LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Churchill Downs will host 11 stakes worth over $3.5 million during its 14-day September Meet which runs Sept. 12-29.

Churchill Downs says the 12th annual September meet offers horsemen plenty of opportunities to get ready for the Nov. 1-2 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks series will also kick off Saturday, Sept. 14 with two races for 2-year-olds at the one turn, one-mile distance.

The track also announced this year’s September meet will be run on dirt entirely to ensure the turf course reaches “maximum performance” for the Oct. 27-Dec. 1 Fall Meet and into next year’s Spring Meet.

The September Meet will be staged over three weeks, with racing on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Outside of the three Twilight Thursday (5 p.m.) and Downs After Dark on Sept. 28 (6 p.m.), the first race for all other race days will be at 12:45 p.m.

There will be nine races scheduled on Wednesday, eight races on Thursdays and 10-race programs on Fridays and Sundays. Saturdays will feature 11 races.

The track will also host several specially marketed days sprinkled in the meet schedule:

Twilight Thursdays (Thursdays, Sept. 12, Sept. 19 and Sept. 26)

Military Appreciation Day (Thursday, Sept. 12)

Road to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks Kickoff (Saturday, Sept. 14)

College Day (Saturday, Sept. 14)

Senior Day (Friday, Sept. 20)

Stakes Room Brunch (Sundays, Sept. 15, Sept. 22 and Sept. 29)

Family Adventure Day (Sunday, Sept. 22)

Downs After Dark: Oktoberfest (Saturday, Sept. 28)

For more information on the September meet, check out the Churchill Downs website.