Total attendance was 240,079
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 26, 2015) — Keeneland’s 2015 Fall Meet, which ended on Saturday, had an average daily attendance of 14,159 for a total attendance of 240,079. Keeneland will host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships for the first time on Oct. 30-31. Racing will resume on Thursday with Prelude to the Cup.
The Fall Meet opened on Oct. 2 with Fall Stars Weekend, three days of blockbuster racing led by seven Breeders’ Cup “Win & You’re In” races. The winners of those races, which earned an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup, included Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G3) winner Runhappy (Sprint-G1), Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) winner Grand Arch (Mile-G1), Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner Brody’s Cause (Sentient Jet Juvenile-G1), Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) winner Fioretti (Filly & Mare Sprint-G1), Juddmonte Spinster (G1) winner Got Lucky (Longines Distaff-G1) and Dixiana Bourbon (G3) winner Airoforce (Juvenile Turf-G1).
Harmonize won an eighth challenge race, the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G3) on Oct. 7, to gain entry into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). A total of 43 horses pre-entered in the Breeders’ Cup raced at Keeneland during the Fall Meet.
“The high level of racing, the idyllic fall weather and the anticipation of Breeders’ Cup made this a very special Fall Meet for Keeneland, our horsemen and the entire Central Kentucky community,” Keeneland president and CEO Bill Thomason said. “We truly appreciate the support of our great fans and the enthusiasm they show for Keeneland and for horse racing throughout the year.”
Keeneland hosted more than 23,000 fans on consecutive Saturdays during the Fall Meet, Oct. 10 and Oct. 17, and nearly 20,000 on see Blue Day, Oct. 16.
On-track wagering for the Fall Meet totaled $15,813,986 compared to last fall’s $17,625,834. Average daily on-track wagering was $930,234 against $1,036,814 in 2014.
All-sources handle on the Fall Meet, including wagering at Keeneland on imported simulcast signals, totaled $122,469,056 versus last year’s $126,083,700.
Many of North America’s leading riders were part of the Keeneland jockey colony during the season, among them Javier Castellano, Irad Ortiz Jr., John Velazquez, Jose Lezcano, Junior Alvarado, Julien Leparoux, Florent Geroux, Edgar Prado and Corey Lanerie. Prado won four stakes during the Fall Meet, while Leparoux recorded three stakes victories.
Counted among the nationally prominent trainers represented at Keeneland this fall were Todd Pletcher, Graham Motion, Mark Casse, Kenny McPeek, Dale Romans, Doug O’Neill, Bill Mott, Larry Jones, Wesley Ward and Kiaran McLaughlin.
“The competition among these major jockeys and trainers for meet-leading honors is as exciting as the racing itself,” Keeneland vice president of racing W.B. Rogers Beasley said. “We extend our thanks to all of our horsemen for making this Fall Meet an exciting one.”
2015 Fall Meet Leaders
Ken and Sarah Ramsey won seven races during the meet to collect their 16th leading owner title, the most held by any Keeneland owner. They are tied with William S. Farish as Keeneland’s all-time leading owners by number of races won, each having 194 wins. The Ramseys received Eclipse Awards as outstanding owner and breeder in 2013 and 2014, and as outstanding owner in 2004 and 2011.
Maggi Moss and John C. Oxley tied for second in the owner standings with five wins each.
Jockey Corey Lanerie posted 25 wins during the Fall Meet to earn his first title as leading rider at Keeneland. Among his victories was the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) aboard Brody’s Cause. Julien Leparoux finished second in the jockey standings with 19 wins.
The race for leading trainer went down to the final race on closing day and ended in a three-way tie. Finishing with nine wins apiece were trainers Steve Asmussen, Mark Casse and Kenny McPeek. It is the second Keeneland training title for Casse, the second for Asmussen and the fifth for McPeek.
Casse’s win total includes two stakes: the First Lady (G1) with Tepin and the Dixiana Bourbon (G3) with Airoforce.
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