Lexington’s fabled Red Mile will host its annual Championship night on Sunday, Sept. 15 — the final night program of the year — featuring $3.4 USD million in purses, including eight $400,000 USD Kentucky Sire Stakes Finals for two-year-olds and three-year-olds.

The stellar program, with a 5:05 p.m. first post time, will also feature a “better-for-the-bettor” buffet for the “Send-It-In Army” with several guaranteed pool and carryovers to further enhance the 10-race program.

Sunday night racing has proven to be very successful at The Red Mile with the handle out-sprinting the daytime handle by close to 50 per cent.

On the racing front, the first $400,000 USD Championship will feature one of the strongest quintets in history for juvenile pacers with three of the five entrants owning marks under 1:50.

The trio, Sippinonasearoc (p,2,1:48.2), Louprint (p,2,1:49) and American Son (p,2,1:49.3) have developed quite a rivalry in recent times with this event the culmination of the Kentucky Sire Stakes program for the class.

Hambletonian champ Karl, a winner of nine of 10 this semester and 18 of 20 lifetime with $2.2 million in bounty, will be in action and will look to make a sweep in KYSS action at The Red Mile from post position seven.

Secret Agent Man, second to Karl in the first three legs of this event, got within a neck of the winner in his last start and has drawn the inside post one to try and upset the applecart.

Sophomore pacing colts and geldings will do battle on Sunday with the colt, Better Is Nice, facing two strong gelding opponents, Women Layer and Nuclear in their $400,000 KYSS final.

Better Is Nice got the jump on his worthy rivals in his last start and hit the wire in a lifetime best 1:48.3 while Women Layer and Nuclear were flying in the final stages to finish in a dead-heat for place — Women Lover coming home in :26 from far back.

The “buffet” specials for the “Send-It-In Army” include guaranteed pools for several events, including the 20 cent Pick-6 in the opener with a carryover and $5,000 guaranteed pool (15 per cent takeout), the third race 20 cent Pick-8 (Races 3 through 10) with a $10,000 guaranteed pool (15 per cent takeout), the fourth race 50 cent Pick-5 with a $10,000 guaranteed pool (12 per cent takeout), 

The sixth race features a carryover of $3,580 in the Pick-4 (Races 6-9) with a $20,000 guaranteed pool and a 12 per cent takeout — the lowest in the pari-mutuel industry.

Both the fifth race and the 10th race finale on Sunday feature a 20 cent Super-Hi-5 — both with a 15 per cent takeout.

There will be be “bookend” daily double on Races 1 & 2 and 9 & 10 with traditional exacta, trifecta and superfecta betting on selected races throughout the Sunday program. 

Program pages for Sunday are available here. The Sunday buffet opens at 4 p.m. with reservations necessary.

The Red Mile Stakes season continues on Monday and Tuesday with 17 races each day — the six $100,000 USD Commonwealth finals on Monday with the Golden Rod finals on Tuesday.

Also, the fabled announcer Pete Aiello will be at The Red Mile both days to lend his melodious and exciting race calls to the festivities.

(with files from The Red Mile)