Sunday, May 22, 2016

Keeneland

Last weekend I made a whirlwind trip to Lexington, KY and one of my stops was at the famed racetrack (and auction house) Keeneland.  I had never been to Keeneland and can't wait to return during the months of October or April when races are being held.  If you recall, American Pharoah made his last run at Keeneland last fall when the Breeders Cup Races were held there.  It is a lovely place.  We started our visit at the Track Kitchen, where we had a Sunday morning breakfast.  It wasn't crowded but it's a fun place to mingle with trainers, riders, barn help, tourists like us.  You never know who you'll run into there.


 
 From the kitchen we walked through the barns that were not too crowded and it was a Sunday so it was quiet. But the barns are still decorated with stable colors, there are ferns hanging in the breezeways, coolers, horse buckets, etc.


 We stopped to see a lovely gray horse being grazed by his groom.

 The barns are numbered and are made of cement block, nothing fancy but functional.



We walked to the track where some horses were running, it was very chilly morning, so many were fresh and eager to run.



 The grandstand area is beautiful.  It puts some of the tracks I have been to, to shame. This is the side entrance.  It was closed on a Sunday but you could walk up into the stands.  The stonework is from the original owner who started with a barn but never finished it and ended up selling the property.  The new owners made the barns into the stands that you see today.



This is the saddling area.  The walkway is all rubber bricks.  It was groomed and immaculate.  Not a blade of grass was out of place.

 Nearby are the jockeys....


 The famous clock......

If you are interested in the history of Keeneland there is some good information here.
It's a lovely place, cannot wait to come during a meet.  Put it on your list if you make a trip to Lexington, KY.





2 comments:

  1. I love Keeneland! We were there the same day you were. I loved seeing the morning workouts and our private tour was outstanding. Our tour guide Dave was wonderful. I just emailed you some photos I took that morning. Enjoy!

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  2. Looking very attractive and impressive land of decor within this building. Thanks for the sharing.

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