The commonwealth of Kentucky together with the remainder of the southeastern United States is recovering from copious quantities of rain and wind following Hurricane Helene’s path by the area – however the inclement climate departed in time for the beginning of certainly one of central Kentucky’s most beloved traditions, the opening of Keeneland Race Course’s fall meet.
The skies have cleared, temperatures are pleasant, and most significantly, dozens of top-class racehorses are on Keeneland’s bucolic grounds primed and able to compete in 22 stakes races over 17 racing days from Oct. 4-26 value a document $9.85 million in purses.
The meet kicks off at its apex, with a three-day Fall Stars weekend Oct. 4-6 that includes 11 stakes races, eight of that are “Win and You’re In” Problem Collection qualifiers for particular Breeders’ Cup races Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar.
Take pleasure in ABR’s information to the Keeneland Fall Meet, with suggestions for visiting the observe and the Lexington space.
Ticketing Info … and Look ahead to Building
Persevering with a coverage began in spring 2021, Keeneland admission and eating tickets have to be bought prematurely through the on-line ticket workplace or by the Keeneland RaceDay app. The observe provides a 48-hour prematurely return coverage. As of Sept. 30, basic admission tickets had been nonetheless obtainable for all days save Oct. 5, 12, and 19. You too can join a ready listing to benefit from cancellations in case your authentic date is bought out. Basic Admission season passes are nonetheless obtainable forward of the Fall Meet and might be bought on-line. by Oct. 3. Examine ticket availability right here.
Those that visited the observe final spring definitely observed that crews had commenced engaged on an enormous development challenge designed to improve the paddock and surrounding buildings. The revamp began after the autumn 2023 meet concluded and can proceed into subsequent yr, with completion scheduled in time for the autumn 2025 meet. This fall meet, all paved parking rows will probably be for allow parking and free handicap parking solely. No reservation is required for handicap parking. Allow parking have to be bought prematurely: purchase passes right here. Free public parking continues to be obtainable each day at “The Hill” and “The Meadow” tons (see beneath), and shuttle service is, as at all times, offered, with a shuttle depot space plus a ride-share drop-off and pick-up conveniently positioned simply east of the gross sales pavilion not removed from the South gate to the racetrack. Resulting from development, followers will solely have the ability to enter Keeneland by the South or North gates.
Climb The Hill, or Frolic in The Meadow
Tailgating is allowed in a number of areas all through Keeneland, a few of them restricted by ongoing development, however floor zero for prerace enjoyable and camaraderie is up on “The Hill.” Jumbo TVs and betting kiosks can be found for watching and wagering on the races, and meals vehicles and stay music from The Burl venue Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays will even be featured as a part of the general expertise. Premium tailgating packages are additionally provided – click on right here for particulars.
Simply west of “The Hill” lies “The Meadow,” one other free parking spot a smidge nearer to the observe. Tailgating can also be permitted on this space, and each “The Hill” and “The Meadow” are accessible by Gate 1 on the intersection of U.S. 60 (Versailles Rd.) and Man o’ Conflict Blvd.
Betting Choices Aplenty
Laying down a wager on-site at Keeneland is straightforward and the observe has BETologists on-site at its Wagering Central hub (positioned beneath the grandstand close to the end line) to assist followers new to the sport grow to be acquainted with the fundamentals of handicapping and cash administration. Keeneland’s drive-thru betting has been discontinued, however advance-deposit wagering is in fact provided by the Keeneland Choose website and app.
Two handicapping contests are on the Fall schedule: a $400 Fall Problem, an on-track solely contest held Friday, Oct. 11, that provides one berth to the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Betting Problem (BCBC) and as many as 4 berths to the 2025 Nationwide Horseplayers Championship (NHC); after which a Keeneland BCBC-NHC Fall Handicapping Problem held Oct. 12, the place entrants wager both on-site at Keeneland or by the next ADW firms: XpressBet, NYRA Bets, 4NJ Bets, TVG, TwinSpires, and HPI. Based mostly on the variety of entries, as many as six BCBC and as many as 10 NHC berths could possibly be up for grabs.
Along with the above big-player matches, Keeneland provides a WINS-Day Problem Introduced by Malone’s handicapping contest every Wednesday of the meet, Oct. 9, 16, and 23. The entry price is barely $10 and is due to this fact interesting to these simply moving into handicapping, and the competition requires contestants to put a legendary $2 win and place wager on a horse in every of Keeneland’s ultimate six races. The primary 200 contributors will obtain a free Every day Racing Type and an appetizer card from Malone’s, the favored Lexington-based steakhouse chain.
Particular Occasions for One and All
Keeneland’s family-friendly Dawn Trackside program will probably be held on the 4 Saturdays throughout the stay meet: Oct. 5, 12, 19, and 26. It’s positioned on the first ground grandstand space and provides a meet-and-greet with the observe’s mascot, face portray video games, espresso and donuts, and an opportunity to look at horses practice on the observe. An equine meet-and-greet will even be held at 8:30 a.m. ET.
On opening Saturday, Oct. 5, Keeneland will host a jockey autograph signing on the North Terrace from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. that includes members of Keeneland’s world-class jockey colony in addition to some retirees, together with Corridor of Fame members. Proceeds profit the Completely Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF).
Thursday, Oct. 10 is Keeneland’s Make-a-Want Day. Native Thoroughbred farms and organizations workforce up with the observe to grant needs for 10 youngsters together with their households, together with awarding VIP trophies and assembly jockeys. It’s a big day for everybody concerned, and it will probably result in extremely uplifting tales that attain far past the world of racing – corresponding to again in 2018, when Cody Dorman met and bonded with a racehorse finally named Cody’s Want, the 2023 Horse of the 12 months.
Keeneland will even host a Faculty Scholarship Day (Friday, Oct. 18, introduced by Lane’s Finish), a Heroes Day honoring members of the army (Sunday, Oct. 20), and a Trainer Appreciation Day (Saturday, Oct. 26). And the observe will go all out in rousing the spirit of College of Kentucky followers on Friday, Oct. 11, when Large Blue Day is held that includes a pep rally and sports activities icons corresponding to 1978 NCAA Ultimate 4 MVP Jack “Goose” Givens. One of the vital cherished Keeneland fall traditions includes doubling up on horse racing and a house UK soccer recreation, and followers ought to have two alternatives throughout the meet, on Oct. 12 and Oct. 26, when Vanderbilt and Auburn go to (kickoff instances for these video games TBD).
Unparalleled Meals and Drink
Keeneland is famend amongst racetrack aficionados for having among the finest meals choices in any respect value factors. As famous above, eating tickets can solely be bought prematurely, however fortuitously, there are lots of choices for reserved seat and basic admission attendees at stands across the facility (and no matter you do, be sure you go to the Monitor Kitchen for breakfast a minimum of as soon as throughout the meet).
Try ABR’s information to Keeneland’s meals right here, and make sure you strive the Keeneland Fall Ale, bought in cans and on draft as a part of a partnership between the observe and Nation Boy Brewing of Lexington. Gross sales for the ale will profit Blue Grass Farms Charities.
What to Do in Lexington: Fall Festivities Aplenty
Lexington’s widespread and free Central Financial institution Lexington Thursday Night time Stay downtown live performance sequence, which begins throughout Keeneland’s spring meet, will wind down its weekly run quickly, with the final occasion set for Oct. 10. However the Horse Capital of the World will nonetheless be buzzing all month lengthy with full live performance calendars at The Burl and Manchester Music Corridor, each positioned in within the hip Manchester St. Distillery District simply west of downtown. Highlights embrace longtime Christian rock band Sixpence None the Richer (of “Kiss Me” fame again in 1997) on Oct. 22 and a go to from ace guitarist Richard Lloyd (a member of the influential Nineteen Seventies New York band Tv) on Oct. 17, each at The Burl.
Over on the Lexington Opera Home downtown, comedy and spoken phrase exhibits blanket the month, with visits from comic and viral video star Desi Banks (Oct. 11), writer and satirist David Sedaris (Oct. 21) and actor-comedian David Cross of “Mr. Present” and “Arrested Improvement” fame (Oct. 22). And on Keeneland’s closing day, Saturday, Oct. 26, Rupp Area hosts people rock powerhouse The Avett Brothers, touring behind their self-titled 11th album and with regionally widespread New Albany, Ind., band Houndmouth opening.
Lexington’s restaurant and bar scene is booming, and spots such because the Granddam restaurant and Misplaced Palm rooftop bar at The Manchester resort proceed to thrive slightly greater than a yr after opening. Final March, a brewery opened adjoining to the aforementioned The Burl music venue, appropriately named Burl Brew, that includes quite a lot of beer, loads of TVs, and meals obtainable from local-owned Lucy’s Kitchen. Throughout city, one other taking place district off of Winchester Rd. is the place you’ll discover Mirror Twin Brewing on Nationwide Ave. Celebrating its eighth anniversary in October, Mirror Twin is a standout within the native brewery scene, with a various listing of hops and two spacious taprooms plus a patio. What’s extra, the Rolling Oven Pizzeria is positioned inside Mirror Twin, providing scrumptious wood-fired pies to accompany the beer quaffing. Strive the pepperoni.
Final however definitely not least, horse lovers from across the nation will probably be on the Kentucky Horse Park from Oct. 9-12 for the Retired Racehorse Undertaking’s Thoroughbred Makeover and Nationwide Symposium. The Makeover, first held in 2013 and moved to the Horse Park simply north of Lexington in 2015, is the world’s largest retraining competitors for just lately retired racehorses, providing 10 aggressive disciplines together with Barrel Racing, Subject Hunter, and Dressage. Try latest tales from trainers and OTTBs (off-the-track Thoroughbreds) concentrating on the 2024 makeover on ABR’s Aftercare website.
