Keeneland plans full 2020 Fall Meet ahead of Breeders’ Cup

Keeneland Race Course in Lexington is moving forward with plans for its 2020 Fall Meet in October and hosting the 37th annual Breeders’ Cup World Championships in November amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The racetrack on Wednesday announced its stakes schedule for the Fall Meet to be held Oct. 2-24 ahead of the Breeders’ Cup set for Nov. 6-7.

Keeneland has not yet addressed whether spectators will be allowed on site for either event or what guidelines would be in place if they are. On Wednesday, Churchill Downs officials in Louisville unveiled their guidelines and spectator limits for the 2020 Kentucky Derby scheduled for Sept. 5.

“The Keeneland fall racing season is highly anticipated by horsemen and fans alike, but this one is even more exciting as it serves as a prelude for the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing Bob Elliston said in the track’s news release. “We expect to welcome many Breeders’ Cup-bound stars, both human and equine, that will boost the racing competition and the handicapping fun during the Fall Meet and build momentum leading into the World Championships.”

Keeneland’s Fall Meet schedule calls for 18 stakes races worth a total of $4,775,000 in purses. That represents a decrease in stakes purses of $900,000 from last year’s $5.675 million. Purses were trimmed for 2020 in 12 of the meet’s 18 races.

The traditional Fall Stars Weekend, Oct. 2-4, includes five Grade 1 races, four Grade 2 races and nine “Win and You’re In” events that provide automatic berths to the Breeders’ Cup. All told, there are 10 automatic Breeders’ Cup spots at stake during the Fall Meet.

Highlighting the opening weekend of the Fall Meet are the $350,000 Darley Alcibiades (Oct. 2), the $750,000 Shadwell Turf Mile (Oct. 3), the $400,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (Oct. 3), the $350,000 First Lady (Oct. 3) and the $400,000 Juddmonte Spinster, which are all Grade 1 races.

The following weekend (Oct. 10) features the Grade 1, $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.

Two weeks after the Fall Meet, Keeneland will host the Breeders’ Cup for the second time following its successful debut at the track in 2015.

Last year, Fall Stars Weekend produced three Breeders’ Cup winners: Juvenile Fillies champion British Idiom from the Darley Alcibiades, Distaff winner Blue Prize from the Juddmonte Spinster and Mile victor Uni from the First Lady.

2020 Keeneland Fall Meet stakes schedule

Oct. 2: $350,000, Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.

Oct. 2: $200,000, Grade 2 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix for 3-year-olds and up at 6 furlongs.

Oct. 3: $750,000, Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile for 3-year-olds and up at 1 mile (turf).

Oct. 3: $400,000, Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.

Oct. 3: $350,000, Grade 1 First Lady Presented by UK Healthcare for fillies and mares 3 years old and up at 1 mile (turf).

Oct. 3: $200,000, Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America for fillies and mares 3 years old and up at 6 furlongs.

Oct. 3: $150,000, Grade 2 Woodford Presented by TVG for 3-year-olds and up at 5 ½ furlongs (turf).

Oct. 4: $400,000, Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster for fillies and mares 3 years old and up at 1 1/8 miles.

Oct. 4: $200,000, Grade 3 Bourbon for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles (turf).

Oct. 4: $150,000 Indian Summer for 2-year-olds at 5 1/12 furlongs (turf).

Oct. 7: $150,000, Grade 2 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles (turf).

Oct. 9: $150,000, Grade 3 Buffalo Trace Franklin County for fillies and mares 3 years old and up at 5 ½ furlongs (turf).

Oct. 10: $500,000, Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Dixiana for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles (turf).

Oct. 10: $200,000, Grade 2 Hagyard Fayette for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles.

Oct. 15: $150,000, Grade 3 Sycamore for 3-year-olds and up at 1 ½ miles (turf).

Oct. 16: $150,000, Grade 3 Pin Oak Valley View for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles (turf).

Oct. 17: $200,000, Grade 2 Lexus Raven Run for 3-year-old fillies at 7 furlongs.

Oct. 18: $125,000, Grade 3 Rood & Riddle Dowager for fillies and mares 3 years old and up at 1 ½ miles (turf).