Before Keeneland hosting the third Breeders’ Cup World Championship, the track will offer 22 shares worth a record $8.75 million at the fall meeting.
The 17-day season from October 7 to 29 opens with 11 stakes — nine of which are “Win and You’ll Be in” events as part of the Breeder’s Cup Challenge Series presented by America’s Grand Prix — in three signing days — Fall Stars Weekend. Keeneland adjusted several stakes in the schedule to attract horses to the Breeders’ Cup, most notably moving JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2T) to the opening day.
The Fall Meetup continues a special year at Keeneland, which awarded the previous meeting record of $7.7 million for 22 shares in a 15-day spring meetup in April. A total of $1.5 million of that comes from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, which rewards horses bred in the state and has seen its availability increase across Kentucky in part. due to horse racing game in history. Fields full of quality candidates drove all sources to a record $219 million.
During the fall meeting, Keeneland will award 12 shares of grass and 10 shares of land while offering multiple shares for six days. The wallet of each race the stakes have increased and some have doubled. KTDF is contributing $1.3 million to meet the stakes, pending approval from the Kentucky Equestrian Commission.
The season’s richest race is the $1 million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1T), a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race that takes place on the opening Saturday of Fall Stars Weekend. Along with Coolmore’s first year as a top bet sponsor, the race is once again worth seven figures – a spot it has held since 2014, when it was its first million dollar race. Keeneland’s first, until 2019.
“Keeneland has planned a meetup for the fall that promises to be better than ever,” said Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin. “Adjustments made to last year’s season, including increasing stakes to 22 and enhancing final days with multiple stakes, made for a hugely successful meet-up from start to finish. This year’s even higher stakes show the power of the Kentucky circuit while helping Keeneland set the stage for the Breeders’ Cup World Championship, which we are proud to host for the third time. “
During the Fall Stars weekend, each Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series winner will receive an automatic starting spot and free admission at the World Championships in Keeneland on November 4-5.
Opening day, October 7, will have three stakes, all Win and You’re In events (with Breeders’ Cup races applicable): $500,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1) (NetJets Breeders’ Cup) Juvenile Fillies, G1), $350,000 Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) (Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint, G1), and $350,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, G1T).
Keeneland moved JPMorgan Chase Jessamine to this year’s opening day after having previously run the race next Wednesday. The new date will bring attention to JPMorgan Chase Jessamine and place the race exactly four weeks ahead of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. The race will also be included in the popular Keeneland Turf Pick 3 bets on opening day.
Entering the Coolmore Turf Mile (FanDuel Breeders ‘Cup Mile, G1T) as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge races opening Saturday, October 8, is $600,000 Claiborne Breeders ‘Futurity (G1) (TVG Breeders’) Juvenile Cup, G1) and $350,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) (Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, G1).
Other holdings that day were the $600,000 First Lady presented by UK HealthCare (G1T) and $350,000 Woodford presented by FanDuel (G2T). Both stakes are expected to attract Breeders’ Cup hopefuls.
Sunday of the Stars Fall Weekend introduces three stakes — all Breeders’ Cup Challenge races: $600,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) (Distaff, G1), $350,000 Castle & Key Bourbon (G2T) (Juvenile Court, G1T) and $250,000 Indian Summer Presented by Keeneland Select (Juvenile Turf Sprint, G1T).
The second week of fall bets will begin Friday, October 14 with a $300,000 Sycamore (G3T) prize for the older men to race a mile and a half on grass. Keeneland moved Sycamore one calendar week earlier to serve as an option for horses that only entered the Breeders’ Cup Grass (G1).
The next day, Saturday, October 15, was the 6th grade of the fall meetup, the $600,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup presented by Dixiana (G1T). To mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the Great British Racing International and QIPCO British Champions Series, on behalf of British racing, will present the Keeneland invitational winner of a designed strawberry dessert. specially made by Royal Jeweler Garrard. This trophy celebrates the Queen’s international impact on Thoroughbred racing.
The third stake that weekend is the $300,000 Franklin Share (G3T) on Sunday, October 16.
The staking action continues next Saturday, October 22, with $350,000 Lexus Raven Run Stakes (G2) and $250,000 Perryville Stakes, which have been upgraded to listing status for 2022. followed by $300,000 in Rood & Riddle Dowager Shares (G3T).
The Fall Meeting will close with two days of multiple staking beginning with $300,000 in Rubicon Valley View (G3T) shares and $200,000 in rtlewood stakes on Friday, October 28. The closing date will feature 350,000. dollars in Hagyard Fayette Shares (G2), $300,000 in Bryan Station Shares (G3T), and $200,000 in Bowman Mil Stakes.
Bryan Station has been upgraded to a Level 3 event in 2022.
“The staking schedule is designed to give our riders and fans exceptional racing opportunities from opening day through to the final card of the fall meet,” said Keeneland’s vice president. Gatewood Bell Racing said. “We are extremely excited about the wallet structure we can offer and are looking forward to some prominent competition in October.”
CNBC will include five shares of Fall Stars Weekend: Saturday’s Coolmore Turf Mile, Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, and Thoroughbred Club of America along with Sunday’s Juddmonte Spinster and Castle & Key Bourbon. Coverage both days begins at 5 p.m. ET.
During the fall meeting, Keeneland will recognize the key milestones of several equity sponsors.
The Coolmore Turf Mile will mark the 25th run of the Coolmore-sponsored Keeneland stake. The globally renowned Purebred Breeder has previously sponsored Lexington (G3) from 1998-2015 and Jenny Wiley (G1) from 2016-21.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Darley is celebrating its 20th run of the Alcibiades under its sponsorship, while the Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital will sponsor the 20th Dowager.
This year marks the 10th year of the Hagyard Equestrian Institute’s sponsorship of Hagyard Fayette.
Fall public ticket sales will go on sale August 16. For more information, visit ticket.keeneland.com.
