Derby And Preakness Will Change Methods Post Positions Drawn

Owners and trainers will now have a say in what post positions their horses start from in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

In the new format, the normal blind draw will be held to establish a selection order. Then a horse’s owner and trainer will choose the post position from among those available.

“When you do have an opportunity to select early, it gives you an advantage,” said trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who won the Derby with Winning Colors in 1980, Thunder Gulch in 1995 and Grindstone in 1996. “If you have a horse who is fractious, nervous in the gate, you might select an outside post.”

Churchill Downs president Tom Meeker, speaking during a conference call Tuesday, said the reason for the change was to better market thoroughbred racing.

“It’s fairly simple,” he said. “We have an obligation, we believe, to do whatever we can to promote our sport. This will increase the element of drama and provide a forum for personalities to get before a national audience.”

The draw for the Belmont Stakes will be done in the usual manner.

Traditionally, the name of a horse is drawn and then a numbered pill is shaken from a leather bottle. If the number is six, the horse starts from the No. 6 post.

Beginning in 1998, the number drawn for a horse will determine in what order the trainer or owner picks the post position. In other words, No. 6 would mean the owner or trainer would get the sixth choice in picking a post position.

If an owner or trainer has more than one starter, he or she must pick the post of each horse in the order drawn.