Keeneland welcomed new sponsors of two dirt sprint stakes that will be run opening weekend of the Spring Meet: Resolute Racing, which is sponsoring the $600,000 Madison (G1) on Saturday, April 6, and MiddleGround Capital, which is sponsoring the $400,000 Beaumont (G2) on Sunday, April 7. John Stewart owns Resolute Racing and is founder and managing partner of MiddleGround Capital.
"Keeneland is pleased to welcome Resolute Racing and MiddleGround Capital to our team of race sponsors," Keeneland Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Christa Marrillia said. "Their participation signifies John Stewart's passion and growing involvement in the Thoroughbred industry."
"My partner Scot Duncan and I have always enjoyed taking our family, friends, co-workers, and investors to the races at Keeneland," Stewart said. "The Spring Meet is a significant event for the local community and the Thoroughbred horse racing industry. Everyone in Kentucky looks forward to the Spring Meet with enthusiasm and optimism. We are honored to support these prestigious events that historically represent the Bluegrass region as well as many of the best competitors in horse racing."
The Resolute Racing Madison is a 7-furlong race for fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up, that was named for Madison County of Central Kentucky and first held in 2002. Among the winners are champions Goodnight Olive, Judy the Beauty, Groupie Doll, and Informed Decision.
Inaugurated in 1986, the MiddleGround Capital Beaumont is for 3-year-old fillies going 7 furlongs and 184 feet. The race was named for Beaumont Farm of Keeneland co-founder Hal Price Headley, the track's first President. Winners include champions Xtra Heat and Go for Wand.
Goodnight Olive to parade in Paddock
Stewart's Goodnight Olive, who won the 2023 Madison during a campaign in which she captured the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) for a second time and earned a second Eclipse Award as champion female sprinter, will appear at Keeneland on April 6 during Sunrise Trackside, the popular Saturday morning program at the track.
Fans will be able to see Goodnight Olive while she is paraded in the Paddock between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. ET.
The winner of nine of 12 races, Goodnight Olive earned $2,196,200 before being retired to Stewart's broodmare band.
The Resolute Racing Madison and the MiddleGround Capital Beaumont are among the 19 stakes worth a season record $8.1 million that Keeneland will hold during its 16-day Spring Meet from April 5-26. Stakes include the 100th running of the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) on April 6.
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