Home » Kentucky Dates Committee approves Keeneland summer meet

Kentucky Dates Committee approves Keeneland summer meet

During a May 27 video conference, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission Race Dates Committee unanimously approved a request from Keeneland to run a five-day spectator less summer meet from July 8-12. The summer dates fill a portion of the Lexington track’s 16-day spring meet that was canceled due to COVID-19.

The authorization was anticipated after the Lexington track had reached an agreement last week with Ellis Park, which hosts the state’s traditional summer race dates and various horsemen’s groups. Ellis Park will now pause its meet for a week before resuming after Keeneland wraps up its short summer season. The Henderson track opens June 28 and concludes Aug. 30.

“Keeneland appreciates the quick response of the commission to our request, and we applaud all their work on behalf of Kentucky racing during these unprecedented times,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said in a release. “We also thank Ellis Park for their cooperation in this process and for making these non-traditional dates available to Keeneland. We look forward to sharing more details about the Summer Meet in the coming weeks.”

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