Keeneland Fall Meet Special Events Highlight Fan Engagement, Community Service

By Amy Owens —-

LEXINGTON, KY (Oct. 4, 2018) – While the 2018 Fall Meet, held Oct. 5-27, presents some of the world’s finest Thoroughbred racing, Keeneland will give racegoers the opportunity to enhance their time at the track through special events tied to learning more about horse racing, serving the community and celebrating school pride.

New for October
Keeneland will offer unique fan experiences as part of their expanded tour schedule for the Fall Meet. The Owner’s Experience Tour available Wednesdays-Fridays and Sundays will make participants feel like racehorse owners. Before the first race, fans will follow horses through the Saddling Paddock and Walking Ring, then watch the race from the Winner’s Circle. Click here for more information about Official Keeneland Tours.

On Oct. 19 and Oct. 26, fans can take a two-hour behind-the-scenes tour of Keeneland led by Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron. Watch horses train over the track and see the stable area, Racing Office, Saddling Paddock, Walking Ring and Jockeys Quarters. The tour includes a reserved Grandstand seat, program and food voucher. Click here to book through Horse Country.
This new offering joins the slate of special events during the Fall Meet.
Scenes from the movie “Secretariat” were filmed at Keeneland in 2009, and on Sunday, Oct. 14, Keeneland will welcome fans of the legendary horse and those attending the Secretariat Festival at the Secretariat Festival Meet and Greet Otto Thorwarth, who portrayed Ron Turcotte in the movie, and Keith Austin, who was Laffit Pincay Jr., will be joined by Kate Chenery Tweedy, daughter of Secretariat’s late owner, Penny Chenery; and Bill Doolittle, author of The Day Time Didn’t Stand Still, for a meet and greet near the Walking Ring from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. ET. 
For Racing Fans of All Ages
Sunrise Trackside (Saturday mornings). Bring your family and out-of-town guests to Keeneland for morning training hours during Sunrise Trackside. Watch horses train over the track and enjoy Breakfast With the Works and trackside commentary (7-8:30 a.m.); children’s activities in the Kids Club Corner (7:30-9:30 a.m.); free guided tours of the grounds (7:30-10 a.m.); an equine-related Paddock demonstration (9 a.m.); and Q&A session with a jockey in the Paddock (12:05 p.m.).

Jockey Autograph Signing (Sunday, Oct. 7). Meet jockeys competing during the Fall Meet as well as retired jockeys – from Hall of Famers to current riders – and participate in an autograph signing to benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.

Kids Club Family Day (Sunday, Oct. 14). The Keeneland Kids Club is the Official Kids Club for fans 12 and younger. On this day, Kids Club members and their families will enjoy a special day at the races with free general admission and access to reserved Grandstand seating. Children’s activities will take place in the North Terrace from noon to 3 p.m.

Keeneland and Community
Make-A-Wish Day (Thursday, Oct. 11) – Keeneland and local Thoroughbred farms and organizations are teaming up to grant wishes for deserving children, who with their families will receive a VIP experience that includes meeting jockeys and presenting a trophy after each race. In support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Tito’s Vodka will make a $2 donation for every sale of Keeneland Lemonade during the Fall Meet. This year, through the “Wishes for the Win” campaign, patrons can take part in granting an additional wish by making a donation on Make-A-Wish Day.

Heroes Day (Sunday, Oct. 21) – Keeneland recognizes the men and women who serve our community. All military (active duty and veterans), first responders – law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs – and their families will receive free general admission and access to reserved Grandstand seating. Free food courtesy of City Barbeque, children’s activities and more on the North Terrace from noon-4 p.m.

The College Place to be
College Scholarship Day (Friday, Oct. 12) – Full-time college students receive free general admission and the chance to win one of ten $1,000 scholarships awarded after each race. Two $10,000 Runhappy Scholarships also will be awarded. Pre-registration is available online at Keeneland.com/CSD and in Keeneland’s College Zone on the North Terrace on race day. Students will enjoy music, free food and prize drawings.

seeblue. Day at the Races (Friday, Oct. 19) – Keeneland welcomes Big Blue Nation the day before the University of Kentucky football team takes on Vanderbilt at home. UK students, alumni, faculty and staff receive free general admission and access to reserved Grandstand seating with valid UK IDs. The afternoon will be filled with special ways to cheer on the Cats and fans are welcome to join in the fun.

Wagering Action
WINS-Day Challenge (Wednesdays) – An inexpensive way for beginning handicappers to test their skills and give handicapping contests a try, the WINS-Day Challenge has a $2,500 guaranteed pool. Enter for $10 at Wagering Central (first floor of the Grandstand) and place a mythical $2 win and place wager – no actual money required – on Keeneland races 3-8.
Keeneland $400 Fall Handicapping Challenge (Saturday, Oct. 13) – The tournament has a $400 buy-in with a live bankroll of $250 and $150 prize fund fee. Click here for more information.
2018 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge/National Handicapping Challenge (Sunday, Oct. 14) – The prestigious event awards cash prizes and as many as six spots in the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge at Churchill Downs and 10 spots in the National Handicapping Challenge in Las Vegas in February 2019. The entry fee of $3,000 and the tournament is limited to 200 individual players.

Tailgating on The Hill
The Hill (Fridays and Saturdays, weather permitting) – As Keeneland’s designated tailgate lot, The Hill has fan-approved amenities including a jumbo screen TV to watch live racing and football, wagering booths, live music, local food trucks and free shuttles to the Grandstand. On Saturdays and opening Friday, enjoy performances from the area’s favorite bluegrass bands from noon-4 p.m.

New this October is a Tailgating Rental Suite. Racing fans may rent the ultimate VIP tailgating experience that accommodates nearly 75 guests and has a 40’ x 40’ climate-controlled interior kitchen with hardwood floors, granite countertops, stainless-steel appliances and an outside entertainment lounge with couches and four 55” weatherproof TVs. Daily rental includes general admission passes and race-day programs.

The Keeneland Shop Events
The Keeneland Shop offers unique apparel, home accessories, jewelry, artwork, books and gift items to browse in-store and online from such vendors as Peter Millar, Barbour, Lela Ray Jewelry, Henry Dry Goods, Dishique and Catstudio. In addition, these trunk shows will be held during the Fall Meet: Christine A. Moore (Oct. 5-7), Maui Jim and Dorfman Pacific (Oct. 12-14), Frederique (Oct. 19-21) and a vendor to be announced (Oct. 26-27).

Fan Giveaways on Fridays
On Oct. 5, day of the Darley Alcibiades (G1), the first 3,000 fans 18 and older will receive a voucher to redeem for a Darley umbrella from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

On Oct. 12, day of the Buffalo Trace Franklin County (G3), fans can sign up to win a VIP Distillery Experience with Buffalo Trace and visit the Paddock Bar for specialty cocktails (weather permitting).

On Oct. 19, day of the Pin Oak Valley View (G3), fans can enter the Bluegrass Experience Sweepstakes. Sign up to win a Horse Country VIP tour at Pin Oak Stud along with a Keeneland experience and gift basket from noon to 2:30 p.m. Also learn more about the Woodford Humane Society and sign up to win a Keeneland gift basket.

Keeneland 2018 Fall Meet at a Glance
Post time: Gates open at 11 a.m. ET.
First post: 1:05 p.m. (except on Oct. 6 when first post is 12:40 p.m.)
Admission: $5; children 12 and under free.
Parking: Free in designated lots near the Grandstand and on The Hill, Keeneland’s official tailgate lot, on Fridays and Saturdays (weather permitting).
Special Events: Click here for a list of all activities during the season.

Website: Keeneland.com. Includes free live streaming of all races at no charge and Connect with Keeneland, a central hub for all news, video recaps and replays, photo galleries, bios of leading Keeneland trainers and jockeys, and the official Media Guide.
Keeneland Race Day app: Your guide to handicapping and enjoying a day of Keeneland racing.
Follow Keeneland on social media: Facebook @Keeneland, Instagram @Keeneland and Twitter @KeenelandRacing.

###
For more than 80 years, the Keeneland Association has devoted itself to the health and vibrancy of the Thoroughbred industry. The world’s largest Thoroughbred auction house, Keeneland conducts four sales a year, in January, April, September and November, and its sales graduates dominate racing across the globe at every level. In April and October, Keeneland offers some of the highest caliber and richest Thoroughbred racing in the world. Keeneland hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in 2015 and will hold the event again in 2020. Uniquely structured, Keeneland is a private, for-profit corporation that returns its earnings to the industry and the community in the form of higher purses and millions of dollars donated in support of horse industry initiatives and charitable contributions for education, research and health and human services throughout Central Kentucky. To learn more, visit Keeneland.com.