both stakes on the day aboard May Day Ready in the $500,000 One Dreamer and Stellify in the Grade 3, $1.5 million Global Tote Ladies Marathon. Prat replicated that feat with a six-win day on Closing Day Wednesday, including aboard Kentucky Belle in the featured Grade 3, $2 million Blackwood Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational.
"I am obviously very pleased with the success of this meet, and I am very thankful to the trainers and owners who continue to give me support," Prat said. "I wasn't here for every day of the meet, so when I came here being leading rider wasn't on my mind, but I am very fortunate that I was on good horses and that the horsemen have given me great opportunities. When horses like this track, it is a huge help. Most of the horses that I rode this meet really liked the track."
For Maker, the 2026 meet further added to his ledger, which includes meet-leading titles in 2015-18 and 2019-21.
Not only did Maker secure an eighth training title at Kentucky Downs on Closing Day, he also earned a milestone 100th victory at the Franklin, Kentucky turf course when 2-year-old Blaring Ambition, piloted by Prat, broke his maiden in Race 7 going 6 1/2 furlongs.
"It's great. It's a very prestigious meet, and I'm happy to be a part of it as always. I'm grateful for our staff and the hard work that they put in," Maker said. "Through the years, we've had a lot of grass horses, and a lot of horses that fit the conditions. We point to this meet with all of our grass horses, we can't find this good of an opportunity anywhere else."
When asked what it takes to win 100 races at Kentucky Downs, Maker simply replied, "Longevity."
Highlights of the 1/ST BET Kentucky Downs Meet include victories from European shippers like the English-based Haatem, who won the Grade 3 Mint Millions Invitational for trainer Richard Hannon, Jr. and Tiffany winning the Grade 2 AGS Kentucky Turf Cup for trainer Sir Mark Prescott. From Ireland, Take Charge Star won the Grade 2 The Mint Franklin-Simpson for trainer John Murtagh, and Joseph O'Brien sent over Citrus Springs for a triumph in the Pepsi Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies. Other memorable moments include three stakes triumphs for trainer Miguel Clement with Caroline St. Beat in the Grade 2 1/ST BET Nashville Derby Invitational; Bottas in the KTDF Gun Runner, and the popular 7-year-old veteran Tawny Port in Closing Day's Marsh McLennan Bowling Green Gold Cup Invitational.
Kentucky Downs also saw two horses earn automatic berths to Breeders' Cup races when Possiblemente captured the Grade 2 Light And Wonder Turf Sprint-a "Win And You're In" for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint-as well as whenTiffany secured a Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf entry in the Kentucky Turf Cup.
"We want to thank all of the horsemen for their continued support through another successful meet," said Kentucky Downs' Vice President of Racing Ted Nicholson. "We had so many great horses from all over the country and the world competing here at this meet, which further solidifies why Kentucky Downs is America's premier turf course. We wish the best of luck to the horses that competed at this meet in their further endeavors, and we look forward to welcoming them back next year."
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