Keeneland puts in request to host five-day Summer Meet in July
Keeneland announced that it has submitted a request to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission’s Race Dates Committee for a five-day Summer Meet to be held Wednesday, July 8, through Sunday, July 12. Under the current safety protocols, the Summer Meet would be held without spectators. The summer dates would accommodate a portion of the 16-day Spring Meet that Keeneland was forced to cancel due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Keeneland also announced it will share return to racing protocols with Gov. Andy Beshear’s office and local health officials for their approval. Keeneland’s news release said its COVID-19 protocols will mirror those currently in place at Churchill Downs.
“We are excited about the return of racing to Keeneland and know this will be welcome news for our horsemen, fans and the Central Kentucky community,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said, according to a news release. “This purse money represents significant income for horsemen, and while the races will be spectator-free, the Keeneland team is hard at work on creative ways to involve fans watching at home and to enhance our simulcast product for handicappers.”
Keeneland’s plans would be to host full cards of nine to 10 races each day of the special meet. Ten graded stakes traditionally run during the track’s Spring Meet would highlight the Summer Meet schedule. Among those would be the Grade 2, $600,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes and Grade 1, $400,000 Central Bank Ashland Stakes, both preps for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, respectively. Also to be run would be the Grade 1, $350,000 Coolmore Jenny Wiley, Grade 1, $300,000 Maker’s Mark Mile and Grade 1, $250,000 Madison.
“These stakes races are important targets on the racing calendar for owners and breeders alike, and we are very happy to have the opportunity to conduct them,” Keeneland vice president of racing and sales Bob Elliston said, according to the news release.
Keeneland’s prosposed 2020 summer stakes schedule
Date | Stakes | Division | Distance |
July 10 | $300,000 Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) | 4YOs & Up | 1 Mile (T) |
July 10 | $100,000 Beaumont (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select | 3YO Fillies | 7 Furlongs, 184’ |
July 11 | $600,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G2) | 3YOs | 1 1/8 Miles |
July 11 | $400,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1) | 3YO Fillies | 1 1/16 Miles |
July 11 | $350,000 Coolmore Jenny Wiley (G1) | 4YOs & Up, F&M | 1 1/16 Miles (T) |
July 11 | $250,000 Madison (G1) | 4YOs & Up, F&M | 7 Furlongs |
July 11 | $150,000 Shakertown (G2) | 3YOs & Up | 5½ Furlongs (T) |
July 11 | $150,000 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association | 3YO Fillies | 1 Mile (T) |
July 12 | $175,000 TVG Elkhorn (G2) | 4YOs & Up | 1½ Miles (T) |
July 12 | $100,000 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania (G3) | 3YOs | 1 1/16 Miles (T) |
This story was originally published May 22, 2020 at 8:01 PM.