The commonwealth of Kentucky along with the rest of the southeastern United States is recovering from copious amounts of rain and wind following Hurricane Helene’s path through the region – but the inclement weather departed in time for the start of one of central Kentucky’s most beloved traditions, the opening of Keeneland Race Course’s fall meet.

The skies have cleared, temperatures are delightful, and most importantly, dozens of top-class racehorses are on Keeneland’s bucolic grounds primed and ready to compete in 22 stakes races over 17 racing days from Oct. 4-26 worth a record $9.85 million in purses. (Check out our gambling preview to the Keeneland fall meet here.)

The meet kicks off at its apex, with a three-day Fall Stars weekend Oct. 4-6 featuring 11 stakes races, eight of which are “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series qualifiers for specific Breeders’ Cup races Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar.

Enjoy ABR’s guide to the Keeneland Fall Meet, with recommendations for visiting the track and the Lexington area.

Ticketing Information … and Watch for Construction

Enjoying the heart of horse country. (Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)

Continuing a policy started in spring 2021, Keeneland admission and dining tickets must be purchased in advance via the online ticket office or through the Keeneland RaceDay app. The track offers a 48-hour in advance return policy. As of Sept. 30, general admission tickets were still available for all days save Oct. 5, 12, and 19. You can also sign up for a waiting list to take advantage of cancellations if your original date is sold out. General Admission season passes are still available ahead of the Fall Meet and can be purchased online. through Oct. 3. Check ticket availability here.

Those who visited the track last spring certainly noticed that crews had commenced working on a massive construction project designed to upgrade the paddock and surrounding buildings. The revamp started after the fall 2023 meet concluded and will continue into next year, with completion scheduled in time for the fall 2025 meet. This fall meet, all paved parking rows will be for permit parking and free handicap parking only. No reservation is required for handicap parking. Permit parking must be purchased in advance: buy passes here. Free public parking is still available every day at “The Hill” and “The Meadow” lots (see below), and shuttle service is, as always, provided, with a shuttle depot area plus a ride-share drop-off and pick-up conveniently located just east of the sales pavilion not far from the South gate to the racetrack. Due to construction, fans will only be able to enter Keeneland through the South or North gates.

Climb The Hill, or Frolic in The Meadow

Tailgating is allowed in several areas throughout Keeneland, some of them limited by ongoing construction, but ground zero for prerace fun and camaraderie is up on “The Hill.” Jumbo TVs and betting kiosks are available for watching and wagering on the races, and food trucks and live music from The Burl venue Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays will also be featured as part of the overall experience. Premium tailgating packages are also offered – click here for details.

Just west of “The Hill” lies “The Meadow,” another free parking spot a smidge closer to the track. Tailgating is also permitted in this area, and both “The Hill” and “The Meadow” are accessible through Gate 1 at the intersection of U.S. 60 (Versailles Rd.) and Man o’ War Blvd.

Betting Options Aplenty

BetOlogists, at your service. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Laying down a bet on-site at Keeneland is easy and the track has BETologists on-site at its Wagering Central hub (located under the grandstand near the finish line) to help fans new to the game become acquainted with the basics of handicapping and money management. Keeneland’s drive-thru betting has been discontinued, but advance-deposit wagering is of course offered through the Keeneland Select site and app.

Two handicapping contests are on the Fall schedule: a $400 Fall Challenge, an on-track only contest held Friday, Oct. 11, that offers one berth to the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) and as many as four berths to the 2025 National Horseplayers Championship (NHC); and then a Keeneland BCBC-NHC Fall Handicapping Challenge held Oct. 12, where entrants wager either on-site at Keeneland or through the following ADW companies: XpressBet, NYRA Bets, 4NJ Bets, TVG, TwinSpires, and HPI. Based on the number of entries, as many as six BCBC and as many as 10 NHC berths could be up for grabs.

In addition to the above big-player matches, Keeneland offers a WINS-Day Challenge Presented by Malone’s handicapping contest each Wednesday of the meet, Oct. 9, 16, and 23. The entry fee is only $10 and is therefore appealing to those just getting into handicapping, and the contest requires contestants to place a mythical $2 win and place wager on a horse in each of Keeneland’s final six races. The first 200 participants will receive a free Daily Racing Form and an appetizer card from Malone’s, the popular Lexington-based steakhouse chain.

Special Events for One and All

All ages enjoy the Keeneland experience. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Keeneland’s family-friendly Sunrise Trackside program will be held on the four Saturdays during the live meet: Oct. 5, 12, 19, and 26. It’s located at the first floor grandstand area and offers a meet-and-greet with the track’s mascot, face painting games, coffee and donuts, and a chance to watch horses train on the track. An equine meet-and-greet will also be held at 8:30 a.m. ET.

On opening Saturday, Oct. 5, Keeneland will host a jockey autograph signing at the North Terrace from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. featuring members of Keeneland’s world-class jockey colony as well as some retirees, including Hall of Fame members. Proceeds benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF).

Thursday, Oct. 10 is Keeneland’s Make-a-Wish Day. Local Thoroughbred farms and organizations team up with the track to grant wishes for 10 children along with their families, including awarding VIP trophies and meeting jockeys. It’s a special day for everyone involved, and it can lead to incredibly uplifting stories that reach far beyond the world of racing – such as back in 2018, when Cody Dorman met and bonded with a racehorse eventually named Cody’s Wish, the 2023 Horse of the Year.

Keeneland will also host a College Scholarship Day (Friday, Oct. 18, presented by Lane’s End), a Heroes Day honoring members of the military (Sunday, Oct. 20), and a Teacher Appreciation Day (Saturday, Oct. 26). And the track will go all out in rousing the spirit of University of Kentucky fans on Friday, Oct. 11, when Big Blue Day is held featuring a pep rally and sports icons such as 1978 NCAA Final Four MVP Jack “Goose” Givens. One of the most cherished Keeneland fall traditions involves doubling up on horse racing and a home UK football game, and fans should have two opportunities during the meet, on Oct. 12 and Oct. 26, when Vanderbilt and Auburn visit (kickoff times for those games TBD).

Unparalleled Food and Drink

Keeneland is renowned among racetrack aficionados for having some of the best food offerings at all price points. As noted above, dining tickets can only be purchased in advance, but fortunately, there are many options for reserved seat and general admission attendees at stands around the facility (and whatever you do, make sure you visit the Track Kitchen for breakfast at least once during the meet).

Check out ABR’s guide to Keeneland’s food here, and be sure to try the Keeneland Fall Ale, sold in cans and on draft as part of a partnership between the track and Country Boy Brewing of Lexington. Sales for the ale will benefit Blue Grass Farms Charities.

What to Do in Lexington: Fall Festivities Aplenty

Downtown Lexington. (W. Lemay/Wikimedia Commons)

Lexington’s popular and free Central Bank Lexington Thursday Night Live downtown concert series, which starts during Keeneland’s spring meet, will wind down its weekly run soon, with the last event set for Oct. 10. But the Horse Capital of the World will still be buzzing all month long with full concert calendars at The Burl and Manchester Music Hall, both located in in the hip Manchester St. Distillery District just west of downtown. Highlights include longtime Christian rock band Sixpence None the Richer (of “Kiss Me” fame back in 1997) on Oct. 22 and a visit from ace guitarist Richard Lloyd (a member of the influential 1970s New York band Television) on Oct. 17, both at The Burl.

Over at the Lexington Opera House downtown, comedy and spoken word shows blanket the month, with visits from comedian and viral video star Desi Banks (Oct. 11), author and satirist David Sedaris (Oct. 21) and actor-comedian David Cross of “Mr. Show” and “Arrested Development” fame (Oct. 22). And on Keeneland’s closing day, Saturday, Oct. 26, Rupp Arena hosts folk rock powerhouse The Avett Brothers, touring behind their self-titled 11^th album and with locally popular New Albany, Ind., band Houndmouth opening.

Lexington’s restaurant and bar scene is booming, and spots such as the Granddam restaurant and Lost Palm rooftop bar at The Manchester hotel continue to thrive a little more than a year after opening. Last March, a brewery opened adjacent to the aforementioned The Burl music venue, appropriately named Burl Brew, featuring a variety of beer, plenty of TVs, and food available from local-owned Lucy’s Kitchen. Across town, another happening district off of Winchester Rd. is where you’ll find Mirror Twin Brewing on National Ave. Celebrating its eighth anniversary in October, Mirror Twin is a standout in the local brewery scene, with a diverse list of hops and two spacious taprooms plus a patio. What’s more, the Rolling Oven Pizzeria is located inside Mirror Twin, offering delicious wood-fired pies to accompany the beer quaffing. Try the pepperoni.

Last but certainly not least, horse lovers from around the country will be at the Kentucky Horse Park from Oct. 9-12 for the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium. The Makeover, first held in 2013 and moved to the Horse Park just north of Lexington in 2015, is the world’s largest retraining competition for recently retired racehorses, offering 10 competitive disciplines including Barrel Racing, Field Hunter, and Dressage. Check out recent stories from trainers and OTTBs (off-the-track Thoroughbreds) targeting the 2024 makeover on ABR’s Aftercare site.