Keeneland Welcomes 2018 Spring Race Meet
Opening weekend features eight graded stakes, anchored by $1 million Toyota Blue Grass
Keeneland’s 2018 Spring Meet, which kicks off Friday, April 6, promises 16 days of spectacular racing highlighted by 16 stakes worth a season-record $4.4 million. The meet gets off to a fast start as opening weekend will showcase many of racing’s stars competing in eight graded stakes, led by the $1 million Toyota Blue Grass (G2) and $500,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1), nationally prominent prep races on the 2018 Roads to the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1), respectively.
The Spring Meet runs April 6-27, with racing Wednesdays through Sundays. Gates open at 11 a.m. ET, with post time for the first race set for 1:05 p.m.
Lucrative Purses Attract Racing’s Top Stables
This spring, Keeneland will offer average daily purse money of $731,365, among the highest in North America. The rich purse schedule and idyllic surroundings attract the nation’s top owners, trainers and jockeys, who come to Keeneland to compete with the best in Thoroughbred racing.
Keeneland welcomes Kentucky Utilities as the new sponsor of the $150,000 Transylvania (G3) on opening day. The Transylvania is a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds over the turf course.
Opening Saturday, April 7, features 11 races, including five graded stakes led by the Toyota Blue Grass for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles and the Central Bank Ashland for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles. Each is worth 100 points to the winners on the Roads to the Derby and Oaks, respectively. The post position draw for both classic preps will be held Tuesday, April 3, and will be streamed on Facebook Live @Keeneland.
The Toyota Blue Grass Day undercard comprises the $300,000 Madison (G1), for fillies and mares at 7 furlongs; $200,000 Shakertown (G2), for 3-year-olds and up at 5½ furlongs on the turf; and $250,000 Commonwealth (G3), for 4-year-olds and up over 7 furlongs.
Opening weekend concludes Sunday, April 8, with the upgraded Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association, now worth $200,000 for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on the turf, and the $150,000 Beaumont (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select, for 3-year-old fillies going 7 furlongs, 184 feet, on dirt.
The $300,000 Maker’s 46 Mile (G1), for older horses on the turf, will be held Friday, April 13.
Four stakes highlight the second Saturday of racing, April 14, anchored by the $350,000 Coolmore Jenny Wiley (G1), a 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares on the turf, and the $200,000 Stonestreet Lexington (G3), for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles. One of the nation’s final classic preps, the Stonestreet Lexington awards the winner 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Rounding out the undercard that day are the $200,000 Ben Ali (G3), for older horses racing 1 1/8 miles, and $100,000 Giant’s Causeway (L), a 5½-furlong turf race for fillies and mares.
Older horses are showcased in graded stakes during the final days of the Spring Meet. The $100,000 Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare (G3), for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles, is set for Friday, April 20, followed by the $250,000 Dixiana Elkhorn (G2) at 1½ miles on the turf on Saturday, April 21. Closing day, April 27, features the 150,000 Bewitch (G3), for fillies and mares racing 1½ miles on the turf.
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