Keeneland moving most remaining turf races to main track

The curtain comes down Saturday on the 17-day fall meet at Keeneland, although an announcement Wednesday regarding certain turf races being transferred to the main track serves as a stark reminder that two huge days of racing are still to be held this fall at the Lexington, Ky., track. Those are the Breeders’ Cup dates, Nov. 6 and 7.

Only one of three Saturday races carded for the turf will remain, that being race 9, the $75,000 allowance feature for 3-year-old fillies. Races 4 and 7 will be run on the main track.

The identical protocol was to be followed the two previous days – only the feature races (race 6 on Thursday, and race 9 on Friday) were to remain on turf, with two more races on each program being switched to the main track.

All three turf races carded Wednesday were moved to the main track following heavy rain Monday and Tuesday.

“The turf course has performed very well and without incident during the fall meet,” Bob Elliston, Keeneland vice president of racing, said in a press release. “These steps are taken to ensure we have the best possible conditions for the Breeders’ Cup.”

The Saturday feature is named the President’s Cup in honor of Bill Thomason, the outgoing track president. Thomason is retiring at year’s end following 10 years in a position being filled by Shannon Bishop Arvin.