Thursday, September 25, 2008

Keeneland’s 2008 Fall Racing Season Opens Friday, October 3

Lexington, KY (September 25, 2008) – Keeneland begins its 2008 fall racing season on Friday, October 3 with the first day of FallStars Weekend, a showcase of many potential contenders for the $25 million Breeders' Cup World Championships at the end of the month.

During Keeneland's 17-day race meeting that runs through October 25, the track also will acknowledge people and programs for their efforts within the Thoroughbred racing industry and beyond. Those special events include Make-A-Wish Day on October 8, Military Family Day on October 19 and Pink Day on October 24.


Keeneland will offer a record $5.4 million in purses for its 19 stakes races, marking one of the richest stakes programs in North America. FallStars Weekend covers three days of spectacular racing, highlighted by nine stakes worth $3.4 million. Five Grade 1 stakes are featured: the $500,000 Darley Alcibiades, for 2-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles, and the $400,000 First Lady, for older fillies and mares at one mile on the turf, on Friday; the $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile, for 3-year-olds and up at one mile on the turf, and the $500,000 Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity, for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles, on Saturday; and the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster, for older fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles, on Sunday.

The Shadwell Turf Mile and Lane's End Breeders' Futurity will be shown live on ESPN from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. (ET).

Seven Keeneland stakes are part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series whereby the winning horses automatically qualify for the corresponding divisional race in the Breeders’ Cup. Those stakes and the qualifying Breeders’ Cup race are: the Darley Alcibiades (Juvenile Fillies), Thoroughbred Club of America (Filly and Mare Sprint), Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (Juvenile), Shadwell Mile (Mile), Juddmonte Spinster (Ladies Classic), Woodford Reserve Bourbon (G3) on October 5 (Juvenile Turf) and JPMorgan Chase Jessamine on October 9 (Juvenile Fillies Turf).

Keeneland also will host the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1), an internationally renowned invitational for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on the turf, on October 11.

With the start of the fall season, Keeneland will become North America's first high-definition racetrack and will provide live race coverage and limited simulcasts in high-definition format. HD broadcasts of Keeneland will be available via on-track television monitors, infield LED tote board and certain HD-compatible telecasts, such as those produced by ESPN.

Keeneland is debuting a redesigned website that features a new tool for handicappers, called “PolyCapping.” PolyCapping provides expanded information about every horse that has won a race at Keeneland since October 2006 when the track debuted the Polytrack surface on its main track. The information also covers Keeneland's turf races during that time period.

Once again, fans can watch Keeneland's races live on the track's website at no charge.

Meanwhile, special events are being held on nearly every day of the Keeneland season. On Make-A-Wish Day on October 8, nine Kentucky children and their families will enjoy a VIP afternoon at Keeneland with lunch and a behind-the-scenes tour of the track. Thoroughbred farms in the area are participating as sponsors, and the children will present the trophy for the race named after the sponsoring farm and will watch the race from the winner's circle.

During the spring racing season, Keeneland recognizes active members of the military who enjoy a day of racing and receive the opportunity to call friends and family. On October 19, families of military personnel are invited to spend the day at Keeneland, where they will be able to communicate with their loved ones in Iraq through private video conferences and enjoy other activities.

Pink Day on October 24 involves two organizations that are working to reduce the existence of breast cancer: Horses and Hope, which is serving the women who work in the barn area at Kentucky tracks, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the noted national organization. Everyone is encouraged to wear pink on Pink Day, when special events include a handicapping contest for women only that will coincide with the all-female day of racing at the Breeders' Cup.

Keeneland Fall Meeting at a Glance

Post time: 1:10 p.m. (ET) Gates open at 11 a.m. No racing on Mondays and Tuesdays. On October 25, post time for the first Breeders' Cup race is 1:10 p.m., and post time for the first Keeneland race is 1:15 p.m.

Admission: $3. Children 12 and under free. Reserved seating (includes general admission) is $6 on weekdays, $8 on weekends. Reserved seating sold out October 4, 11 and 18.

Parking: Free

Simulcasting: Major Thoroughbred tracks in the United States and Canada, and the 25th Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita on October 24-25.

Website: http://www.keeneland.com

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