Keeneland Race Course

For the next month we will be talking thoroughbred racing and racing food. Of course this will have the big finish with the Blog Kentucky Derby Party. For my friends that are not acquainted with thoroughbred racing and Keeneland Race Course I have a little history for you. When it's thoroughbred horse racing season in Kentucky, it's all about tradition, including the food.

Keeneland was founded in 1935 as a nonprofit racing-auction entity on 147 acres of farmland west of Lexington, Ky, which had been owned by Jack Keene, a driving force behind the building of the facility. From its onset it has used proceeds from races and its auctions to further the thoroughbred industry as well as contributing back to the surrounding community. The racing side of Keeneland, Keeneland Race Course, has conducted live race meets in April and October since 1936. It added a grass course in 1985.

Keeneland takes pride in maintaining racing traditions; it was the last track in North American to broadcast race calls over its public-address system, not doing so until 1997. Most of the racing scenes for the 2003 movie Seabiscuit were shot at Keeneland because its appearance has changed very little in the last decades.

In 2009, the Horseplayers Association of North America introduced a rating system for 65 Thoroughbred racetracks in North America. Of the top ten, Keeneland was ranked #1. If you ever have the opportunity to vist you would know why.

In the thoroughbred racing world, Keeneland is equally famous for its other side - its sales operation. It holds four annual horse auctions that attract buyers worldwide. We will talk more about that later.

Each Saturday during the racing meet Breakfast With the Works is served begining at 7:00 a.m., $7.50 for adults and children under 3 eat free. A really nice buffet breakfast plus the opportunity to watch the morning workouts of the thoroughbreds, plus tons of activies for the kids. A beautiful way to spend Saturday with the family.

Polish those silver trays and mint julep cups, it's time to party.