Race Tracks > Keeneland
Keeneland Race Course Track Facts
- Address: 4201 Versailles Road, Lexington, KY 40510
- Phone: (859) 254-3412
- Website: www.keeneland.com/racing
- Racing Seasons: April (Spring Meet) & October (Fall Meet)
- Main track (dirt): 1 1/16-mile oval
- Turf: 7 ½ furlong oval
- Length of stretch from last turn to finish line: 990 feet
- Age of Venue: Built in 1936
Keeneland is a historic horse racing facility and thoroughbred auction house in Lexington, Kentucky. The Horseplayers Association ranked Keeneland #1 of 65 Thoroughbred racetracks in North America in 2009. The venue was also added to the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986.
Keeneland 2022 Spring Meet Schedule
| DATE | RACE | PURSE / RESTRICTIONS | SURFACE / DISTANCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, April 8th | Central Bank Ashland (G1) | $600,000 / 3 YO FIllies | Dirt / 1 1/16 M |
| Kentucky Utilities Transylvania (G3) | $400,000 / 3 YO | Turf / 1 1/16 M | |
| Lafayette | $400,000 / 3 YO | Dirt / 1 1/16 M | |
| Saturday, April 9th | Toyota Blue Grass (G1) | $1,000,000 / 3 YO | Dirt / 1 1/8 M |
| Madison (G1) | $500,000 / 4 YO & Up (F&M) | Dirt / 7 F | |
| Appalachian (G2) | $400,000 / 3 YO Fillies | Turf / 1 M | |
| Shakertown (G2) | $350,000 / 3 YO & Up | Turf / 5 1/2 F | |
| Commonwealth (G3) | $300,000 / 4 YO & Up | Dirt / 7 F | |
| Sunday April 10th | Beaumont (G3) | $400,000 / 3 YO Fillies | Dirt / 7 F & 184' |
| Palisades (L) | $200,000 / 3 YO | Turf / 5 1/2 F | |
| Friday, April 15th | Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) | $600,000 / 4 YO & Up | Turf / 1 M |
| TVG Limestone (L) | $200,000 / 3 YO Fillies | Turf / 5 1/2 F | |
| Saturday, April 16th | Jenny Wiley (G1) | $500,000 / 4 YO & Up (F&M) | Turf / 1 1/16 M |
| Stonestreet Lexington (G3) | $400,000 / 3 YO | Dirt / 1 1/16 M | |
| Giant’s Causeway (L) | $200,000 / 3 YO & Up | Turf / 5 1/2 F | |
| Friday, April 22nd | Baird Doubledogdare (G3) | $300,000 / 4 YO & Up (F&M) | Turf / 1 1/16 M |
| Saturday, April 23rd | Elkhorn (G2) | $350,000 / 4 YO & Up | Turf / 1 1/2 M |
| Ben Ali (G3) | $300,000 / 4 YO & Up | Dirt / 1 1/8 M | |
| Friday, April 29th | Bewitch (G3) | $300,000 / 4 YO & Up (F&M) | Turf / 1 1/2 M |
Keeneland Race Course History
What started as an idea in 1933, Keeneland Race Course is an industry leader in live racing (first run in 1936), sales (started in 1938), and horse racing history (the Keeneland Library opened in 1939). A 1953 renovation saw improvements to the grandstand and the movement of the finish line closer to the first turn; 1961 saw the first Visumatic Timer in America: a system that posted fractions and final times on the tote board); and 1979 saw Keeneland become only the fourth race track in the country to use an electronic totalisator system that allowed patrons to buy and cash tickets from any window in the facility.
Two years after a 1984 visit from England’s Queen Elizabeth II, Keeneland was designated a National Historic Landmark and April 1993 saw the race track prove to be a springboard for the Kentucky Derby when Sea Hero, Prairie Bayou and Wild Gale were the winning trifecta in the nation’s signature race after competing at the Lexington track. Until 1997, Keeneland had been one of the few racetracks in America to not use a track announcer; that same year, they introduced drive-through wagering through a series of terminals in the parking lot. As one of the most picturesque horse racing tracks in North America, Keeneland has been used by Hollywood for many horse-related movies, including Seabiscuit and Secretariat. Continuing their trend of industry-leading technology:
Keeneland was the first U.S. horse track to implement Trakus technology as well as the since-replaced synthetic Polytrack racing surface. Consistently ranked highest on the Horseplayers Association of North America’s list of top tracks, Keeneland was also only the second to be accredited by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s Safety and Integrity Alliance, which certifies a track’s commitment to injury reporting and prevention, aftercare, creating a safer racing environment, and medication testing.
Home of the 2015 & 2020 Breeders’ Cup
Keeneland played host to the 2015 Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31. This was Keeneland’s 1st opportunity to host the Breeders’ Cup, after being held at Santa Anita for the previous three years. Racing fans at Keeneland saw Triple Crown winner American Pharoah race and win the Breeders’ Cup Classic, cementing his legacy and his place in American racing history. Additionally, the Keeneland grounds underwent a series of major facility improvements in anticipation of the race, including the construction of the 45,000 sq. ft. Makers’ Mark lounge, and new luxury seating areas.
Despite some skepticism among the horse racing community regarding the facility and surrounding area’s ability to host such a large event, the 2015 event was a major success. The venue was selected again in 2020 to host the Breeders’ Cup, although that event was held without fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
About the Keeneland Auction House
Widely considered to be the world’s premier auction house for Thoroughbred racehorses, Keeneland has sold more champions and stakes winners than any other sales company. Buyers from over 50 countries regularly attend the four annual auctions held in January, April, September, and November.
The sales facilities were first conceived in the 1930s, with the first horses sold on the grounds in 1943. Since the early 2000s, Keeneland graduates have won nearly half of all Triple Crown races (the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes). Among the roster of great horses to grace their sales ring: Zenyatta, Animal Kingdom, A.P. Indy, Curlin, Sunday Silence, and Mizdirection.
Amenities at the Keeneland Race Track
Home to the world’s largest collection of information related to horse racing (specifically the Thoroughbred), the Keeneland Library houses thousands of books, journals, photographic negatives, and the priceless Daily Racing Form archive.