Keeneland

Keeneland operates two meeting a year, a spring meeting in April and a fall meeting in October. The track features top class racing over its polytrack main track and turf course and is known as one of the most horseplayer friendly racetracks in the U.S.

In addition to racing, Keeneland offers four sales auctions each year that bring in buyers from throughout the world. The track ran its first race in 1936 and held its first auction in 1938.

The spring meeting features the Grade 1 Blue Grass, a major prep for the Kentucky Derby as well as the Grade 1 Ashland, which serves as a prep for the Kentucky Oaks.

With the Blue Grass now run on polytrack, the race does not attract as many of the top Derby contenders as in years past. The race has been won by some of the all-time greats including Northern Dancer, Alydar, Riva Ridge, and Spectacular Bid.

Ashland winners include all-time greats Go for Wand, Silverbulletday and Take Charge Lady.

The fall meeting features an abundance of stakes action for turf runners, and many of the stakes serve as preps for the Breeders’ Cup.

Hall of fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas leads all trainers in wins with 280. Fellow hall of famer Bill Mott in second with 249 wins. Lukas leads all trainers with 50 stakes victories.

Hall of fame rider Pat Day leads all jockeys with 918 wins. Day led the standings at the track a record 22 times in his career. The active jockey with the most trips to the Keeneland winner’s circle is Robby Albarado with 444 wins.

At the 2012 spring meeting jockey Julien Leparoux tied the all-time record for most wins on a single card with six winners.  Craig Perret and Randy Romero share the record.

Graded stakes run at Keeneland:

Grade 1
Alcibiades Stakes
Ashland Stakes
Blue Grass Stakes
Breeders' Futurity Stakes
First Lady Stakes
Maker's Mark Mile Stakes
Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes
Royal Chase for the Sport of Kings
Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes
Spinster Stakes
Vinery Madison Stakes

Grade 2
Beaumont Stakes
Commonwealth Stakes
Elkhorn Stakes
Fayette Stakes
Raven Run Stakes
Jenny Wiley Stakes
Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes

Grade 3
Appalachian Stakes
Ben Ali Stakes
Bewitch Stakes
Bourbon Stakes
Bryan Station Stakes
Doubledogdare Stakes
Lexington Stakes
Perryville Stakes
Phoenix Stakes
Shakertown Stakes
Sycamore Stakes
Transylvania Stakes
Valley View Stakes
Woodford Stakes