A Great (First) Visit to Kentucky Downs

What to do on an early autumn Wednesday afternoon? I believe I’ve found the best possible answer. Way down south by the borderline, before you find yourself in Tennessee, lies a little slice of Americana known as Kentucky Downs. There you will find the perfect blend of great turf racing and the feeling of stepping back a good spell into a time gone by. The proximity to the state line is important to the story of Kentucky Downs. Once known as Dueling Grounds, this is the area where Tennessee gentlemen came to settle things. Pistol duels were outlawed in the Volunteer State, but in Kentucky, as many other states, it was legal as could be, inviting a short ride over the border for an end to any dispute. Thankfully, today’s contests are of the equine variety, and Kentucky Downs gets it right.

You can’t find a European-style turf course like this one anywhere else in the United States. Among the longest in North America, the grassy track at Kentucky Downs features subtle, but noticeable elevation changes, as well as, a number of bends and turns that make this anything but your average oval shaped racetrack. Finally, the horses make their way out of a large, sweeping final turn and into a sizable stretch run to the finish line. And that is just for the race itself. Accompanying the intriguing course are two distinct sections of the layout to watch the races. Near the far turn is the only real building on the property, equipped with a nice terrace in which to watch the stretch run get set up, as well as an air conditioned upstairs betting/simulcast center. The downstairs slots are the one thing that took away for the experience, but hey, I hear some people like that sort of thing.

Over by the finish line, you have more of an outdoor experience, that again is a unique feel when compared to any other track in the nation. From the roomy paddock, down to some limited outdoor seating, this part of Kentucky Downs gives the fans a real feel of being outside for a day at the races. I was witness to more than one family with small children enjoying the pastoral setting.

The highlight of the closing day card at Kentucky Downs were a trio of solid stakes, and as has been true or racing there all meet, the fields were deep and competitive. White Rose was the first to hit payturf with a 1 ¾-length victory in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon sponsored by Bullet Train Stud. The near white beauty enjoyed ideal early position under Shaun Bridgmohan before striking the lead in the stretch. The conclusive victory was the biggest of the career for the four-year-old daughter of Tapit trained by Bill Mott. A big longshot La Malaguena set all the pace, and held well for second, but just barely over a Team Valor import, Angegreen. Final time for the 1 5/16-miles was 2:13.76. As pretty as White Rose looked in winning the first Ladies Marathon, the second division  was probably even more impressive.

6-1 on the board, Angel Terrace has never looked better than she did yesterday. Front-running I O Ireland had plenty left in the tank to take on all comers, but the five-year-old Jonathan Sheppard trained mare was running too well to be denied in the final furlong. Angel Terrace drew away at the wire to a decisive 1 1/2-length score under Florent Geroux. The final time of 2:12.24 for once around the 1 5/16 course was more than a full second faster than the first division. In earning her first victory since the Grade 3 Valley View at Keeneland nearly two years earlier, she joined White Rose in winning a transferrable season to Bullet Train as part of a successful sponsorship arrangement. As a Pennyslvania-bred, however, the Augustin Stable charge lost out on the Kentucky-bred bonus offered by Kentucky Downs.

As did the third stakes winner of the afternoon, but it was in that final added money event of the day, that I could see having real Breeders’ Cup implications. Dimension did not get off to a good break, but he made the most of his strong late run to win a four-horse photo in the Kentucky Downs Turf Dash. Substituting for Corey Lanerie, who was thrown from his mount earlier in the day, rider Chris Landeros got the British-bred six-year-old up in the shadow of the wire to best Something Extra by a neck. An unlucky Undrafted was right there in third, with Stormy Going another nose back in fourth. The top two were both coming off a Canadian loss to the top miler Kaigun in their previous start, and certainly would belong in next month’s Breeders’ Cup, but it is Undrafted in which I expect really big things. He needed yesterday’s race, and remains my early selection to win the Turf Sprint.

This article may come too late for any further live racing this year, as Kentucky Downs finished a record breaking season with yesterday’s card, but please do consider it a strong endorsement to visit as soon as you get the chance. I can vouch that it is certainly worth the trip, and one I plan to do again many more times in the future.

The view of the far turn from the terrace gives you an idea of the non-oval nature of the Kentucky Downs turf course. 

Looking back at the main building, almost a quarter mile from the finish line. 

Nothing but oudoor fun as you approach the finish line.

There is some seating out there, but it is not your normal grandstand variety.

I wasn't sitting often, but when I did, this was my chair of choice. 

The turf course is the farthest thing from a manicured putting green that I've ever seen in American racing.

Almost done with the far turn, on the way to a long stretch run.

It wouldn't be American turf racing without a win, or two, or three by the Ramseys and their Kittens.

Via Villaggio was acting up in the gate before eventually breaking through and throwing Miguel Mena to the turf. 

Mena was clearly shaken up and sore, but bravely managed to get back on and ride the mare in the day's opening stakes race.

The second time around the field got off to a perfect start.

White Rose comes back the day's richest winner.