The $400,000-dollar, Grade 3 Lexington Stakes has, in years’ past, been a last chance for a 3-year-old prospect to garner enough points to gain a spot in the Kentucky Derby. Not so this year. With just a maximum of 20 points up for grabs, the Winner of Saturday’s feature race at Keeneland will be woefully short of the cutoff to qualify for the May 3rd Run … Continue reading Who Wins The Lexington Stakes?
The Blue Grass Stakes was scheduled for Saturday at Kenneland Racetrack. But with a weather forecast that calls for several days of thunderstorms and potential widespread flooding in the Lexington area, the race has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 8th. Keeneland increased the purse for the 1 1/8-mile, Grade 1 Blue Grass to a record $1.25 million dollars for 2025 and will also distribute qualifying points … Continue reading Who Wins The Blue Grass Stakes?
Prior to 2013 the traditional qualifying factor for horses wanting to participate in the Kentucky Derby was total Graded Stakes purse earnings- the more money an eligible horse Won, the increased chance of entering the starting gate. But beginning in 2013 Churchill Downs refined the classic earnings method in favor of a points based system which revamped the traditional prep races. These prep races were officially … Continue reading Ease On Down The Road (To The Kentucky Derby)
The Breeders’ Cup World Championships begin a week from today. The Breeders’ Cup marks the end of long and sometimes challenging season for those elite equine athletes fortunate enough to make it to the gate. Some horses will show the wear and tear of the campaign and won’t be able to strut their best stuff. For others, everything will come together at the precise moment … Continue reading A Cinderella Story
The Grade 1, $750,000 dollar Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes is Saturday at Keeneland Race Course. The 1 1/8-mile test on the turf is restricted to 3-year-old fillies, giving the sophomore runners one more chance to stay within their division for a Graded Stakes before it’s time for them to face older females. Here is a brief look at the field: 1. PIN UP BETTY … Continue reading Who Wins The QE II Challenge Cup Stakes ?
The Keeneland 2024 Fall Race Meet begins Friday, October 4th, and continues through Saturday, October 26th. No racing will be held on Mondays or Tuesdays. Many of the sport’s most notable Thoroughbreds, human connections, and handicappers take part in this premier racing event in the heart of horse country- Lexington, Kentucky. Keeneland will present 12 Stakes on grass and 10 Stakes on dirt while offering multiple Stakes on six … Continue reading Autumn In Keeneland
The Road to the Kentucky Derby takes the checkered flag on Saturday with the running of the $400,000 dollar, Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. Held over 1 1/16 miles, the race awards Kentucky Derby qualification points on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis to the top five finishers. It’s certainly a diminished prize compared to the past few weeks of 100-50-25-15-10 preps, but it does offer horses on the … Continue reading The History Of The Lexington Stakes
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 … Continue reading Keeneland Spring Meet
We’re 8 days into 2024, and anticipation is already building for what’s to come this year in the wonderful world of horse racing. There will be plenty of exciting contests, memorable moments, and great times to be had at tracks all across the country. Everyone (even horseplayers) make New Year’s resolutions; some are more successful than others. The Daily Racing Blog won’t add any undue … Continue reading A 2024 Wish List
As we mentioned here on Wednesday, the annual Fall meet at Keeneland begins on Friday. We previously talked about which jockeys to focus on during this boutique, 17 race-day meet. Today we’ll take a look at which trainers have fared well in the past at the Lexington track: Brad Cox Won the training title at the recently concluded Churchill Downs September meet, where he Won … Continue reading Top Trainers At Keeneland
