Public will not be allowed to attend fall meet

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The upcoming Keeneland fall meet will be closed to the general public due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic but the track will make accommodations for a “limited number” of owners, sponsors, box holders, and Keeneland Club members, the track announced on Tuesday.

The policy is a slight expansion on the protocols in place during a five-day meet this summer, when Keeneland barred spectators but allowed owners of stakes horses to attend the races on days when their horses were running. Keeneland did not hold a spring meet this year due to the pandemic.

The ban on the general public was not unexpected considering the conditions in Kentucky and the announcement last weekend that the two-day Breeders’ Cup event, scheduled for Nov. 6-7 at Keeneland, would also not allow spectators. Keeneland’s spring and fall meets are cherished in Lexington and the surrounding communities, but a whole year, at least, will pass before the general public will be allowed on its grounds.

“The safety of our employees, our participants, and our fans remains Keeneland’s top priority,” said Bill Thomason, the track’s president, in a release. “We have the most loyal fans in the world, and we cannot wait for the day when we can welcome them back for live racing.”

The fall meet is scheduled to run from Oct. 2-24, for 17 total days of live racing.

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Thomason said that the decision to bar spectators was made in consultation with health officials. In recent weeks, the number of coronavirus cases in Kentucky has begun increasing again, and the return of college students to the University of Kentucky has led to a recent surge in the Lexington community. College students form a core component of the track’s ontrack experience.

“With the guidance of these experts and lessons learned from recent events, we know this is the responsible course of action,” Thomason said.

In a release, Keeneland said that those allowed on the grounds will be required to wear a mask and practice social distancing. All seats will be assigned, and the track will maintain records for attendance and seating in order to allow for contact tracing.

Keeneland is currently holding its mammoth September yearling sale, an event that will run for 12 days. The track will then hold its fall meet, host the Breeders’ Cup, and then conduct its November breeding stock sale.

“It is paramount that we conduct our sales and racing operations in a safe and responsible manner that promotes the health and success of everyone involved,” said Shannon Arvin, who will take over as president on Jan. 1. “We will remain flexible and vigilant leading up to and throughout our fall meet to ensure that we observe the most current health and safety protocols and respond to any changes in a timely and thoughtful manner.”