Keeneland hosts Easter egg hunt

Keeneland’s spring meet starts in two weeks, but the track hosted a different kind of race Saturday as hundreds galloped on the grass in hopes of snatching plastic Easter eggs.

About 7,500 plastic eggs were scattered for an estimated 1,000 children to hunt, according to event organizers.

Event staffer Hayley Robic said this year’s attendance was about 300 more than last year’s. Robic said parents told her they were happy with the activities outside of the hunt, including pony rides, face painting and photos with baby animals. Every child, even those with empty baskets, got a candy bag and prize, she said.

Just before the rope dropped to start the hunt, Eli Wood, 9, and his brother Ethan, 8, kept their focus straight ahead toward the field.

“He thinks there are golden eggs out there,” their mother, Tabatha Woods, said of Eli.

Eli and Ethan darted onto the field with the other children in their age group, disappearing in a flurry of pressed pastel button-ups and dresses.

Patsy Robinson’s 7-year-old son Joaquin was yards away and out of sight as he hunted for eggs. Robinson said he didn’t set a plan before heading out.

“He took off,” Robinson said.

He came back with the bottom of his superhero-lined bag filled with eggs. He counted 13.

Isabella Buzo, 4, had a similar haul. When asked how she managed to nab 11 plastic eggs, she took two fingers and pointed to her eyes.

“You saw and you ran and picked them up, huh?” her father William said. Isabella nodded.

This story was originally published March 26, 2016 at 6:49 PM with the headline "Keeneland hosts Easter egg hunt."