“We wanted to enhance the Keeneland experience to not only educate fans but to give back to a number of worthy causes,” said Christa Marillia of Keeneland's marketing department. Those special events include Make-A-Wish Day on October 8, Military Family Day on October 19 and Pink Day on October 24 – all being held for the first time.
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 treated to breakfast and be able to communicate with their loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan through private video conferences.
Pink Day on October 24 involves two organizations that are working to reduce the existence of breast cancer: Horses and Hope, an initiative of First Lady Jane Beshear that is centered on the women who work in the barn areas at Kentucky tracks, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the noted national organization. Fans are encouraged to wear pink on Pink Day, when activities include a handicapping contest for women only that will coincide with the all-female day of racing at the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita. The first 1,000 ladies with paid admission received a pink Keeneland scarf.
The Keeneland racing season features other special events to interest a variety of patrons.
On October 9, fans will be able to meet three of the sport's most famous jockeys – Angel Cordero Jr., Pat Day and Laffit Pincay Jr. -- when the Breeders' Cup Legends Tour stops at the track. The tour of the retired riders, who are all members of the Racing Hall of Fame, is helping to commemorate the 25th running of the Breeders' Cup.
The three riders participated in the 1984 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), contributing to one of the most thrilling race finishes in recent history. Day, who is Keeneland's all-time leading rider, rode Wild Again to an upset victory in a narrow finish over Cordero and his mount, Slew o' Gold, and Pincay on Gate Dancer. At Keeneland, the three will participate in a question-and-answer session and sign autographs.
Thousands of college students are expected to descend on Keeneland on October 10 for College Scholarship Day, a popular event held during each race meeting and co-sponsored by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association. Full-time college students can register to win a $1,000 scholarship or a Verizon Wireless Palm Centro Smartphone to be given away after each race.
On October 17, Keeneland will be a sea of blue when it hosts See Blue Day, a full slate of festivities to kick off the University of Kentucky Wildcats' homecoming weekend. Kentucky plays Arkansas the following day at 7 p.m. at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington.
See Blue Day includes the inaugural Tops In Lex Cornhole Tournament and a pep rally at the Keeneland Entertainment Center with UK coaches, cheerleaders, pep band and mascot. That afternoon, former Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch and other former Wildcat football stars will be at the track to sign commemorative UK/Keeneland hats. Proceeds from sales of the hat will benefit UK's DanceBlue, a student-led effort to provide emotional support and research for children and families treated at the UK Pediatric Oncology Clinic.
Keeneland Fall Events Calendar
* Friday, October 3 – Sunday, October 5: FallStars Weekend, featuring nine stakes worth $3.4 million and a number of horses expected to race in the Breeders' Cup World Championships at the end of the month.
* Friday, October 3: Darley Alcibiades Giveaway, with the first 3,000 patrons with paid admission receiving a free Darley umbrella.
* Friday, October 3, 10 and 17: Friday Pick 4 with a guaranteed pool of $200,000.
* Saturdays: Breakfast With the Works, featuring Southern-style breakfast and children's activities, beginning at 7 a.m. Program includes commentary on Thoroughbreds as they exercise and a show-and-tell by a member of the racing industry. An equine-related demonstration in the paddock follows at 8:45 a.m.
* Saturdays: Free handicapping seminar trackside beginning at 11:30 a.m.
* Saturday, October 4: $150,000 guaranteed Pick Six.
* Wednesday, October 8: Make-A-Wish Day.
* Wednesdays: Keeneland Handicapping Contest with a guaranteed $2,500 pool.
* Thursday, October 9: Breeders' Cup Legends Tour with jockeys Angel Cordero Jr., Pat Day and Laffit Pincay Jr.
* Friday, October 10: College Scholarship Day.
* Friday, October 10: Buffalo Trace Distillery Sweepstakes to win the grand prize of a special event at the distillery in Franklin County, Kentucky.
* October 10-11: Book signing by Anna Morgan Ford, author of Beyond the Track: Retraining the Thoroughbred from Racehorse to Riding Horse.
* Sunday, October 12: WoodSongs Partners Day, with season ticket holders receiving free general admission and access to reserved grandstand seats.
* Friday, October 17: See Blue Day.
* Sunday, October 19: Military Family Day.
* Thursday, October 23: Keeneland Wall Calendar Giveaway.
* Friday, October 24: Pink Day.
* Friday, October 24 and Saturday, October 25: Simulcast of the 25th Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita on final two days of Keeneland's fall meeting.