Keeneland

Historic photos show the growth of Lexington’s Keeneland racetrack over its 86 years

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Racing to recovery

Everyone on the shed row of Ready Made Racing is overcoming addiction. The stable is backed by Taylor Made Farm & is competing in Keeneland’s Blue Grass Stakes.

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Racing, but ‘recovery first.’ In one stable at Keeneland, a focus on overcoming addiction.

Racing, but ‘recovery first.’ In one stable at Keeneland, a focus on overcoming addiction.
Historic photos show the growth of Lexington’s Keeneland racetrack over its 86 years

Historic photos show the growth of Lexington’s Keeneland racetrack over its 86 years
Racing to recovery

Racing to recovery
Photos tell the story of Keeneland’s history through the years

Photos tell the story of Keeneland’s history through the years

A Lexington tradition is back, the Keeneland Spring Meet.

The 15-day horse racing meet will run from Friday through April 29, with no racing on Mondays, Tuesdays or Easter Sunday (April 17).

A popular event every spring and later in October for the Fall Meet, Keeneland will be packed early each day on the Hill with tailgaters. As the 1:05 p.m. post time approaches, the picturesque paddock will be blossoming with flowers and fans. And of course the grandstands will be filled with cheering patrons of horse racing.

But this sight is nothing new for the legendary Thoroughbred Lexington racetrack.

Since its opening in 1936, Keeneland has been a popular destination in the heart of Kentucky horse country. The timeline and pictures shown in the video above, highlight Keeneland’s growth and history over the years to meet racing fans’ needs with construction expansions.

Another thing that keeps growing at the track, the purses awarded. Overall, this year’s Spring Meet will award a record $7.7 million for 19 stakes races.

An aerial view of the second day of the 1946 Keeneland Spring Meet, April 12, 1946. This year’s Spring Meet starts Friday and it’s a sure bet there will be more in attendance at the track on opening day than the 6,000 nearly 76 years ago. In the photo, the parking lot can be seen behind the grandstand. General admission to the track was $1 for men and 50 cents for women. Today it’s $7.
An aerial view of the second day of the 1946 Keeneland Spring Meet, April 12, 1946. This year’s Spring Meet starts Friday and it’s a sure bet there will be more in attendance at the track on opening day than the 6,000 nearly 76 years ago. In the photo, the parking lot can be seen behind the grandstand. General admission to the track was $1 for men and 50 cents for women. Today it’s $7. E. Martin Jessee Staff file photo

Keeneland Spring Meet

When: April 8-29, no racing Mondays, Tuesdays and Easter Sunday.

Where: Keeneland Racetrack, 4201 Versailles Rd.

Tickets: keeneland.com

This story was originally published April 7, 2022 at 1:10 PM.

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Brian Simms
Lexington Herald-Leader
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Brian Simms has been with the Herald-Leader for 20-plus years, most recently reporting and editing coverage of restaurants, bars, food and bourbon. He is also a photographer and manages the newspapers photo archive that dates back to the late 1930s. Support my work with a digital subscription
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Racing to recovery

Everyone on the shed row of Ready Made Racing is overcoming addiction. The stable is backed by Taylor Made Farm & is competing in Keeneland’s Blue Grass Stakes.

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