Keeneland reports declines in attendance, handle as spring meet concludes

Keeneland wrapped up its soggy spring meet on Friday (Keeneland/Coady Photography)

Keeneland successfully concluded its 2015 spring meet on
Friday, yielding a number of positive results: consecutive Saturdays of
near-record crowds that contributed to the track’s fourth-highest spring meet
attendance; the consistent performance of the new dirt surface despite
near-record rainfall during April; and a blockbuster opening Saturday which
featured both the $1 million Blue Grass S. (G1) and $500,000 Ashland S. (G1), won by
Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful Carpe Diem (Giant’s Causeway) and Lovely Maria (Majesticperfection),
respectively.

On-track attendance for the 15-day spring meet, held April
3-24, totaled 250,451 to rank as the fourth-highest spring meet attendance. Last
year, 270,093 attended the 15-day spring meet; the record spring meet
attendance, posted during the 16-day meet in 2013, is 278,415. Average daily
attendance this spring was 16,697 compared to last spring’s record 18,006.

Heavy rainfall on seven of the meet’s 15 race days
adversely impacted attendance. Lexington, Kentucky, has recorded nearly 11 inches of
rainfall to date this month to rank as the second-wettest April in history. Rain
fell on four of the meet’s first five days of racing, including opening Friday
when severe weather forced the cancellation of Keeneland’s final four races to
mark the first time in track history that racing was canceled due to inclement
weather.

Keeneland hosted its third- and fourth-largest single-day
crowds ever on consecutive Saturdays during the spring. On April 11, 37,193 fans
attended Coolmore Lexington Day, which moved up a week on the stakes calendar
and featured four stakes including the Jenny Wiley S. (G1) and Lexington
S. (G3). That attendance figure was bested the following Saturday, April 18, when
37,737 fans enjoyed a sun-splashed race day highlighted by the Elkhorn
S. (G2).

Ken and Sarah Ramsey took home a record 15th Keeneland leading owner title (Keeneland/Coady Photography)

Many of North America’s leading riders were part of the
Keeneland jockey colony during the spring, led by current national and spring
meet leading rider Javier Castellano, along with John Velazquez, Irad Ortiz Jr.,
Mike Smith and Joel Rosario, who recorded his 2,000th career win on April 23 at
Keeneland.

Counted among the top trainers stabled at Keeneland were
national and spring meet leader Todd Pletcher, Chad Brown, Michael Maker, Kiaran
McLaughlin, Bill Mott, Larry Jones, Shug McGaughey and Mark Casse.

“One of the things that is so special about Keeneland is
that it brings together the sport’s top owners, trainers and jockeys, many of
whom never get the opportunity to compete against one another at any other time
during the year,” Beasley said. “We thank them for their loyal support of
Keeneland racing.”

In addition to spectacular racing, Keeneland fans
participated in a full calendar of unique special events which offered something
for all ages and interests. Capacity crowds turned out for College Scholarship
Day on opening Friday; had their commemorative Maker’s Mark bottles, which
honored legendary University of Kentucky basketball coach Adolph Rupp, signed by
four of Coach Rupp’s All-American players on April 10; and enjoyed the stories
shared by Hall of Fame and Kentucky Derby-winning jockeys at the “It’s My Derby”
event on April 17.

Keeneland hosted U.S. Army Ranger Sgt. First Class Cory Remsburg and active and veteran military service members and their families for
Military Day at the Races on April 19.