Keeneland will award a season-record $8.1 million for 19 stakes and celebrate the 100th running of the $1 million Blue Grass Stakes (G1) during its 2024 Spring Meet, which will cover 16 days from 5-26 April. Other grade 1 races during the meet—an early-season showcase of talented Thoroughbreds representing leading owners, trainers, and jockeys—are the Ashland, Madison, Maker’s Mark Mile, and Jenny Wiley, each worth $600,000 apiece.
Contributing to the spring stakes purses is a total of $1.5 million available from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, pending approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.
“Lucrative purses and outstanding competition make Keeneland’s Spring Meet a highlight of the racing calendar for horsemen, horseplayers, and fans,” Keeneland vice president of racing Gatewood Bell said. “We look forward to hosting the country’s best horses and their connections here in April.”
Opening day of the meet features three stakes for 3-year-olds anchored by the 86th running of the Ashland, an early-season objective for top sophomore fillies at 1 1/16 miles. The day features two other stakes each worth $400,000: the Transylvania (G3T), at 1 1/16 miles on turf, and the Lafayette, a 7-furlong dirt race.
The Blue Grass leads five stakes on the first Saturday of the season. Also on the card are the $600,000 Madison (G1), for fillies and mares at 7 furlongs on dirt; the $400,000 Appalachian (G2T), for 3-year-old fillies at 1 mile on the grass; the $350,000 Shakertown (G2T), for 3-year-olds and up at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf; and the $300,000 Commonwealth (G3), for older horses at 7 furlongs on the dirt.
The Blue Grass and the Ashland are prominent on the national racing calendar. Both stakes are worth 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Road to the Kentucky Oaks, respectively, with the winners earning 50 qualifying points.
The early nomination deadline for the two races is Feb. 17. Late nominations are due March 20.
Giant’s Causeway upgraded for 2024
Stakes action for 3-year-olds will continue Sunday of opening weekend with the $400,000 Beaumont (G2), at 7 furlongs, 184 feet, on the dirt for fillies, and the $250,000 Palisades, at 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass.
On April 12, Keeneland will run two turf stakes: the $600,000 Maker’s Mark Mile (G1), for 4-year-olds and up at 1 mile, and the $250,000 Limestone, for 3-year-old fillies going 5 1/2 furlongs.
Three stakes the following day are the $600,000 Jenny Wiley (G1T), a 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares; the $400,000 Lexington (G3), for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles; and the $300,000 Giant’s Causeway (G3T), a 5 1/2-furlong turf race for fillies and mares.
For 2024, the Giant’s Causeway was upgraded to a grade 3 event after being a listed stakes since 2006. Keeneland also increased its purse by $50,000.
The Lexington, the final prep on this year’s Road to the Kentucky Derby, will award 20 Derby qualifying points, with 10 going to the winner.
On the meet’s final days, Keeneland will run four graded stakes for older horses. The $300,000 Baird Doubledogdare (G3), for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt, is 19 April. Two stakes on 20 April are the $350,000 Elkhorn (G2T), 1 1/2 miles on the turf, and the $300,000 Ben Ali (G3), at 1 3/16 miles on the dirt.
Keeneland will bridge the gap between racing and auctions on closing day, 26 April. The card will feature the $300,000 Bewitch (G3T), for fillies and mares at 1 1/2 miles on the turf. Following the races, Keeneland will hold the April Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale.
