Keeneland A Showcase For The Sport Of Kings

Since 1936 Keeneland has been home to the finest in Thoroughbred racing

Lisa Brewer

Thoroughbred racing was dubbed the “sport of kings” quite some time ago. If you pay a visit to Keeneland Race Course, you can understand the moniker.

Nestled in the heart of horse country, Keeneland Race Course has long been considered “the Disneyland” of the sport. Built on the Keene farm and opened in 1936, this 1,234 acre tract of land located just west of Lexington, Kentucky has been a destination spot for the best the sport has to offer since its inception. But what makes this place comparable to Mickey’s Magic Kingdom?

Simply enough, it is the bliss Keeneland brings. Long considered a gentleman’s track, these confines offer every patron the opportunity to be king for a day. Fashion is always front and center for folks of all ages. Looking good means feeling good and that in itself gets things rolling in the right direction. Couple that with a facility filled with class and old-world charm and the magic begins.

Of course, one of the things that brings the people is the competition. The Spring meet run in April and the fall meet in October brings top talent to the starting gates. Nice purse structures and a plethora of Stakes races make for loads of excitement and nice payouts to the speculating public. Based on an adrenaline rush, the poetry in four-legged motion on the turf and dirt is sometimes eclipsed by that dash to the mutuel clerk’s window with a winning wager.

The months of April and October showcase the racing facility, but another huge facet to the Kingdom is the Keeneland Sales. As the engine that drives the machine, the sales ring is where many a dream begins. Usually about six times a year, many travel to the world’s largest auction house for theses renowned events where horse trading is a way of life as many look to purchase that next great runner. There are different divisions of sales throughout the year. One of the most widely attended are the Yearling sales in September, which has produced 24 Kentucky Derby winners, 27 Preakness champions, and 23 Belmont Stakes victors. Some of the greatest athletes the sport has known have been through the sales ring at Keeneland. The 2025 September yearling sales saw 3070 horses sell for a record total of $531.5 million.

The magic the sport of kings brings is certainly alive and well at Keeneland. Whether it be the person dressed to the nines with their $2 ticket on the winning runner or the ownership group buying the next Triple Crown winner, it is all quite royal.