Keeneland to build six new barns at Thoroughbred Center

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Keeneland plans to build six new barns at its Thoroughbred Center, a 245-acre year-round training facility just north of Lexington, in a reflection of the growing demand for long-term stabling in the state.

The six new barns will be constructed on the site of two existing concrete barns, which will be demolished, Keeneland said. The track said that the new barns will be “state-of-the-art,” and that the company also plans to make “improvements” to the center’s walking rings and its existing muck disposal and drainage areas.

Keeneland is making the improvements at a time when stabling in Kentucky is on the upswing due to recent purse increases at the state’s tracks, which use subsidies from casino operations to boost race awards. The state’s tracks have plans to build at least three more casino locations in the next several years, in addition to the five already in operation.

“TTC is vital to the health of the Kentucky racing circuit, providing a home base for a number of trainers, and we are thrilled to make these enhancements for them,” said Jim Pendergest, the general manager of the center and the director of racing surfaces for Keeneland.

The training center currently has three stabling prices depending on the barns in which the stalls are rented. It has two dirt tracks, both of which are lighted.