Keeneland Returns with 9 Breeder’s Cup Challenge Races

This weekend marks the return of the Keeneland fall meet. The Kentucky track will feature a number of horses making their final start before the Breeder’s Cup.

Keeneland

The Race Track

Keeneland has become a favorite boutique meet for many horseplayers. The track has twice hosted the Breeder’s Cup. The first was in 2015 when American Pharoah became the first horse to win the American Grand Slam of racing. He won the three Triple Crown races and the Breeder’s Cup Classic. Most recently the track hosted the 2020 Breeder’s Cup amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the track’s most famous races is the Queen Elizabeth II. The race was named in honor of the Queen of England who visited the track in the 1980s.

The track has also been featured in many horse racing movies including Seabiscuit and Secretariat.

The Sale

Despite having unbelievably good racing quality at Keeneland, its mark on the sport lies even more heavily in the bloodlines of the athletes. Each year Keeneland is among the world leaders in sales. Look through any major graded stakes in America and it almost a certainty that at least one of the entrants will be a Keeneland sales graduate.

2021 Keeneland Fall Meet

The 2021 fall meet will be a return to normalcy for many fans. In 2020 racing dates were shuffled around trying to ensure that all Kentucky tracks could get their race dates in. The current meet is loaded for bear with huge graded stakes races throughout the meet. These races include several “Win and You’re Ins” for the Breeder’s Cup.

2021 Keeneland Stakes Calendar

October 8th-10th

Friday

• The $400,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1) will be run on Friday, Oct. 8 for 2 year old fillies going a distance of 1 1/16 Miles and is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeder's Cup.
• The $250,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) will be run on Friday, Oct. 8 for 3 year old & up going a distance of 6 furlongs and is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeder's Cup.

Saturday

• The $750,000 Keeneland on turf Mile (G1) will be run on Saturday, Oct. 9 for 3 year old & up going a distance of 1 Mile on the on turf and is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeder's Cup.
• The $500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) will be run on Saturday, Oct. 9 for 2 year olds going a distance of 1 1/16 Miles and is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeder's Cup.
• The $400,000 First Lady (G1) Presented by UK HealthCare will be run on Saturday, Oct. 9 for 3 year old & up, fillies and mares going a distance of 1 Mile on the on turf and is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeder's Cup.
• The $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) will be run on Saturday, Oct. 9 for 3 year old & up, fillies and mares going a distance of 6 furlongs and is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeder's Cup.
• The $200,000 Woodford (G2) Presented by TVG will be run on Saturday, Oct. 9 for 3 year old & up going a distance of 5 1/2 furlongs on turf.

Sunday

• The $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) will be run on Sunday, Oct. 10 for 3 year old & up, fillies and mares going a distance of 1 1/8 Miles and is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeder's Cup.
• The $200,000 Castle & Key Bourbon (G2) will be run on Sunday, Oct. 10 for 2 year olds going a distance of 1 1/16 Miles on on turf and is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeder's Cup.
• The $200,000 Indian Summer Presented by Keeneland Select will be run on Sunday, Oct. 10 for 2 year olds going a distance of 5.5 furlongs on turf and is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeder's Cup.

October 13th-17th

Wednesday

• The $200,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2) will be run on Wednesday, Oct. 13 for 2 year old fillies going a distance of 1 1/16 Miles on turf and is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeder's Cup.

Friday

• The $150,000 Buffalo Trace Franklin County (G3) will be run on Friday, Oct. 15 for 3 year old & up, fillies and mares going a distance of 5.5 furlongs on turf.

Saturday

• The $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana will be run on Saturday, Oct. 16 for 3 year old fillies going a distance of 1 1/8 Miles on turf.

October 20th-24th

Friday

• The $150,000 Sycamore (G3) will be run on Friday, Oct. 22 for 3 year old & up going a distance of 1 1/2 Miles on turf.

Saturday

• The $250,000 Lexus Raven Run (G2) will be run on Saturday, Oct. 23 for 3 year old fillies going a distance of 7 furlongs.
• The $150,000 Perryville will be run on Saturday, Oct. 23 for 3 year old going a distance of 7 furlongs.

Sunday

• The $150,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager (G3) will be run on Sunday, Oct. 24 for 3 year old & up, fillies and mares going a distance of 1 1/2 Miles on turf.

October 27th-30th

Friday

• The $150,000 Valley View (G3) will be run on Friday, Oct. 29 for 3 year old fillies going a distance of 1 1/16 Miles on turf.
• The $150,000 Myrtlewood will be run on Friday, Oct. 29 for 2 year old fillies going a distance of 6 furlongs.

Saturday

• The $200,000 Hagyard Fayette (G2) will be run on Saturday, Oct. 30 for 3 year old & up going a distance of 1 1/8 Miles.
• The $150,000 Bryan Station will be run on Saturday, Oct. 30 for 3 year old going a distance of 1 Mile on turf.
• The $150,000 Bowman Mill will be run on Saturday, Oct. 30 for 2 year olds going a distance of 6 furlongs.

Betting News Coverage of Keeneland

Betting News will bring continued coverage of the Keeneland meet. Check back weekly for analysis of racing cards and key stakes races throughout the fall.