Withstanding the rainiest April on record in Central Kentucky, Keeneland’s
2011 spring meeting ranked among the best in the track’s 75-year history,
posting strong attendance and handle figures. The 15-day stand opened April 8
and concluded Friday.
“If it were possible to chart adverse weather with all the race meet
statistics, this would be one of the top Keeneland meets ever,” Keeneland
President and CEO Nick Nicholson said.
“I’m amazed at how well the race meet held up despite the adverse conditions
and want to commend all involved, including our entire team, the horsemen and
even both tracks themselves.”
Despite the nearly 13 inches of rain at Keeneland, the racing was quality and
formful with relatively few scratches.
As Nicholson stated, “synthetic surfaces are known as all-weather surfaces in
Europe and ours certainly lived up to that moniker this spring.”
Nicholson pointed out that the all-weather surface has had only one equine
racing fatality during the spring since its installation five years ago.
“The all-weather surface has far exceeded our expectations,” he said.
Nicholson also was pleased that the handle remained strong despite the wet
weather, which likely wouldn’t have been the case before the first spring season
on an all-weather surface in 2007.
“Field sizes would’ve plummeted with such a wet April on our old track,
resulting in a dramatically lower handle,” he said.
Total meet attendance for the spring season was 241,684 — the third-highest
for a spring meet ever — compared to 238,282 last spring.
“To surpass last spring, which saw mostly mild, pleasant race days, is a
tribute to the fans that braved the sometimes treacherous conditions this meet,”
Nicholson said. “We have some of the greatest race fans in the country.”
On-track handle on Keeneland for the 2011 spring meeting totaled $18,473,700,
compared to last year’s $17,906,359, up 3 percent. Average on-track wagering on
Keeneland was $1,231,580 compared to $1,193,757 in 2010.
All-sources handle on Keeneland for the 2011 spring meeting totaled
$117,225,845 compared to $107,858,516 in 2010, marking a 9 percent increase.
Figures for all sources, including whole-card simulcasting, will be available on
Monday.
On the track, the race for leading jockey honors between Julien Leparoux and
Alan Garcia went down to the final day. Leparoux, a multiple Eclipse Award
winner, accumulated 19 wins and earned his fourth spring meeting title (2006
[first apprentice to win a Keeneland title, tying with Rafael Bejarano], 2007
and 2009) and sixth title (fall 2006 and 2010) overall at Keeneland. Leparoux
boosted his record with four wins on April 17 and a victory in the Lexington
(G3) on April 23 aboard Derby Kitten (Kitten’s Joy).
Garcia, who rode his first full season at Keeneland this spring, finished
second with 16 wins, followed by Javier Castellano with 15 victories. Three of
Castellano’s wins came in stakes — an upset victory in the Ashland (G1) with
Lilacs and Lace (Flower Alley), with Get Stormy (Stormy Atlantic) in the Maker’s
Mark Mile (G1) and aboard Exhi (Maria’s Mon) in the Ben Ali (G3).
Ken McPeek captured his first spring trainer title to go along with honors
earned in the fall of 2009 and 2010. McPeek finished the meeting with 14 wins,
two shy of Todd Pletcher’s 2005 spring meeting record of 16 wins. Wesley Ward
ranked second with nine victories, followed by Michael Maker with seven wins.
“It’s a game of cycles with a lot of ups and downs, but we were fortunate
that a lot of stars aligned for this meet,” McPeek, a Lexington native, said.
“We held a lot of horses from Gulfstream and waited to run them here. I love
winning here and I always have. Winning this training title is very special.”
Ken and Sarah Ramsey dominated the owner standings with 10 wins, including
two stakes victories on April 23 — with Derby Kitten in the Lexington and
Holiday for Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) in the Giant’s Causeway. That day they also
finished second with Dean’s Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) in the Ben Ali. This was the
ninth Keeneland leading owner title for the Ramseys, who have previously won
three spring titles (2004 [tie], 2006 and 2010 [tie]) and five fall titles (2000
[tie], 2002, 2007 [tie], 2008 and 2009).
“It’s been an awesome meet,” Ken Ramsey said. “This meet has been very
special because of the success of our homebreds. To have two homebreds win
stakes races and another run second in a stakes race, all on the same day at
Keeneland, was just unbelievable. It’s an honor to be the leading owner here.”
Owners Charles E. Fipke, Susan McPeek et al’s Magdalena Racing and Wesley
Ward tied for second with four wins each.
On April 16, Aikenite’s (Yes It’s True) victory in the Commonwealth (G2) gave
owner Cot Campell’s Dogwood Stable its eighth Keeneland graded stakes victory
and a gold tray as part of Keeneland’s unique gold trophy program to recognize
owners.
“The quality of races, the size of purses and the ability to draw the
attention of the racing world allows us to attract many of the best trainers,
jockeys and horses to Lexington each spring,” Vice President of Racing Rogers
Beasley said. “Our short meet was filled with dramatic and thrilling racing.”
Keeneland continues to lead the country in social media outreach for
handicapping and generating fan interest in the sport. It launched Facebook’s
first-ever horse racing game based on real-time information, resulting in more
than 1,500 daily players and more than 2.5 million newsfeed impressions during
the 15-day meeting.
Daily handicapping chats with expert Jeremy Plonk averaged more than 2,000
per day, with a high of 4,000 on Blue Grass Stakes Day.
The track also hosted other special events and promotions:
Opening Day.
Day and were able to call loved ones anywhere in the world, courtesy of
Windstream Communications. In addition, a saddle towel donated by Woodford
Racing was auctioned on eBay for $1,025, which was donated to a non-profit
organization that supports military members and their families.
signing was part of a fund-raising effort on behalf of music outreach in
Kentucky through the UK student orchestra.
initiative to raise awareness and money for cancer screenings for backside
workers.
with a special day at the track.
closing evening raised money the Markey Cancer Center.
weekends, resulting in nearly 1,700 rides to and from the track.
“As we celebrate our 75th year, we strive each meet to provide the
highest-quality racing in a safe environment so that our incredible fans come
away with an incomparable sporting and entertainment experience,” Nicholson
said.