Keeneland seeks new race dates after Spring Meet cancellation

Keeneland won’t race in April, continued fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. But that doesn’t mean fans in Kentucky will have to wait until the Fall Meet in October.

In a public letter Friday, the track’s president and CEO, Bill Thomason, said Keeneland will seek other race dates having canceled its Spring Meet in a “critical moment.”

“Since Monday,” Thomason wrote,” we have taken swift action and began working with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and our track partners on the Kentucky circuit to explore opportunities for additional Keeneland race days during this non-traditional year for our industry.”

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Churchill Downs hasn’t announced whether it will run its Spring Meet — sans the Kentucky Derby — that is scheduled to begin after Keeneland would have finished. From there, the Kentucky circuit moves to Ellis Park in July and August before Churchill and Kentucky Downs share September. Keeneland’s Fall Meet runs in October, with the Breeders’ Cup then set to run in Lexington, Ky., on Nov. 6-7.

It’s unknown where Keeneland could attempt to receive more dates in that configuration.

Thomason called it “agonizing” to cancel the Spring Meet.

“However, we knew this decision was the only way to effectively mitigate the risk of spreading this deadly virus. The speed at which this pandemic has continued to spread, and recent events unfolding within the racing industry reaffirms what was a difficult decision. This is a global health crisis and we must be responsible in our actions.”

Thomason cited horsemen traveling from outside locations from coronavirus “hotspots” as a concern for Keeneland had they run.

“This convergence of participants from various states,” he wrote, “as well as the inability to comply with social distancing within our dormitories and backstretch, put the health and safety of our horsemen and participants in great jeopardy.”

See Thomason’s full letter below: