Keeneland Posts Dips in Attendance, Handle

Keeneland's 2014 fall meet, highlighted by a new dirt surface and the Lexington track's first $1 million race, closed Saturday, Oct. 25 with the third-highest seasonal attendance in Keeneland history.



On-track attendance for the 17-day stand, held Oct. 3-25, totaled 251,574, third behind the fall record of 266,466 recorded last year. Average daily attendance was 14,798, down 5.6% from last fall's 15,674.



Attendance was impacted by consistent rain and cooler than normal temperatures on seven of the meet's opening 10 race days. Average daily attendance rebounded, however, with sunny, dry weather to exceed comparable 2013 figures each of the final six days of the meet.



"Mother Nature challenged us during the opening weeks of the meet, and we thank the legions of loyal fans who came to the races on those less than ideal weather days," said Bill Thomason, Keeneland's president and CEO. "We strive to offer every one of our guests the best experience possible. Keeneland is a very special place to go racing in both good and bad weather."



On-track wagering totaled $17,625,834, dipping 3% from last fall's $18,173,355. Average daily on-track wagering was $1,036,814, down 3% from $1,069,021 in 2013.



All-sources wagering on Keeneland totaled $122,844,887, a decline of 12% from last year's $139,660,179. 



Keeneland's new dirt surface, which was installed this summer on the main track, performed exceptionally well in spite of the trials posed by October's inclement weather.



"The new drainage system was tested from the outset of the meet, but we are very pleased with its ability to handle all the rain," said Rogers Beasley, Keeneland vice president of racing. "The track played very fair throughout the season, and winners were balanced between speed-favoring and come-from-behind horses, favorites and longshots."



Thirty-eight horses who raced and/or trained at Keeneland have been pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Oct. 31-Nov. 1.



Among the Breeders' Cup Challenge winners at Keeneland were Work All Week (Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix), Carpe Diem (Claiborne Breeders' Futurity), Don't Tell Sophia (Juddmonte Spinster), Lawn Ranger (Dixiana Bourbon), and Rainha Da Bateria (JPMorgan Chase Jessamine).



The "Fall Stars Saturday" program Oct. 4 produced a thrilling win by fan favorite and reigning two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan in the Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. IT), Keeneland's first $1 million race. Grand Arch, pre-entered for the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT), finished second.



Jockey John Velazquez's victory aboard Wise Dan in the Shadwell Turf Mile was one of three grade I wins he recorded that day, the others coming in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) with Carpe Diem and the First Lady (gr. IT) with Dayatthespa. Velazquez won a total of five races on the Oct. 4 card.



Average daily purses of $651,558 for the meet continued to rank among the nation's highest. Field size averaged 8.42 starters per race compared to 9.85 in the 2013 fall stand.



Ken and Sarah Ramsey won nine races during the meet to collect their 14th leading owner title and tie with T.A. Grissom for most overall titles won by an owner at Keeneland. The Ramseys received Eclipse Awards as outstanding owner and breeder in 2013 and as outstanding owner in 2004 and 2011.



The race for leading trainer and jockey went down to the wire.



Todd Pletcher and Graham Motion shared leading trainer honors with eight wins each.



This is the third Keeneland training title for six-time Eclipse Award winner Pletcher, who previously earned honors in the Spring of 2005 and 2008. Among Pletcher's wins was Carpe Diem's victory in the Breeders' Futurity.



Motion earned his first leading trainer title at Keeneland. His eight wins were boosted by a three-win day Oct. 16, that was topped by a victory in the Sycamore (gr. IIIT) with Holiday Star.

 

Rosie Napravnik won 16 races to capture her second straight fall meet riding title over Corey Lanerie with 15. Highlighting her meet were three-win days on Oct. 16 and Oct. 22.