Keeneland and UK Team Up for "A Day at Keeneland"

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Today Keeneland and University of Kentucky Athletics announced a new program to deliver Keeneland's Summer Meet to the Big Blue Nation. On Saturday, July 11 from 2 p.m.-6 p.m. EST, the UK Sports Network in partnership with Keeneland will broadcast "A Day at Keeneland Presented by Toyota." This four-hour broadcast will feature continuous coverage of Keeneland's Saturday card that includes six graded stakes races and the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2), which will award 170 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. 

Host Tom Leach, "The Voice of the Wildcats" and an Eclipse Award winner who serves as a Keeneland racing analyst, will anchor the program live from Keeneland. Hear Keeneland announcer Kurt Becker's call of each stakes and enjoy a variety of pre- and post-race coverage that will combine UK Athletics and Keeneland. The program will air on 630 WLAP in Central Kentucky, WLAP.com/listen and WLAP via the iHeartRadio app and also be streamed live on ukathletics.com and the UK Athletics app.

Among the other features will be:

  • A chat between UK football coach Mark Stoops and Hall of Fame trainer and Lexington native Shug McGaughey
  • Classic race call from the legendary UK football and men's basketball announcer Cawood Ledford of the 1979 Blue Grass Stakes won by Spectacular Bid; and
  • Interviews with Keeneland trainers about their racing connections and passion for UK sports.

Keeneland and UK fans can receive a preview of the racing action on Thursday, July 9 at 3 p.m. when Leach hosts a video interview with Coach Stoops and Shug McGaughey on BBN Live. Watch the interview on the Kentucky Wildcats Facebook or Twitter handles.

UK Athletics, a longtime partner of Keeneland, has engaged its family to celebrate the Keeneland Summer Meet. On Saturday, July 11, UK Athletics teams will follow Keeneland's races on their respective social channels.  

"We are excited about this new venture with UK Sports Network to showcase our biggest day of this unprecedented Summer Meet," Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. "This radio broadcast enhances the Keeneland at Home experience for our fans who cannot join us at the track, and it celebrates the long connection between Keeneland and the UK Wildcats. We know Big Blue Nation eagerly anticipates the chance to hopefully enjoy more UK football-Keeneland racing doubleheaders this fall."

"Keeneland is a signature Bluegrass tradition and a shared passion for both UK Athletics and the Big Blue Nation," Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart said. "It's an honor for us to share in that tradition and to participate in this one-of-a-kind Summer Meet." 

This unique programming is a further extension of the longtime partnership between UK Athletics and Keeneland to highlight the best of the Bluegrass. The program is part of the "Keeneland at Home" initiative with Keeneland delivering fans unique race-day experiences in new ways from the comfort and safety of their homes during these unique circumstances.