Keeneland fall meet boasts attendance, wagering increases

Bolstered by strong community support and highlighted by championship-caliber racing, idyllic fall weather and special events aimed at benefiting the Central Kentucky region, Keeneland closed its 2019 Fall Meet Saturday with significant increases in on-track attendance and record all-sources wagering.

“We remain humbled by the depth of support from our fans, our horsemen and our sponsors,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “The combination this fall of lovely weather and community engagement through events such as Make-A-Wish Day and Heroes Day helped to showcase the best of Central Kentucky.”

Enhanced by warm, sunny weather and three days when crowds exceeded 24,000 people, total on-track attendance for the 17-day meet, held Oct. 4-26, rose 8.61 percent from 241,806 in the fall of 2018 to 262,630. Average daily attendance was 15,449 compared to 14,224 last year.

Full fields of quality horses drove all-sources wagering on live racing at Keeneland (not including whole-card simulcasting at Keeneland) to $160,207,916, surpassing the previous record of $158,640,591 set during the 2013 Spring Meet. Total wagering was up 11.02 percent over last fall’s $144,309,944.

Total on-track wagering of $17,320,852 outpaced last fall’s $16,419,870 by 5.49 percent. Average daily on-track handle was $1,018,873 versus $965,874 in the fall of 2018.

Keeneland established single-day Fall Meet all-sources and Pick 5 wagering records on Fall Stars Saturday, Oct. 5. All-sources handle totaled $18,392,756, eclipsing the previous record of $17,122,465. Wagering on the $300,000-guaranteed All-Stakes Pick 5 totaled $794,689 to best the former record of $715,555.

A string of upsets in the Late Pick 5 at Keeneland on Saturday, Oct. 19, resulted in a big payoff for one lucky player, with a single ticket paying a record $308,872. The previous Pick 5 record payout at Keeneland was $266,430 from Oct. 11, 2012.

The competition for Fall Meet leading owner, trainer and jockey titles was as exciting as the racing itself.

Two-time Eclipse Award winner Julien Leparoux earned his 12th leading rider title at Keeneland this fall (six Spring Meet titles and six Fall Meet titles) with 19 wins. Leparoux is third behind Pat Day and Don Brumfield in number of Keeneland titles won, and he is fourth behind Day, Brumfield and Robby Albarado in total races won (492) at Keeneland.  

Tyler Gaffalione made a late bid for the title, recording three wins on Oct. 24 and two wins on Oct. 25, to finish second in the standings with 14 victories. Corey Lanerie moved into sole possession of third place with a win on closing day to bring his Fall Meet tally to 13, led by a victory in the Lexus Raven Run (G2) aboard Bell’s the One.

Javier Castellano and Jose Ortiz were among the season’s top leading riders, recording 12 and 11 wins, respectively. Castellano compiled three three-win days and notched stakes victories with Engage in the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix and Spiced Perfection in the Thoroughbred Club of America. Ortiz’s total included two three-win days and victories in Keeneland’s two Grade 1 juvenile stakes, Darley Alcibiades with British Idiom and Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity aboard Maxfield, as well as the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2) with Sweet Melania.

Joel Rosario won four races on closing day, led by a victory with Tom’s d’Etat in the Hagyard Fayette (G2), to post nine meet wins.

Mike Maker passed three-time Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown in the final days of the meet to score eight wins and secure his sixth Keeneland leading trainer title. Maker won the Sycamore (G3) with Marzo.

Brown’s seven Fall Meet victories included wins with Uni (GB) in the First Lady Presented by UK HealthCare and Cambier Parc in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane’s End.

Brad Cox, Wesley Ward and Ian Wilkes each won five races during the meet. Cox took the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix with Engage; Ward captured the Indian Summer with Kimari; and Wilkes won the Rood & Riddle Dowager with Gentle Ruler. 

The race for the Fall Meet leading owner went down to the final race of the season. In the end, Bob Lothenbach’s Lothenbach Stables and Jim and Susan Hill tied for leading owner honors with four wins each. Lothenbach Stables owns Lexus Raven Run winner Bell’s the One.