Spring is in the air, which means race fans are in the thick of one of the most active and important seasons in Thoroughbred racing.

The winter meets are coming to an end and racing enjoys a rejuvenation with certain tracks opening for their spring meets.

When the calendar enters April in Kentucky it marks the opening of Keeneland Race Course for its annual spring meet.

Located in Lexington, Kentucky (sometimes known as the Horse Capitol of the World) Keeneland is an internationally renowned racecourse as well as the thoroughbred industries leading auction house, conducting three sales a year.

Founded in 1936, Keeneland continues to live up to its original mission statement to reinvest in the industry and to preserve the tradition of thoroughbred racing.  It was dedicated a National Historic Landmark in 1986.  

Keeneland has hosted the Breeders Cup Championship three times (2015, 2020, 2022).

The track plays host to a 16 day spring meet, as well as a fall meet which runs for 17 days.  Owners, trainers, jockeys, and fans from all over the globe travel to Lexington for both these meets.

Keeneland racing begins this Friday, April 5th and continues Wednesdays through Sundays through April 26th.

The short but sweet spring meet will host 19 Stakes races with purses totaling $8.1 million.

Many of the Stakes take place opening weekend, including the track’s premier Derby prep race, the $1 million dollar, Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes on Saturday, April 6th.

Every year the meet brings together winter horses and horsemen from the Kentucky circuit that have spent the winter and/or spring racing on the all-weather track at Turfway Park.

While others will be returning to Kentucky after wintering at tracks such as Gulfstream Park, Fair Grounds and Oaklawn Park.

It is a very competitive meet where the race fan is rewarded by watching big fields of top-quality horses and offers up some rather big pay-outs.