Stepping Stone Purse Stepping Stone Purse The Stepping Stone Purse was an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in the latter part of April at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Open to three-year-old horses, it was, along with the Derby Trial Stakes, one of two final prep races hosted by Churchill Downs running up to the Kentucky Derby. In 1959, Sword Dancer won the Stepping Stone Purse, then ran second in the Kentucky Derby before winning the Belmont Stakes. The following year, Bally Ache won this race then ran second in the Derby but won the Preakness Stakes. In 1969, future U.S. Racing
Manor Downs Manor Downs Manor Downs was a horse racetrack located outside Manor, Texas, United States. It is Texas's oldest pari-mutuel horse racetrack. Live racing in the Spring featured both quarter horse and thoroughbred racing. Simulcast racing was also available. Frances Carr and Sam Cutler began development of Manor Downs in 1975 on of land that had an old horse race track on it. They initially planned for Manor Downs to be a horse-training stable and fairground facility. Manor Downs originally hosted just quarter-horse racing; but when pari-mutuel betting was legalized, the track was upgraded for thoroughbred racing in order to qualify