After an eight-month break, Turfway Park will kick off its 38th consecutive holiday meet Dec. 1 featuring the first phase of a three-year renovation of its Polytrack surface.
The Northern Kentucky track will present nine races daily on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through December, as well as on the Monday and Tuesday after Christmas day.
Races on Thursdays, Fridays, and Tuesday, Dec. 31, will have a first post of 6:15 p.m., with the exception of Dec. 26. Races start at 1:10 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, Thursday, Dec. 26, and Monday, Dec. 30. All times are Eastern.
Two stakes $50,000 will be offered during the holiday meet—the 28th running of the Holiday Inaugural Stakes on Dec. 7, at six furlongs for fillies and mares 3 years old and up, and the 19th running of the Prairie Bayou Stakes on Dec. 21, at 1 1/16 miles for ages 3 and up.
The Polytrack surface has been upgraded by the first phase of a three-year, $500,000 renovation. The first synthetic racing surface in North America, Turfway's Polytrack has been in near-continuous use for racing or training since its installation in September 2005.
"After an eight-month hiatus, we're very excited to bring Thoroughbred racing back to Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati," Turfway Park general manager Chip Bach said in a statement. "We're adding some new elements, like craft beer, new food items, and education for new fans. But we're also getting back to the basics of what--besides live racing--makes coming to Turfway so much fun: friendly service, good value on 'Dollar Friday' with dollar bets and larger dollar drafts, high-energy local bands, and a New Year's Eve party that's again truly a party, where the fans get involved instead of just watch the entertainment. We're looking forward to a great meet."
