Bob Elliston, Keeneland vice president of racing and sales, says Justify's accomplishments are indicative of the impact that sales, particularly the marathon September yearling auction, have on the racing industry.
A forecast of anywhere from a dusting to six or more inches of snow is possible for the Lexington area April 6 into April 7, with Keeneland officials planning for various contingencies concerning a big Saturday race card.
Well thought-out customer arguments opposing Keeneland's takeout increase ahead of the 2017 fall meet have made an impact. Keeneland officials said the Lexington track would reduce takeout on some wagers beginning with the upcoming spring meet.
Effective with the conclusion of the January horses of all ages sale, Keeneland's Tom Thornbury will transition from his current position as associate director of sales and take on a new role within the organization as a consultant.
Buoyed by the strong commercial market of 2017, strength of the U.S. stock market, and recent federal tax law changes, there is an air of optimism heading into the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale.
Keeneland has cataloged 1,582 horses for its 60th January horses of all ages sale, to be held Jan. 8-11, 2018.
Fierce competition for quality horses among an exceptionally deep buying bench generated healthy results as Keeneland's November breeding stock sale concluded Nov. 18.
The depth of the bloodstock market will be put to the test when the Keeneland November breeding stock sale kicks off Nov. 7 and continues daily through Nov. 18.
In a Keeneland fall race meeting closely monitored by horseplayers and industry leaders following the track’s decision to increase takeout rates, the Lexington track reported an 8.4% all-sources handle decline on its races.
The Horseplayers Association of North America and Playersboycott.org announced Oct. 5 that an organized horseplayer boycott of Keeneland, which begins its fall meet Oct. 6, is underway.
Two yearlings, a filly by Warrior’s Reward and a colt by Stay Thirsty, each sold for $325,000 to headline Tuesday's session as Keeneland sold 285 yearlings for gross sales of $15,571,000, an average of $54,635 and a median of $40,000.
When Keeneland kicks off its marathon September yearling sale Sept. 11, it will be a litmus test of the sales company's overhaul of the format, with a goal of getting the auction off to a robust start that hopefully will carry throughout the sale.
In a move it hopes will help strengthen purse levels, Keeneland plans to increase takeout beginning with the upcoming 2017 fall meeting.
Keeneland’s 2017 Fall Meet, which covers 17 days from Oct. 6-28, will present six grade 1 races among 17 graded stakes worth $5.325 million.
For the first time in some 30 years, Keeneland has tweaked the commission structure for all of its auctions.
Spectacular weather and one of North America's highest purse structures that drew some of the top horses in training combined to boost the numbers in every major statistical category for Keeneland's first seven days.
Keeneland announced a new program April 12 that will pay a cash bonus to any Book 1 September yearling sale graduate that wins a grade/group 1 stakes anywhere in the world. The bonus will be split between the seller and buyer.
Keeneland announced Jan. 17 that Barbara Banke's Stonestreet has become the signature sponsor of the Spring Meet's Lexington Stakes (G3), to be held April 15.
While the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland and Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack will be downgraded from grade I to grade II races next season, don’t expect an immediate impact on horsemen’s Triple Crown plans or field quality.
Keeneland’s 13-day November breeding stock sale that ended Nov. 20 reflected a stable market that mirrored recent trends, in which there is continued demand for quality and buyers' unwillingness to take risks on horses that do not fit their criteria.
Keeneland has cataloged 4,762 horses for its 2016 November breeding stock sale, to be held Nov. 8-20 in Lexington.
Keeneland’s marathon September yearling sale highlighted by the sale of Beholder’s half brother for $3 million ended Sept. 25, with strength at the top and middle of the market and continued tepid demand for lower quality individuals.
Boosted by a broad-based international buying bench and the appeal of top-caliber sires Medaglia d’Oro, Tapit, and War Front, the marathon Keeneland September yearling sale had a solid opening Sept. 12.
If success on the racetrack transcends into success in the sales ring, Keeneland is well-poised to have a successful marathon September yearling sale that could end the downward spiral experienced by previous sales this year.
The Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland last year fueled double-digit tourism growth in Lexington in 2015, VisitLEX said Feb. 17.
Keeneland's Rice Road training center was very quiet early the morning of Oct. 31 as only a few of the horses participating in the second day of the Breeders' Cup World Championships later were sent to that track.
Revenue, participation exceeding expectations
The Coalition for Horse Racing Integrity said Aug. 21 California's failure to adopt third-party administration of the race-day drug furosemide shows the pitfalls of state-by-state regulation.
Parts of the grounds at Keeneland in Lexington may look like mini construction sites right now, but if one takes a step back and looks at the whole picture, it's very clear: The place is getting bigger.
There's a good chance no races that are part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships will be simulcast to Hong Kong this year.
The recent announcement by Breeders' Cup to ban horses from being entered in the World Championships if their trainers are found to be in violation of its convicted trainers rule, effective 2015, could signal change.
Equibase Co. will offer separate handicapping tournaments on Friday, Oct. 31, and Saturday, Nov. 1, of the Breeders' Cup World Championships with $10,000 in total cash prizes.
Tom LaMarra interviews Breeders' Cup President Craig Fravel and COO Bob Elliston. The trio discuss record pre-entries including European contenders, what to expect at Keeneland next year, and a few possible wagering picks.
Breeders' Cup Ltd. announced March 14 that its director of racing and nominations, Joshua Christian, will be on assignment in Europe for an extended recruitment effort between April and October this year.
As the Breeders' Cup World Championships approaches its 30th edition, some things have become standard from an operations perspective, while others continue to change. As questions are answered, new ones are asked.
The California Horse Racing Board put its stamp on the racing industry's plan for stabling Thoroughbreds in the immediate post-Betfair Hollywood Park era during its meeting Oct. 24.
Breeders' Cup was approved Sept. 19 to card a $150,000 stakes for Arabians on the first day of its World Championships, but not before the CHRB grilled the organization on its plan to shift all or part of the money to purses.
Jimmy Bell, Craig Bernick, Bob Elliston, Rachel Kukulewich join Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance board of directors.
The Board of Directors of the Kentucky Equine Education Project has added five new members.
Breeders' Cup is prepared to take a hit in pari-mutuel handle given the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast even though many wagering outlets were back in operation Nov. 2.
Gulfstream Park could make a serious bid to host a future Breeders' Cup World Championships, officials confirmed Nov. 2.
Bob Elliston, who took over as chief operating officer at Breeders' Cup earlier this year, said the organization is assessing its position and working to improve the overall experience the World Championships has to offer.
The Breeders' Cup announced today that its "Text to Donate" campaign has received a contribution of $10,000 from the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.
A flight carrying a contingent of Breeders' Cup horses from New York to California was rescheduled to 1 a.m. EDT Oct. 29 and was able to take off as Hurricane Sandy approached the Northeast, Breeders' Cup officials said.
Dirt Mile, Juvenile, and Sprint will shift in their race order on the Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup card while Friday's card remains the same.
In continuing support of a national program for retired racehorses, the Breeders' Cup announced Oct. 23 that it has created a Text to Donate campaign that will allow fans to contribute to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.
Several industry groups, including 13 prominent breeding farms in Kentucky, have developed plans to provide funds beginning in 2013 to support the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.
Bill Thomason, who took over as president and chief executive officer at Keeneland Sept. 1, has been named to the National Thoroughbred Racing Association board of directors.
Gotham Stakes (gr. III) winner Hansen wrapped up his week at Turfway Park with a paddock appearance the evening of March 9, but his majority owner reaffirmed that the colt will run next in New York, not Kentucky.
In yet another sign of trouble for the Kentucky horse racing industry, Turfway Park said it will slash overnight purses 25% effective March 3 because of an overpayment coupled with lower pari-mutuel handle.
