Home » Temporary Facilities for Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland Taking Shape

Temporary Facilities for Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland Taking Shape

paddock
Work is underway at the paddock for the 2015 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland.

Lexington, Ky. – Keeneland’s preparations for the 2015 Breeders’ Cup World Championships are progressing on schedule as the campus is readied for the Oct. 30-31 event and the first time the track has hosted Thoroughbred racing’s year-end championship.

“This has been an exciting summer as we watch years’ worth of planning for Breeders’ Cup now taking form,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “Workers are busy throughout the grounds building chalets, refurbishing the Saddling Paddock and Training Track, painting and repaving. Keeneland will welcome the world here this fall, and we want to give our guests the most memorable racing experience possible.”

Temporary facilities to provide premium seating for an additional 7,000 fans for the Breeders’ Cup are being constructed throughout the Keeneland grounds.

  • Framing is underway on the Bourbon Lounge, Trackside Chalets and Clubhouse Lawn Chalets located along the Clubhouse turn and upper stretch. The Breakfast Marquee that will host horsemen and VIPs each morning of Breeders’ Cup week is taking shape between the north end of the Grandstand and the Racing Office.
  • The structure for the Saddling Paddock Chalet, which runs the entire length of the Paddock and provides a unique view of the horses being saddled before each race, is rising up just next to the Grandstand East entrance, and
  • Construction of tiered Loge Boxes, which will elevate from the first floor Grandstand to sit just below the permanent boxes, will begin this month.

Seating in the Clubhouse Lawn Chalets, Saddling Paddock Chalet and Loge Boxes will be available to guests during the upcoming Fall Meet. Tickets for those areas are currently on sale via Keeneland.com.

Among the other projects underway as Keeneland prepares for Breeders’ Cup are:

  • The horse path in front of the stone saddling stalls at the north end of the Paddock has been enlarged and an additional saddling ring is being created. Both paths feature rubber pavers. Four oak trees also will be planted in the Paddock.
  • A new Polytrack surface is being laid on the five-furlong Training Track. The old Polytrack has been removed and maintenance is being performed on the asphalt base. A new layer of Polytrack, formerly used in the 4½- and seven-furlong chutes of the main track, will be installed.
  • The barns on Rice Road, where the Breeders’ Cup horses will be stabled, are being equipped with new data and wireless systems, and
  • The Paddock Garden surrounding the Paddock area has been repaved.