Keeneland Closes Record-Breaking Fall Meet

Though only one person seems to have lost their head over it!

Keeneland meet recap by track’s publicity department (Coady Media photo of the Headless Horseman making his traditional closing-day appearance at Keeneland in advance of Halloween)

LEXINGTON, KY (Oct. 26, 2024) – Keeneland concluded its 2024 Fall Meet on Saturday with a season-record all-sources wagering of $210 million boosted by record purse money that attracted full fields featuring the nation’s top trainers, jockeys and horses. Sunny skies, a slate of family-friendly special events with a philanthropic purpose and the celebration of numerous racing milestones further enhanced the fun during the 17-day meet, held Oct. 4-26.

“The Fall Meet was exceptional,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “The class and quality of the horses and riders competing here are truly special, and we appreciate the tremendous support from our owners and trainers who make the choice to race with us. Blue skies and sunshine on each and every race day added to the atmosphere, showcasing all that is special about the Bluegrass. We thank our horsemen and our fans for their loyal support and are excited to share the new Paddock Building with everyone this time next year.”

All-sources wagering (not including whole-card simulcasting at Keeneland) this fall totaled a record $210,165,945, besting the previous record of $208,907,655 set during the 2022 Fall Meet and marking an increase of 4.06% over last fall’s $201,966,111.  

All-sources wagering for opening Fall Stars Weekend, Oct. 4-6, was $49.5 million, just shy of the record $49.9 million handled during the 2022 Fall Stars Weekend. Wagering on opening Saturday’s 11-race card, headlined by five graded stakes, was $22,356,693 for a single-day Fall Meet record.

The Pick 5 pool broke Keeneland records twice during the Fall Meet. On Wednesday, Oct. 9, the early Pick 5 pool of $2,427,483 bested the previous Keeneland record of $1,696,981 set on Toyota Blue Grass Day during the 2024 Spring Meet. Two weeks later, on Wednesday, Oct. 23, the late Pick 5 pool of $2,801,055 established both a Keeneland record and a national record for a Wednesday Pick 5, exceeding the $2,549,098 handled at Del Mar on Aug. 15, 2012. The Pick 5 carryover going into Oct. 23 also was a record $301,895.

On-track wagering of $16,597,162 increased 2.01% from last year’s $16,270,885.

Racing Milestones Highlight Strong Racing Program

The 2024 Fall Meet was memorable for its historic status as Keeneland’s richest race meet and the number of racing milestones celebrated.  

This season featured 22 stakes worth a record $9.85 million, led by the richest race in track history, the $1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1), won by leading FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) contender Carl Spackler (IRE).

Average daily purses were a Keeneland record $1,250,834 this fall and attracted full fields that averaged 9.6 starters per race. 

Eight of the 11 stakes held Fall Stars Weekend were Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series events that secured for the winners automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar.

Ten horses were pre-entered in the Breeders’ Cup following Fall Stars stakes wins: Darley Alcibiades (G1) winner Immersive (pre-entered in the NetJets Juvenile Fillies), Jessamine (G2) Presented by Keeneland Sales winner May Day Ready (John Deere Juvenile Fillies Turf), Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) winner Federal Judge (Cygames Sprint), Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner East Avenue (FanDuel Juvenile), Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) winner Carl Spackler (IRE) (FanDuel Mile), First Lady (G1) Presented by UK HealthCare winner Gina Romantica (FanDuel Mile), Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) winner Zeitlos (PNC Bank Filly and Mare Sprint), 

Juddmonte Spinster (G1) winner Idiomatic (Distaff), Indian Summer (L) Presented by Keeneland Select winner Governor Sam (Juvenile Turf Sprint) and Castle & Key Bourbon (G2) winner Minaret Station (Juvenile Turf).

Among other racing highlights:

• Two jockeys – Paco Lopez and Irad Ortiz Jr. – each scored their 4,000th career wins. Lopez’s milestone came opening Saturday when he rode Governor Sam to win the Indian Summer Presented by Keeneland Select. A week later, Ortiz reached the mark when he won the first race aboard Good Temper.

• With a victory by Chop Chop in the Rood & Riddle Dowager (G3) on Oct. 20, trainer Brad Cox won a record fifth stakes win here this meet. Cox also won the closing-day Hagyard Fayette (G2) with Hit Show to finish the meet with six stakes wins, the most for any trainer during a Keeneland meet. The previous record for stakes wins by a trainer at a Keeneland meet was four. Six trainers share that mark: D. Wayne Lukas, Mark Casse, Graham Motion, Ben Jones, Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown.

• Longtime Keeneland-based trainer Rusty Arnold earned his 300^th Keeneland victory on Oct. 23 with Neon Icon. Arnold notched his first Keeneland win during the 1977 Spring Meet. He has won 24 stakes here, including seven Grade 1 races.

• Highway Robber set a course record of 2:26.08 for 1½ miles on the grass in winning the Sycamore (G3) on Oct. 11. Two days later, Future Is Now won the Franklin (G2) in stakes-record time, going 5½ furlongs on the turf in 1:01.47. On Oct. 19, Brunacini lowered the stakes record for the Perryville (G3) when he won the 7-furlong race on the dirt in 1:22.80.

“The racing this Fall was just phenomenal really,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing Gatewood Bell said. “It all starts with the quality stock that our horsemen bring to race here. The world’s best owners, trainers and jockeys competing day in and day out under beautiful skies makes for a fantastic product that we are privileged to help showcase to our loyal fans and horseplayers alike.  A big thank you to each of them and all those behind the scenes who have worked so hard to make this Fall Meet one to remember and celebrate.”

Fall Meet Leaders

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione and trainer Brad Cox each took command of his respective standings early in the Fall Meet and never looked back.    

Gaffalione captured 24 wins on his way to his fifth Fall Meet and eighth overall Keeneland leading rider title. Among his victories were four stakes: the Coolmore Turf Mile on Carl Spackler (IRE), the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity on East Avenue, the Lexus Raven Run (G2) on Emery and the Sycamore on Highway Robber.

Finishing second and third, respectively, in the standings were Luis Saez and Jose Ortiz. Saez recorded 20 wins including the Woodford (G2) Presented by FanDuel with Our Shot. Ortiz won the Thoroughbred Club of America with Zeitlos and the First Lady Presented by UK HealthCare with Gina Romantica on his way to 17 meet victories. 

Cox led all trainers with 14 wins to earn his fifth consecutive Fall Meet title and sixth Keeneland title overall. Headlining his totals were his record six stakes: the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix with Federal Judge, the Darley Alcibiades with Immersive, the Juddmonte Spinster with champion Idiomatic, the Lexus Raven Run with Emery, the Rood & Riddle Dowager with Chop Chop and the Hagyard Fayette with Hit Show.

Rodolphe Brisset ranked second in the trainer standings with nine wins. Rusty Arnold and Brendan Walsh tied for third with eight wins each. Arnold’s total was boosted by back-to-back stakes victories on Oct. 25 with Echo Sound in the Myrtlewood and Poolside With Slim (IRE) in the Bank of America Valley View (G2). Walsh won the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity with East Avenue.

Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum’s Godolphin won four races, including two stakes, to be the Fall Meet leading owner. The title is Godolphin’s third Fall Meet honor in the past four years and sixth overall. Victories include the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity with East Avenue and the Darley Alcibiades with Immersive.

Fall Meet Special Events Combine Philanthropic Purpose with Family Fun

During the season, Keeneland teamed with corporate and horse industry partners to offer special events that further the track’s mission to support the Central Kentucky community and the sport.

Highlighting the philanthropic initiatives were:

• Members of the Keeneland jockey colony joined retired riders for an autograph session on Oct. 5 that raised $5,623 for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF). 
• On Oct. 10, Keeneland celebrated its 17^th Make-A-Wish Day, teaming with local Thoroughbred farms and organizations to grant wishes for 10 children, who with their families took part in a VIP race-day experience. 

• Keeneland hosted the annual Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, sponsored by Godolphin, on Oct. 15. These awards recognize and reward the outstanding talent, diligence and commitment of the farm and racing stable staff who are at the heart of the Thoroughbred industry.
• Keeneland welcomed students for College Scholarship Day Presented by Lane’s End on Oct. 18. More than six thousand full-time college students registered to win one of 10 $2,000 scholarships provided by Keeneland and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and one of two $10,000 scholarships provided by Lane’s End Farm.

• Heroes Day on Oct. 20 honored members of the military, first responders, health care workers and their families with free general admission, lunch provided by City Barbeque, a spectacular flag unfurling on the main track and special programming throughout the day. Keeneland donated $2,500 to the VA’s Blind and Visual Impairment Rehabilitation Services. Earlier in the week, Keeneland and City Barbeque served lunch to 150 veterans at the Lexington VA, Troy Bowling Campus.

• On closing day of the meet, Keeneland honored teachers, educators and staff with free admission as part of Teacher Appreciation Day. Through partnerships with Coca-Cola and UPS, prize giveaways and complimentary drinks were provided. During the day, Keeneland recognized educators from Fayette County schools who received notable recognitions.

• Keeneland partnered with race sponsors during the Fall Meet to support horse industry and community initiatives. Keeneland and Juddmonte donated $10,000 to the Kentucky Equine Management Internship program, which provides opportunities to college students interested in careers in equine management. Keeneland and Lexus of Lexington donated $5,000 to The MAP Foundation to benefit the Woodhill Community Center.  
• Keeneland and Country Boy Brewing of Lexington again teamed to produce Keeneland Lager.Country Boy Brewing, Kentucky Eagle and other distributor partners donated $1 per case to support Blue Grass Farms Charities (BGFC).