Keeneland turns 90 with fall stakes totaling $10.7 million

Jun 17, 2026 Jennie Rees No Comments

Season precedes Oct. 30-31 Breeders’ Cup

Keeneland press release and photo above

LEXINGTON, KY (June 17, 2026) — Before Keeneland hosts the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for the fourth time, the track will celebrate its 90^th birthday with a 17-day Fall Meet from Oct. 2-24 featuring 22 stakes worth $10.7 million. The track, which was developed on property owned by John Oliver “Jack” Keene, opened Oct. 15, 1936 for nine days of racing that drew tremendous fanfare from Lexington and beyond. Today Keeneland is an international leader in Thoroughbred racing and sales.

“This is a special year for Keeneland,” said Keeneland Vice President of Racing Gatewood Bell. “Celebrating our 90th anniversary gives us an opportunity to reflect on the rich history of this place while also looking ahead to hosting the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for the fourth time. With Fall Stars Weekend and a strong stakes schedule throughout the meet, fans can expect to see some of the best racing anywhere in the sport.”

Over the course of the Fall Meet, 12 stakes will be run on the turf and 10 stakes will be on the dirt. The Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund is contributing $2,575,000 to their purses, pending approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation.

The Fall Meet will begin with the signature three-day Fall Stars Weekend, featuring 11 stakes worth $6.35 million. Eight of those races are “Win and You’re In” events — part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series – that award the winners automatic starting positions and free entry to the Oct. 30-31 World Championships at Keeneland.

Three Win and You’re In events will be run Friday, Oct. 2: the $650,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1) (NetJets Juvenile Fillies-G1), the $400,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) (Cygames Sprint-G1) and the $400,000 Jessamine (G2) Presented by Keeneland Sales (John Deere Juvenile Fillies Turf-G1).

Saturday, Oct. 3 features five stakes, including these Win and You’re In races: the $1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1) (FanDuel Mile-G1), the $650,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) (FanDuel Juvenile-G1) and the $400,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) (Filly and Mare Sprint-G1). The distance of the TCA has been increased from 6 furlongs to 6½ furlongs.

Also being run on opening Saturday are the $800,000 First Lady (G1) and the $400,000 Woodford (G2) Presented by FanDuel.

Sunday of Fall Stars Weekend has two Win and You’re In races: the $650,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) (Distaff-G1) and the $400,000 Castle & Key Bourbon (G2) (Brown Advisory Juvenile Turf-G1). The day’s third stakes is the $350,000 Indian Summer (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select, which has been upgraded from a listed race and offers a $50,000 purse increase.

Stakes action for the second weekend of the Fall Meet kicks off with the $400,000 Sycamore (G2) on Friday, Oct. 9. The next day features the $750,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana, an internationally recognized invitational for 3-year-old fillies racing 1 1/8 miles on the turf. The $400,000 Franklin (G2) will be run Sunday, Oct. 11.

Third week stakes are the $400,000 Lexus Raven Run (G2) and the $350,000 Perryville (G3) on Saturday, Oct. 17 and the $350,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager (G3) on Sunday, Oct. 18.

Stakes action on the final week of the Fall Meet begins Friday, Oct. 23 with the $400,000 Bank of America Valley View (G2) and the $300,000 Dean Dorton Myrtlewood (L).

The three stakes on closing day on Saturday, Oct. 24 are the $400,000 Bryan Station (G2) on the turf along with two races on the dirt: the $350,000 Hagyard Fayette (G2) — upgraded this year from a Grade 3 race last year — and the $250,000 Bowman Mill.

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Public ticket sales for the Fall Meet will begin Tuesday, Aug. 18 at 9 a.m. ET. For more information, visit tickets.keeneland.com.

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Keeneland 2026 Fall Meet Stakes Schedule: Oct. 2-24

Date	Stakes	KTDF Contribution to Purse**	Division	Distance
Oct. 2	$650,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1)*	$150,000	2YO Fillies	1 1/16 Miles
Oct. 2	$400,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2)*	$100,000	3YOs & Up	6 Furlongs
Oct. 2	$400,000 Jessamine (G2) Presented by Keeneland Sales*	$100,000	2YO Fillies	1 1/16 Miles (T)
Oct. 3	$1.25 Million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1)*	$250,000	3YOs & Up	1 Mile (T)
Oct. 3	$650,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1)*	$150,000	2YOs	1 1/16 Miles
Oct. 3	$800,000 First Lady (G1)	$150,000	3YOs & Up, F&M	1 Mile (T)
Oct. 3	$400,000 Thoroughbred Clubof America (G2)*	$100,000	3YOs & Up, F&M	6½ Furlongs
Oct. 3	$400,000 Woodford (G2) Presented by FanDuel	$100,000	3YOs & Up	5½ Furlongs (T)
Oct. 4	$650,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1)*	$150,000	3YOs & Up, F&M	1 1/8 Miles
Oct. 4	$400,000 Castle & Key Bourbon (G2)*	$100,000	2YOs	1 1/16 Miles (T)
Oct. 4	$350,000 Indian Summer (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select	$100,000	2YOs	5½ Furlongs (T)
Oct. 9	$400,000 Sycamore (G2)	$100,000	3YOs & Up	1½ Miles (T)
Oct. 10	$750,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presentedby Dixiana	$150,000	3YO Fillies(Invitation Only)	1 1/8 Miles (T)
Oct. 11	$400,000 Franklin (G2)	$100,000	3YOs & Up, F&M	5½ Furlongs (T)
Oct. 17	$400,000 Lexus Raven Run (G2)	$100,000	3YO Fillies	7 Furlongs
Oct. 17	$350,000 Perryville (G3)	$100,000	3YOs	7 Furlongs
Oct. 18	$350,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager (G3)	$100,000	3YOs & Up, F&M	1½ Miles (T)
Oct. 23	$400,000 Bank of America Valley View (G2)	$100,000	3YO Fillies	1 Mile (T)
Oct. 23	$300,000 Dean Dorton Myrtlewood (L)	$100,000	2YO Fillies	6 Furlongs
Oct. 24	$400,000 Bryan Station (G2)	$100,000	3YOs	1 Mile (T)
Oct. 24	$350,000 Hagyard Fayette (G2)	$100,000	3YOs & Up	1 1/8 Miles
Oct. 25	$250,000 Bowman Mill	$75,000	2YOs	6 Furlongs