Keeneland shakes things up for record-setting 2022 Spring Meet

Two years after being forced to cancel its Spring Meet because of the coronavirus pandemic, and one year after reducing purses because of the lingering effects of COVID-19, Keeneland Race Course is planning its richest April ever in 2022.

The Lexington racetrack will award a record $7.7 million in purses for 19 stakes to be run during the 2022 Spring Meet, which is scheduled for April 8-29.

The $7.7 million total is almost double last year’s $4.1 million for 18 races and well above the previous track record of $4.8 million that was proposed ahead of the ultimately canceled 2020 Spring Meet.

“Keeneland is thrilled to offer such a lucrative Spring Meet stakes schedule for horsemen, horseplayers and racing fans,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said in a news release. “Keeneland is coming off a record-breaking 2021 in terms of wagering, which we are reinvesting in purse money to further elevate our racing program. We look forward to world-class racing this April setting the stage for a huge racing year that will continue with the Fall Meet in October and the return of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Nov. 4-5.”

The most notable purse increase for 2022 affects the track’s signature Kentucky Derby prep race. The purse for the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes has been restored to $1 million after having dropped to $800,000. The Blue Grass, which takes place on the first Saturday of the Spring Meet (April 9), provides 100 Kentucky Derby points to the winner, with 40 for second place, 20 for third and 10 for fourth.

Also receiving a $200,000 boost is the Central Bank Ashland, a key prep race for the Kentucky Oaks that will now offer a record $600,000 and be moved to the opening day of the meet on April 8. That race delivers 100 Kentucky Oaks points to the victor.

Contributing to the stakes purse increases is a total of $1.5 million available from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, pending approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

Purses for some stakes doubled for 2022. Most notably the Maker’s Mark Mile increased from $300,000 to $600,000, the Stonestreet Lexington from $200,000 to $400,000 and the Ben Ali from $150,000 to $300,000. Others, such as the Kentucky Utilities Transylvania and Beaumont, more than doubled — from $150,000 to $400,000

During the 15-day Spring Meet, Keeneland will contest 10 stakes on grass and nine on dirt while offering multiple stakes on six days. Post time for the first race each day is 1 p.m.

Keeneland will be closed for racing on Easter Sunday, April 17.

“Keeneland in the spring is about 3-year-olds blossoming into talented runners, and we have focused on enhancing those stakes in particular to attract the best sophomores in the country,” said Gatewood Bell, Keeneland’s vice president of racing. “Moving the Central Bank Ashland to opening day makes the start of the Spring Meet extra special and provides a showcase for this historic Grade 1 event, which is the division’s first Grade 1 race of the year. And the fact that Easter Sunday falls on the second Sunday of the meet — when Keeneland is closed for racing — allows us to present a blockbuster opening weekend with 10 stakes worth a total of $4.55 million.”

2022 Keeneland Spring Meet stakes schedule

April 8: $600,000, Grade 1 Central Bank Ashland for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.

April 8: $400,000, Grade 3 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles (turf).

April 8: $400,000 Lafayette for 3-year-olds at 7 furlongs.

April 9: $1 million, Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles.

April 9: $500,000, Grade 1 Madison for fillies and mares 4 and older at 7 furlongs.

April 9: $400,000, Grade 2 Appalachian Presented by Japan Racing Association for 3-year-old fillies at 1 mile (turf).

April 9: $350,000, Grade 2 Shakertown for 3-year-olds and up at 5½ furlongs (turf).

April 9: $300,000, Grade 3 Commonwealth for 4-year-olds and up at 7 furlongs.

April 10: $400,000, Grade 3 Beaumont Presented by Keeneland Select for 3-year-old fillies at 7 furlongs, 184 feet.

April 10: $200,000, Listed Palisades for 3-year-olds at 5½ furlongs (turf).

April 15: $600,000, Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile for 4-year-olds and up at 1 mile (turf).

April 15: $200,000, Listed TVG Limestone Turf Sprint for 3-year-old fillies at 5½ furlongs (turf).

April 16: $500,000, Grade 1 Jenny Wiley for fillies and mares 4 and older at 1 1/16 miles (turf).

April 16: $400,000, Grade 3 Stonestreet Lexington for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.

April 16: $200,000 Giant’s Causeway for fillies and mares 3 and older at 5 ½ furlongs (turf).

April 22: $300,000, Grade 3 Baird Doubledogdare for fillies and mares 4 and older at 1 1/16 miles.

April 23: $300,000, Grade 3 Ben Ali for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles.

April 23: $350,000, Grade 2 Elkhorn for 4-year-olds and up at 1½ miles (turf).

April 29: $300,000, Grade 3 Bewitch for fillies and mares 4 and older at 1½ miles (turf).

This story was originally published January 6, 2022 at 5:29 PM.