Keeneland gains approval for live racing from July 8-12
There will be horse racing this summer at Keeneland.
On Wednesday, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Race Dates Committee unanimously approved an agreement between Ellis Park and Keeneland that allows the Lexington track to hold races from Wednesday, July 8 through Sunday, July 12.
It’s expected that those races will be held without spectators because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Ellis Park will retain host track status during the Keeneland dates. Located in Henderson, Ellis Park is scheduled to begin live racing on Sunday, June 28 and continue through Sunday, Sept. 6.
“Keeneland appreciates the quick response of the Commission to our request, and we applaud all their work on behalf of Kentucky racing during these unprecedented times,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said in a press release Wednesday. “We also thank Ellis Park for their cooperation in this process and for making these non-traditional dates available to Keeneland. We look forward to sharing more details about the Summer Meet in the coming weeks.”
“We are all in this together, and Ellis Park is pleased to work with Keeneland on a plan that benefits our horsemen and Kentucky racing,” Ellis Park General Manager Jeffrey Inman said.
Keeneland canceled its Spring Meet, scheduled to open April 2, because of guidelines from the CDC and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear during the outbreak of COVID-19. The track is still scheduled to hold its Fall Meet in October and the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 6-7.
During its July dates, Keeneland plans on running the $600,000, Grade 2 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes; the $400,000, Grade 1 Central Bank Ashland Stakes; the $350,000, Grade 1 Jenny Wiley; the $300,000, Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile; and the $25,000 Grade 1 Madison.
Keeneland plans to host 9-10 races each day of the Summer Meet, which will include five additional graded stakes races.
“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,” Bill Thomason said May 22 at the announcement of the dates request. “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.”
The Blue Grass Stakes is a prep race for the Kentucky Derby, to be run Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs. The Ashland Stakes is a prep race for the Kentucky Oaks, to be run Sept. 4 at Churchill.
After a nearly two-month absence, live racing returned to the state when Churchill Downs began racing without spectators on May 16. The track’s Spring Meet is scheduled to end on June 27.
Keeneland’s 2020 summer stakes schedule
Date | Stakes | Division | Distance |
July 10 | $300,000 Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) | 4-year-olds and up | 1 mile (turf) |
July 10 | $100,000 Beaumont (G3) | 3-year-old fillies | 7 furlongs, 184 feet |
July 11 | $600,000 Toyota Blue Grass (G2) | 3-year-olds | 1 1/8 miles |
July 11 | $400,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1) | 3-year-old fillies | 1 1/16 miles |
July 11 | $350,000 Coolmore Jenny Wiley (G1) | Fillies and mares 4 and up | 1 1/16 miles (turf) |
July 11 | $250,000 Madison (G1) | Fillies and mares 4 and up | 7 furlongs |
July 11 | $150,000 Shakertown (G2) | 3-year-olds and up | 5½ furlongs (turf) |
July 11 | $150,000 Appalachian (G2) | 3-year-old fillies | 1 mile (turf) |
July 12 | $175,000 TVG Elkhorn (G2) | 4-year-olds and up | 1½ miles (turf) |
July 12 | $100,000 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania (G3) | 3-year-olds | 1 1/16 miles (turf) |
This story was originally published May 27, 2020 at 10:41 AM.
