Keeneland

This is my first time to a horse race, and it was surprisingly really fun (people-​watching is pretty awesome here too). If it’s your first time like me, make sure to go with people who know what’s going on. I asked probably 50+ questions about the betting process and about horse racing in general. There is a lot of parking in the grass, and it’s free and in a beautiful part of Lexington.
If it’s a nice day out, make sure to get your tickets online in advance! We sat in section H and had a perfect view of the finish line. You can also prep for the Derby by trying on and buying crazy crazy hats.

What a fun way to spend the day! The third week of the Spring meet was a perfect day — a warm and sunny Saturday.
Parking is easy but you should be prepared for a walk. You can take a shuttle but may have to wait a bit. I wore sensible shoes and walked about ¾ mile to the track.
I was told that ticket lines were much shorter around the left side of the entrance and didn’t mind a little extra walk to avoid the lines.
Wow! What a busy day! On this beautiful weekend, it seemed like everyone was packed in at the track but it was fun to see so many people all dressed in their Sunday best.
I made a few low dollar bets and with a little luck, won a few dollars. It’s just fun for me to see the horses with amusing names and their jockeys dressed in colorful silks racing around a beautiful track lined with blooming trees.
Lines were long, but I purchased tacos at the Cantina bar… Not the best I’ve ever had but it was food.
Lots of people, lots of waiting, lots of standing around but all in all, it’s a fun time and a must do if you are in Lexington during the Spring or Fall meets.

If you like horse racing you’ll love Keeneland. It is a great experience to come out to the Spring Season Opening in April. It usually runs for three weeks starting the first week in April just before Churchill Downs opens for the Derby Season. This is the time to be here as the track is not only beautiful but, the grounds are immaculate and the staff super friendly. Plan to spend the day as there are many food opportunities. If you just want to have fun and not loose a lot, just bet $ 2 on each race. You are bound to win something

Last Saturday I had lunch at Keeneland and it was some of the best fried chicken I’ve had in a while! Just as luck would have it as we sat down at our table our waitress had gone MIA. Another waiter approached us and had explained that she had gone on her break a few hours before but then never returned. He graciously helped us and had more double the tables now-​Doug was a hero! He was the best server-​constantly came back to fill up our waters and asked if we needed a refill on crackers for our beer cheese appetizer. Instead of waiting in line to order a drink we gave him our order and we were able to take it outside with us. Definitely will be back again :)

We come here every year on a huge chartered bus. We bring food that is catered by Eli’s BBQ out of Cincinnati and drink our faces off! The parking lot is huge and offers up front parking for the buses. The track is pristine and absolutely beautiful. The entrance offers a rare look into the horses as they prepare to walk in to set up for the race. The betting and alcohol lines are long, so make sure to place as many bets and grab as many beers as possible. Everyone dresses in their Sunday bests including sport jacket, ties, and loafers! Such a fun trip with family and friends. Only about 2 hours south of Cincinnati, OH and located in the hear of Lexington, KY.

Born in Lexington and raised at the track. This place has always been a great time and always smiles… whether we win or lose. Keenland is a big part of my family, my friends, and my hometown.

Keenland Race course. Bucket list for any horse enthusiast and Breeders Cup weekend would probably be not the best time for a review as I’m sure there were entirely too many people crammed into this gorgeous race track.
Access 1 road in 1 road out — so get here early — parking on premise well I was one of the lucky ones with passes so we had little to no trouble parking and walking up to the entrance and arriving head plenty of golf cart shuttles to handle the handicap or for those who needed assistance.
Track itself is quaint not small in fact compared to Saratoga or Santa Anita almost like a fenway park lots of quality packed into a small place. Underneath the grandstands and walk ways ceilings are tight and both days were in short RAW AND COLD out so it got really cold there quickly. Not enough bathrooms to handle the crowds in fact most food & beverage lines were terrible.
We were in the EQUESTRIAN DINING ROOM which is different from the Bar. here it was climate controlled and no crowds at all to wager. we had assigned seating booths or tables and plenty of room to move around with TV’s everywhere. An absolute great place to watch the races with short walk outside direct to the finish line if you would like. Downside NO BATHROOM in dining room only bar area which was open to public so using the facility for either sex was a challenge to say the least.
All and all I would have loved to been upstairs overlooking the track in the Lexington Room which I would do if ever attending future racing there but scratch a very nice race track and high marks to the Equestrian room dining for a great Breeders cup event.

Look I have gone to saratoga for decades-​still the best racing-​sorry all you Del Mar folks but it’s the truth. Then again-​NY State-​and while the locals are sweet as pie there is a huge influx of city people-​you pay NYC prices-​and get plenty of NYC attitude to boot.
Anyway my buddy-​from saratoga NY by way of Long Island told me-​maybe 6 or 8 yrs àgo-​go to Keeneland-it’s the anti-​Saratoga.
Boy he was right. Sure the prices are better-​but the main thing is the lack of attitude from the guys sweeping the floor to the tellers to the jacketed folks giving directions. Nice-​nice-​nice — and sincere as well. Oh did I mention the beautiful grounds-​access to everything-​beautiful vistas-​oh did I say how nice everybody is? lol!
Hey no spill out on the streets nightlife scene like Saratoga-​but no gouging prices for hotels or rip off cocktails or dinners either. Truly a great place-​although I can’t imagine a Breeder’s Cup there! I will keep a wide berth that day!

Simply one of the most stunning race tracks I’ve ever been to! The beauty of Kentucky and this historic track is something to behold.

I have only been there once and it’s one of two tracks I’ve ever been to. With that being said, the trip down there was an absolute blast. The parking lots are tailgate friendly and are right outside the entrance of the track. The spectating area is wide open and easy to navigate.
Will be going back.

OH MY GOD I DON’T KNOW ANY OF YOU PEOPLE WHAT ARE YOU WEARING DAMN IT THAT’S SALMON OR IS IT PINK NO IT’S SALMON WHY DO YOU ALL HAVE THOSE NEOPRENE SUNGLASSES THINGS ARE YOU PLANNING ON SOME KIND OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY THAT MIGHT SEPARATE YOU FROM YOU SHADES OH GOD I JUST DONT KNOW.
That’s basically my experience for the first 30 minutes at Keeneland. It’s kind of the wannabe libertine capital of the world. Aside from that douche baggery, it’s all good. Great tailgating, gorgeous grounds and it’s never difficult to find a damned cocktail. If you stand in one place long enough and puff on a cigar chances are a pretty horse will walk by and you can talk to it. You might also run into your friend’s ex wife and that will be weird. Mostly you can drink whiskey, gamble and watch horses run fast. It’s pretty rad.

We had an awesome time! If you like the ponies, Keeneland is the place to go. They get just about everything right from parking to leaving. The admission is cheap, the food and the drinks are reasonable. We will make this an annual trip.

My friends at the Cyclebar rented a bus to take a day trip to Keeneland. We went to the spring meeting in April. Wow! What a beautiful racecourse! Admission is only $ 5.00 to get in. I’ve been to Horse tracks in Cincinnati/​Florence and thought they were okay. Keeneland is gorgeous and has so much more to offer. Loved the green landscape! We made it to Post time for the first race at 1:05 p.m.
Races are run approximately every half hour.
Keeneland was ranked #1 of the top ten tracks. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986. Also Home of the 2015 Breeders’ Cup.
I don’t know a whole lot on wagering, but I will tell you that is well organized, there are no long waits and the staff is very friendly. They helped me with placing my bets and gave me a quick basics.
I also was impressed with the Food/​Drink line. No long waits and found everywhere in the building.
Besides races, they also hold events/​weddings, tours, dining, and more!
What a great experience and I had a blast with my friends. Definately want to come back again for fall and next year!

We love coming for the horse races! April and October weekends are all about keeneland for us! Admission is cheap, $ 5 for general. They typically do a kids day, military appreciation day, and of course other special days. Last year they did a special Easter egg hunt and that was a disaster and will never go for that again. Betting counters are fast moving and some of the drink and food lines move quickly also, depending on which ones you go to. If you reserve seating the ushers are so incredibly nice! It’s the job I want when I retire!

Since I just moved to Kentucky, this was my first experience with benign at a horse track. Keeneland is absolutely gorgeous! Beautiful track and atmosphere. It was very crowded… But I think that was just the day I picked to go.
The one thing that I had a problem with was parking. There were little to no signs and the employees who I think we’re supposed to be parking cars were clueless! It took 30 min for me to park with no help from the staff. There were tons of spaces, it was just way too confusing and not enough signage or people directing traffic for a busy Saturday.
Other than the parking, it was a wonderful experience! I’ll have to go back when there is less of a crowd!

I was basically born and raised at this racetrack. My dad started taking me here when I was 6 months old, and we went every April and October throughout my life until I moved to Texas. I just visited for the first time in a few years, and there have been some changes.
First of all, parking. It’s not all free anymore. There is a section way out where parking is free if you don’t mind a longer walk. However, the typical area where we have always parked is now $ 5. The thing is, the entire parking situation was confusing. They had every lane roped off as though they were not allowing anyone else to park in those lanes, but there were plenty of empty spots. Basically, you had to drive around in a circle until someone kind of led you to where you should park. I understand them trying to make a few extra bucks with parking, but I think you need to make it easier and less of a hair-​pulling affair. So that’s why I’m giving 4 stars instead of 5.
Otherwise, Keeneland is Keeneland, and it will always hold a special place in my heart. Get there extra early if you expect to have a sit-​down table or bench to call your own for the day. But it’s also fun to just walk around to different areas, see the horses, etc. The grounds are beautiful beyond measure.
Food and drinks will cost you an arm and a leg and maybe your first born as well. We paid $ 4 for a Sprite and $ 3 for a bottle of water. Alcohol will obviously be even more.
If you love horseracing, you will love Keeneland.

I can sum up my review very simply and say I like Keeneland, but it’s no Churchill. I know there are folks who staunchly claim Keeneland is so much better than Churchill. I, however, completely disagree. Yes, I’m from Louisville so I’m biased in that Churchill is the prototype I learned for what a horse racing experience should be like. I’ll be honest, I like the grandness and glamour of Churchill Downs. Keeneland is just not on that level. The view at Keeneland from the grandstand is sooo nice, but as for the rest of the facility it simply doesn’t wow me like Churchill does. Will I come back? Sure. Do I think it’s the best thing since KY bourbon? Nope.

I have to admit, I was a late comer to Keeneland. Once my daughter became a teenager, I got out to more than parks and discovered Lexington’s best place.
With races only happening during the spring meet in April and the fall meet in October, I now find myself going at least twice a meet.
Yes, it gets crowded and many people are only there as a fashion show, which makes it even better to people watch than horse watch. Usually I don’t mingle or experience the general admission track side crowd.
Yes, the general admission and paddock area are always crowded but there is always other options. If you don’t like the hype, there is always other private room and dining options. In the dining rooms, they having betting and they overlook the course, so all that you miss is the outside and hype experience. Here is the link, click on each of the dining room experiences that it’ll explain the prices. Yes, the prices are a bit steep averaging $ 50, but that includes a buffet. I highly recommend going that route, especially if the crowd is a turnoff.
See you there!

This is one of the most beautiful spots on earth. It is definitely one of the greatest places to watch horse racing.
You can really get up close to the horses and jockeys in the paddock. $ 5 to get in, what else would you want to be doing on a beautiful spring afternoon.

Keeneland is a great spot for locals and tourists alike. Lexington is known as horse capital of the world and Keeneland is the melting pot for it. They have spring and fall
Meets with the spring meet featuring a race that is a prelude to the Ky Derby! What’s not to love about that???
From young to old it is a great place to spend an afternoon to tailgate and spend time with friends. During the meets they offer kid friendly and focused events on Sat mornings.
Not only is there racing but they have horse sales as well and many famous people will come through town. The grounds are so pretty many companies will have Christmas parties in their indoor facilities, couples will take engagement pictures, and weddings will even take place. I attended a wedding in Aug 2013 and it was a very country chique wedding. Simple but elegant. It was hot, but that’s the weather here. :-)