The purse for Churchill Downs's marquee race for older horses, the Grade I Stephen Foster on Saturday, June 27, has been doubled from $1 million to $2 million, according to a press release from the track on Wednesday.Billed as the “Summer Showdown,” the 45th running of the 1 1/8-mile dirt race for 4-year-olds–which is part of the Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' Challenge Series–will be broadcast on NBCSN and Peacock from 4:30-6:30 p.m. (all times Eastern).Five of the world's elite dirt horses have already expressed interest in running in this year's Stephen Foster: reigning Horse of the Year and 2024 GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) (10-6-3-0, $6,079,050) and GI Pennsylvania Derby winner Baeza (McKinzie) (10-2-3-3, $1,717,200) from the barn of trainer Bill Mott; GI Dubai World Cup winner Magnitude (Not This Time) (13-7-2-1, $8,544,365) for trainer Steve Asmussen; and recent GII Oaklawn Handicap winner White Abarrio (Race Day) (26-11-3-3, $8,445,170) and GI Pegasus World Cup winner Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator) (38-14-4-7, $5,893,650) for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.“Stephen Foster Day has grown tremendously over the last several years attracting some of the world's best horses, and this purse boost helps solidify our closing weekend as a must-see premier racing event,” President of Churchill Downs Racetrack Mike Anderson said. “Firmly positioned in late June with lucrative prize money on the line, the Stephen Foster is an ideal summertime race for the best Thoroughbreds to compete at historic Churchill Downs. We truly believe horsemen and women, as well as horse racing fans around the world, will enthusiastically respond to this Summer Showdown.”All-sources wagering for last year's Stephen Foster Day was an event record $20.7 million, up $1.9 million or 10% from the 2024 Stephen Foster card that handled $18.8 million.In addition to the two-hour broadcast on NBCSN and Peacock, FanDuel TV will televise the entire Stephen Foster Day program, which features seven stakes events on the 12-race program that begins at 12:45 p.m.Nominations for the Stephen Foster close Wednesday, June 10. Owners will pay $20,000 to enter and $20,000 to start, which equates to 2% of the total purse. First prize is 53% of the purse–estimated at more than $1 million–after 1.5% percent is paid to each of the sixth through last place finishers. Second place will receive 22.5%, third at 12.5%, fourth at 7% and fifth at 5%.The post ‘Summer Showdown’ Purse For GI Stephen Foster Doubled To $2 Million appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.