Later Opening-Day Post, FallStars Weekend, Special Events among Highlights
Keeneland begins its 2009 fall racing season on Friday, October 9, with the first day of FallStars Weekend, a showcase of many potential contenders for the $25 million Breeders’ Cup World Championships on November 6-7 at Santa Anita Park in California. On that day only, post time for Keeneland’s first race is 2:15 p.m., and the races will be followed at 7 p.m. by a trackside party – “Swinging at Sunset.”
Presented by Stoll Keenon Ogden, Swinging at Sunset will transform the trackside apron into a party under the stars with big-band music from the ‘30s and ‘40s performed by the Kentucky Jazz Repertory Orchestra. Patrons are invited to dance and enjoy drink specials and food while the sun sets over the racetrack. The event is free with General Admission.
During Keeneland’s 17-day race meeting that runs through October 31, the track will offer a number of special events that recognize and support people and organizations within the Thoroughbred racing industry or have a presence in Central Kentucky. They include Make-A-Wish Day on October 14, Peb Day on October 15, World Equestrian Games Day on October 18, Military Family Day on October 25 and Pink Day on October 29.
Post time for the remainder of the meeting will be 1:05 p.m. (ET).
World-Class Thoroughbred Racing
Keeneland will offer $5.125 million in purses for the 19 stakes races during the season, marking one of the richest stakes programs in North America. FallStars Weekend covers three days (October 9-11) of spectacular Thoroughbred racing, highlighted by nine stakes worth $3.25 million.
The opening-day card includes the $500,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1), for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles, and the $250,000 Phoenix (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs.
Five stakes will be run on Saturday, October 10: the $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile (G1), for 3-year-olds and up at one mile on the turf; the $500,000 Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (G1), for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles; the $400,000 First Lady (G1), for older fillies and mares at one mile on the turf; the $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) for older fillies and mares at six furlongs; and the $125,000 Woodford (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at 5 ½ furlongs on turf.
The Sunday, October 11, card features the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles, and the $125,000 Bourbon (G3) for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf.
The Shadwell Turf Mile and Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity will be shown live on ESPN Classic from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (ET). The Juddmonte Spinster and the Bourbon will be shown live on ESPN from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. (ET).
Nine Keeneland stakes are part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series whereby the winning horses automatically qualify for the corresponding divisional race in the Breeders’ Cup. Those stakes and the qualifying Breeders’ Cup race are: the Darley Alcibiades (Juvenile Fillies), Phoenix (Sprint), Shadwell Turf Mile (Mile), Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (Juvenile), First Lady (Filly and Mare Turf), Thoroughbred Club of America (Filly and Mare Sprint), Juddmonte Spinster (Ladies’ Classic), Bourbon (Juvenile Turf) and JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (Juvenile Fillies Turf).
Keeneland also will host the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1), an internationally renowned invitational for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on the turf, on October 17. The race was first run 25 years ago.
Improved Parking and Traffic Flow
This fall, Keeneland has made numerous improvements to parking lots and roads and will use a shuttle in an effort to improve the flow of traffic into and out of the track.
Keeneland removed the median from a large segment of the road that connects Gate 1 at the intersection of Man o’ War Boulevard with the track’s numerous parking lots. This modification will allow as many as five lanes of traffic to exit through Gate 1.
The road system built on the hillside enables cars to be parked from two directions. Two rows of parking strips were widened and a curb was installed to facilitate the movement of a shuttle, which will carry patrons from parking lots to the East Entrance of the Grandstand. The 100-person shuttle—the same one used at the Kentucky State Fair—will make numerous stops, each identified by a sign.
Many of the stops are equipped with green and white canopies and benches to provide shelter from sun and rain.
Additional personnel throughout the property will direct traffic and park customers. Electronic signs on Versailles Road will guide drivers.
Keeneland.com
Keeneland has a comprehensive website at Keeneland.com with a wealth of free handicapping information. Keeneland.com once again will stream live racing video. In addition fans can visit m.keeneland.com for Keeneland’s relaunched mobile site featuring entries, results, scratches, handicapper Mike Battaglia’s picks and more.
Keeneland.com includes a tool for handicappers called “PolyCapping™.” The database contains 35 columns of information about winning horses at Keeneland that are sortable and downloadable, giving fans the opportunity to analyze trends.
Working with handicapper Jeremy Plonk, Keeneland.com created a pdf document called “2009 Fall Meet Wagering Guide and Tips” that is aimed at educating fans about wagering at the track. Information includes trends and analysis, Q&A with track oddsmaker Mike Battaglia and much more.
Special Events
Meanwhile, special events are being held on nearly every day of the season.
On Make-A-Wish Day on October 14, nine Kentucky children and their families will enjoy a VIP afternoon at Keeneland with lunch and a behind-the-scenes tour of the track. Thoroughbred farms in the area are participating as sponsors. Children will present the trophy for the race named after the sponsoring farm and will watch the race from the winner’s circle.
On October 15, Keeneland will salute famous equine cartoonist Pierre Bellocq, also known as “Peb,” on Peb Day. Known around the world for his murals and caricatures of noted members of the Thoroughbred industry, Peb will be at the track to sign autographs and also make a special announcement with Keeneland and the Daily Racing Form.
Keeneland fans will receive an introduction to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games on World Equestrian Games Day on October 18. Patrons will see on-track demonstrations of the various equine disciplines that are included in the World Games, which will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park, and have the chance to win ticket packages and other prizes.
During Military Family Day on October 25, Keeneland will salute military families, and all active and inactive members of the military and their families will receive free General Admission with a military ID. Keeneland and Military Missions will collect items for holiday care packages for Kentucky’s deployed servicemen and women.
On October 29, fans are encouraged to wear pink for the second annual Pink Day, hosted by Keeneland and Horses and Hope. The initiative of Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear, Horses and Hope focuses on breast cancer awareness, detection and treatment for the women who work in the barn areas at Kentucky tracks. Events include the Horses and Hope Breast Cancer Survivor Luncheon in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion and a handicapping contest for women only.
Simulcasting in HD
Last fall, Keeneland became the first racetrack in North America to provide live, closed-circuit race coverage and limited simulcasts in high-definition (HD) format. Beginning on October 9, the track will provide will provide simulcasting in HD as Keeneland Broadcast Services will produce a full 15-camera HD production for every race, which will be offered to all simulcast sites through Roberts Communications Network.
The move marks another step in the multi-year expansion of Keeneland’s HD technology. The track embarked on the process in the fall of 2006, installing the infrastructure to support HD technology as part of the massive renovation of the racetrack that included the installation of Polytrack®.
Keeneland Fall Meeting at a Glance
Dates: Friday, October 9 – Saturday, October 31. Gates open at 11 a.m. No racing on Mondays and Tuesdays.
First post on October 9: 2:15 p.m. (ET)
First post for the remainder of the season: 1:05 p.m. (ET).
Admission: $5. Children 12 and under free. Reserved seating (includes general admission) is $8 on Wednesday or Thursday; $10 on Friday, Saturday or Sunday; and $20 on Saturday, October 10.
Parking: Unlimited free parking; preferred parking ($5 on Wednesdays and Thursdays; $10 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays); and valet parking for Clubhouse members and their guests. View keeneland.com/parking for detailed maps and additional information.
Simulcasting: Major Thoroughbred tracks in the United States, Canada and elsewhere available year-round. Keeneland will simulcast the 26th Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita on November 6-7.
Website: Keeneland.com