How to Follow Horse Racing at Keeneland Racetracks

The Keeneland Racetracks run daily competitions among horses in racing-crazy Kentucky. This busy horse track sits in Lexington, surrounded by rolling hills, horse farms and homeowners who are proud to follow local horse racing. You can follow up to nine races a day at Keeneland Racetracks with some patience, time and money.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Dress in jeans and a sweatshirt when you enjoy a meal at Keeneland's Equestrian Room. This casual restaurant is located on the first level of the park and has a breakfast and lunch menu to feed hungry gamblers early in the racing day.
2. Call ahead to the Keeneland Racetracks box office to reserve covered seats in the grandstands. A reserved ticket holder gets to sit in a comfortable chair underneath a canopy to follow horse racing while getting fresh air.
3. Schedule a trip to Keeneland Racetracks in spring, summer and early fall to follow horse races. The tracks are open from April through October in accordance with race schedules throughout Kentucky that reflect poor weather in winter.
4. Wander around Keeneland Racetracks for a few hours before the first race takes place. The gates open each day at 11 a.m., with the first race taking place between 1 and 2 p.m.
5. Track the progress of racing teams and individual horses with morning training throughout the season. Keeneland allows the public to watch training and workouts for free before the main gates open.
6. Pore through old newspaper articles and books on handicapping at the Keeneland Library. This library is a unique venture by local historians to keep track of horse racing history in Keeneland, Lexington and Kentucky.
7. Sit down in sections B through J on the second and third levels to watch the stretch run of races at Keeneland. There are two finish lines between these sections, which are used for different race types.
8. Bring your family to Keeneland Racetracks on the weekend to enjoy Breakfast with the Works. This event takes place each Saturday morning, with race fans presented with information from trainers, stable owners and handicappers on the sport. Keeneland staff members help entertain children with puzzles and activities based on horse racing.

Tips & Warnings

• Complete your wager on horse races at Keeneland Racetracks using drive-through betting. A series of drive-through windows are available at the park for early birds who want to gamble before the first race starts. Your handicapping skills need to work overtime to get a wager in before the windows close in late afternoon.