Participating Owners Approved to Attend Keeneland’s Summer Meet

By Amy Gregory —-

LEXINGTON, KY (June 26, 2020) – Keeneland has been granted approval to permit a limited number of participating owners to attend the upcoming Summer Meet, to be held July 8-12.

Keeneland officials collaborated with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and state public health officials to develop a plan that ensures the safety of horsemen and track employees under the Healthy at Work guidelines.

“We are pleased to be able to welcome owners to Keeneland to watch their horses run during the Summer Meet,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “We thank Gov. Beshear and state and local health officials for their counsel and support as we remain vigilant about the safety of participants and Keeneland staff during this next phase of our reopening process. Our team has done a tremendous job of creating a plan that spreads seating for owners safely throughout the facility, allowing inside and outside accommodations so they can comfortably view the races. It’s quite an accomplishment for these unprecedented times.”

As previously announced, due to restrictions resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Keeneland’s Summer Meet will be held without spectators.

“While we would love nothing more than to see our fans fill the stands, unfortunately at this time we are not confident we can maintain the recommended safety guidelines and also deliver the quality racing experience our fans expect of Keeneland,” Thomason said. “We are working closely with health officials to allow spectators at Keeneland for our Fall Meet.”

Keeneland’s Summer Meet guidelines include:

· Owners with a horse entered in a race on the undercard will receive four credentials for the day their horse is running.

· Owners with a horse entered in a stakes race will receive six credentials for the day their horse is running.

· Owners will have assigned seating both inside and out on race day.

· Keeneland’s Horsemen’s Hospitality team will contact owners to arrange credentials as the race fields are set.

· Keeneland will offer limited food and beverage service.

· All individuals must wear a face mask and maintain proper social distancing while on the grounds.

· Health screenings, including a series of brief questions and temperature checks, will continue at Gates 2 and 3 for everyone entering the Keeneland grounds.

· Owners will not be permitted to enter the Saddling Paddock, Winner’s Circle or Stable Area.

###

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 presents online auctions through the Keeneland Digital Sales Ring. Graduates of Keeneland sales 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. In 2020, The Summer Meet at Keeneland will present five days of racing from July 8-12. Keeneland hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in 2015 and will hold the event again on Nov. 6-7. Uniquely structured, Keeneland is a privately held company with a not-for-profit mission 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. Keeneland also maintains the Keeneland Library, a world-renowned public research institution with the mission of preserving information about the Thoroughbred industry. To learn more, visit Keeneland.com.