For the first time ever, Keeneland is moving its post position draw for the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) to the paddock and making it open to the public. In recent years, an invitation-only post position draw was held in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion. The draw will be held April 7 at 11:30 a.m. It also will be televised on WLEX-TV beginning at 11:15 a.m. and via satellite to Keeneland's 1,100 simulcast outlets. The race will be run on April 10 at 5:15 p.m. EST and televised live on NBC.
"Part of Keeneland's mission is to educate people about Thoroughbred racing," said Keeneland president Nick Nicholson. "The draw is a fascinating tradition and usually is attended only by people directly involved in the race. We decided that it might be fun to allow the public to see how post positions are assigned."