With much of Kentucky under a flood watch amid heavy rain expected to pound the state from April 3-6, Keeneland has postponed its first two scheduled days of racing. The Lexington track said the rescheduling was done to "ensure the safest environment for horses, participants, and fans."
Its scheduled card for Friday, April 4, which was to be opening day and feature the Ashland Stakes (G1), will now take place Monday, April 7. Similarly, the Blue Grass Stakes (G1)-led program for Saturday, April 5, will be delayed three days until Tuesday, April 8. Keeneland said in a release it "is closely monitoring track conditions and plans to run Sunday's race card," which could now serve as the opening day of the spring meet.
When racing a full week, Keeneland customarily races on a Wednesday through Sunday schedule in the spring, except for Easter Sunday, April 20. Mondays and Tuesdays are typically non-racing days.
The latest National Weather Service forecast calls for more than six inches of rain in the Lexington area beginning late April 2 and continuing through the afternoon Sunday. Gov. Andy Beshear has declared a state of emergency in advance of the pending rainstorms.
"The safety of our equine and human participants, as well as of our fans, is at the core of every decision we make at Keeneland," said Keeneland president and CEO Shannon Arvin. "Our team has spent months preparing for opening weekend, and we recognize the significant impact of rescheduling our two biggest race days. While we have navigated challenging weather in the past, the conditions being forecast for the region are unprecedented for Keeneland. Ultimately, ensuring the safety of everyone involved is our top priority."
Sunny skies and cool temperatures are forecast for Monday and Tuesday.
Further information provided by Keeneland is listed below:
Opening Weekend Modified Schedule - For more information, visit Keeneland.com
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Ticketing |
Stakes Schedule |
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Sunday, April 6 – Normal Operations Gates Open 11 a.m. First Post 1 p.m. Kids Club Family Day |
Sunday ticketholders remain unaffected. Keeneland’s standard 48-hour cancellation policy allows ticketholders to cancel for a full refund if they choose. |
Beaumont (G2) Palisades (L)
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Monday, April 7 Gates Open 11 a.m. First Post 1 p.m. |
Free General Admission available to patrons. Dining and Grandstand reserved seating available for purchase. |
Ashland (G1) Transylvania (G3) Lafayette (L) |
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Tuesday, April 8 Gates Open 11 a.m. First Post 1 p.m. |
Free General Admission available to patrons. Dining and Grandstand reserved seating available for purchase.
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Blue Grass (G1) Madison (G1) Appalachian (G2) Shakertown (G2) Commonwealth (G3) |
"Keeneland takes its responsibility seriously to host these important racing events in the safest environment possible," added Keeneland vice president of racing Gatewood Bell. "We have been in close communication with horsemen, industry officials, and trusted meteorologists, and we believe rescheduling these race days is the best way to take care of each other. Keeneland appreciates the understanding of its fans, horsemen, jockeys, trainers, and sponsors as we work to ensure the safety of all involved in our race meet."
Information for Friday and Saturday ticketholders
For those patrons who purchased tickets for opening Friday and Saturday:
- Previously purchased general admission tickets now will be valid for single entry on any race day during the spring meet, including dates that are currently sold out.
- All grandstand reserved seating, dining reservations, and parking will automatically receive a full refund including fees. This credit will appear to the original purchaser up to seven business days after the refund is processed.
- Previous Friday and Saturday ticketholders will have the opportunity to purchase new tickets for Monday and Tuesday race days through an exclusive presale window. Eligible patrons will receive an email with instructions to access. Remaining tickets for Monday and Tuesday will be available to all fans at tickets.keeneland.com beginning 8 a.m. on Friday.
Free admission for historic Monday and Tuesday race days
Free general admission will be available to all guests on both Monday and Tuesday, and no ticket purchase is required. Headlining Monday's race card is the Ashland and Tuesday's race card will feature the Blue Grass, important prep races for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1), respectively.
Changes to scheduled opening weekend events at Keeneland
- The Hill will be closed the first week of racing and resume normal operations April 11.
- Guests who purchased private tailgate experiences or Race Day Social tickets will be contacted by RevelXP regarding their reservations. Race Day Social tickets will be automatically refunded.
- Sunrise Trackside is canceled for opening Saturday and will resume April 12. Kids Club Family Day will be held as planned April 6, with slightly modified activities.
For more information and ongoing updates regarding Keeneland's opening weekend operations and Monday and Tuesday race cards, please click here.
