Keeneland Stakes Winner's Circle to Move Closer to Fans
Image:
Description:
Photo: John S. Hockensmith/Bloodhorse
The winner's circle for stakes races will shift to the pictured walking ring area of the paddock at Keeneland
The stakes winner's circle experience will change this fall when Keeneland unveils its new paddock building and paddock area, a track official said.
Speaking Aug. 7 during a meeting of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund Advisory Committee, Keeneland vice president of racing Gatewood Bell said the winner's circle area for stakes competitors will move to what had previously been the paddock walking ring. For years, stakes-winning ceremonies and in-house television interviews with the stakes-winning connections had taken place within the infield on the outer portion of the grass course, though only for stakes.
Bell said an aim is to "kind of create a more buzzy atmosphere for the winning connections, and get them into the (celebratory) Director's Room quicker." He added that he thinks it's "gonna be great" to have the area closely surrounded by patrons.
Besides the new paddock building, he believes improvements to the interior of the paddock—which include new stalls and a more centralized saddling area—will create "hopefully safer, better viewing for the fans inside the paddock and outside the paddock."
In other committee developments, the committee:
- Elected Charlie O'Connor to succeed Bill Landes as chair. Braxton Lynch was elected as vice chair.
- Approved the transfer of $1.25 million in KTDF purse funds from Kentucky Downs to Keeneland, pending Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation authorization.
- Heard projected purses for Churchill Downs and Keeneland, where maiden purses this fall are expected to be worth up to $120,000 and $110,000, respectively.