Daily double takeout lowered to 15 percent

Keeneland’s wagering menu for the spring meet includes a takeout reduction on the daily double from 22 percent to 15 percent.

Daily doubles are offered on all but the final race each day.

“This pricing is advantageous to our core horseplayers but also is a great opportunity for emerging bettors to try horse racing’s equivalent of a ‘two-game parlay,’ ” said Jim Goodman, Keeneland’s director of wagering development.

Blue Grass hits 100

While the Kentucky Derby is celebrating a historic milestone this year with its 150th running, one of the key preps, Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, also recognizes a historic renewal, with its 100th running.

The Blue Grass was first run at the Kentucky Association track in Lexington from 1911-14 and from 1919-26. It was revived at Keeneland in 1937 as part of the inaugural 11-day spring meet, and, barring a handful of years at Churchill Downs, has been a staple of this meet since.

An exhibit celebrating the race’s history will be displayed at the Keeneland Library this month.

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Eleven Blue Grass winners have gone on to capture the Kentucky Derby, most recently Strike the Gold in 1991. The others are Bubbling Over (1926), Shut Out (1942), Tomy Lee (1959), Chateaugay (1963), Northern Dancer (1964), Lucky Debonair (1965), Forward Pass (1968), Dust Commander (1970), Riva Ridge (1972), and Spectacular Bid (1979).

Goodnight Olive to parade

Two-time Eclipse Award champion Goodnight Olive returns to Keeneland, site of some of her biggest victories, on Saturday as owner John Stewart continues to raise his visibility in the Thoroughbred community.

Goodnight Olive will parade for fans in the paddock during public morning works at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Goodnight Olive, purchased for $6 million by Stewart’s fledgling Resolute Racing and Bloodstock last November at Fasig-Tipton, has been bred to Not This Time. She will make the short trip to Keeneland from Stewart’s farm in Midway, Ky., a former Shadwell property he purchased late last year.

Goodnight Olive retired with nine wins from 12 starts and earnings of more than $2.1 million. She won two editions of the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint – at Keeneland in 2022 and at Santa Anita last fall. At Keeneland, she also won last year’s Grade 1 Madison.

Resolute Racing will be the title sponsor of the Madison this Saturday, while MiddleGround Capital, of which Stewart is founder and managing partner, will sponsor the Grade 2 Beaumont on Sunday.

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“Their participation signifies John Stewart’s passion and growing involvement in the Thoroughbred industry,” Keeneland vice president and chief marketing officer Christa Marrillia said.

On Saturday, Just a Touch, co-owned by Stewart, will run in the Blue Grass. Stewart bought a share in the colt from original owners Qatar Racing and Marc Detampel after his January debut win. He has since finished second in the Grade 3 Gotham.

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