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Keeneland ‘Eager To Welcome Fans,’ Unveils Spring Meet Ticketing Plans

Keeneland today released plans to offer fans a limited number of ticket packages for dining, Reserved Grandstand seating and General Admission for the 2021 Spring Meet, to be held April 2-23. All ticket packages were designed in accordance with COVID-19 safety protocols and will be pre-sold online in two phases.

Fans are encouraged to visit Keeneland.com/tickets for information on Spring Meet ticket options and the process to purchase.

“Keeneland is eager to welcome fans, although fewer in number, back this spring for what promises to be an exciting race meet,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “We have missed our fans as much as they've missed Keeneland, particularly at this time of year as we shake off winter to celebrate the return of spring. While we are still limited in capacity, our team is hard at work creating unique touches that will deliver the exceptional and safe race-day experience our guests expect from Keeneland. And for those fans who can't attend in person, Keeneland will provide ways for you to enjoy your race-day traditions from the comfort of your home.”

Keeneland has worked to ensure the most fair ticket selection process possible given the anticipated demand and to create a safe and fun on-site environment for its guests. In addition, Keeneland will offer a 48-hour cancellation policy without penalty.

Beginning Monday, March 8, fans may apply for the opportunity to purchase a table for six in the fourth-floor Lexington/Kentucky Room or Phoenix Room or up to six Reserved Grandstand seat ticket packages on specific race days.

Fans may purchase General Admission ticket packages online on a first-come, first-served basis starting Wednesday, March 24. A maximum of six tickets may be purchased per order.

Reserved Grandstand and General Admission ticket packages will include admission, a race-day program and a concession allowance. Dining ticket packages will include admission, a race-day program and a prix fixe three-course meal.

Keeneland will continue to enforce COVID-19 protocols during the Spring Meet and implement new initiatives with regard to mobile ticketing and cashless payment to further create a safe environment for all guests.

Keeneland's new ticketing platform enables patrons to complete their ticketing purchase online and to add tickets to their mobile wallet for easy scanning at the admission gates. Additionally, all Grandstand and General Admission ticket packages will include a $10 concession card and concession stands will feature new meal deals for lunch, all aimed to reduce wait times in lines as well as the amount of cash transactions.

As always, all forms of seating at Keeneland, including dining tables, outdoor boxes, pods of tickets in the Reserved Grandstand area and Grandstand benches, will be kept at a social distance.

All individuals will be required to wear a face mask and maintain proper social distancing while on the grounds. Health screenings and temperature checks will resume at all entrance gates for the race meet.

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First Mare Confirmed In Foal To Kentucky Derby Winner Country House

Darby Dan Farm's Country House, winner of the 2019 Kentucky Derby and a son of Lookin at Lucky, has had his first mare confirmed in foal, the farm announced today.

Bred to the Ghostzapper mare More Everything on Feb. 10, the half-sister to stakes winner and Grade 3-placed Bishop's Pond and stakes-placed Black Oak has been scanned in foal for owner Watershed Bloodstock, LLC.

Country House broke his maiden with an eye-catching 3 1/2-length score over 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream Park. He then finished a fast-closing second to eventual classic winner War of Will in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds before finishing fourth in the G2 Louisiana Derby. In his final prep before winning the 145th Kentucky Derby, Country House finished a determined third behind Omaha Beach and Improbable in the G1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.

A half-brother to graded stakes winner Mitchell Road, Country House is by multiple champion and classic winner Lookin At Lucky, a son of two-time champion sire and sire of sires Smart Strike who is also represented by the likes of Curlin and English Channel, among many others. He is produced from the winning War Chant mare Quake Lake, a half-sister to graded stakes winner and multiple graded stakes-placed Breaking Lucky.

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Phillips: TAA Isn’t There Just To Care For Horses, But To Protect Racing’s Future

“I take care of my own,” responded the prominent owner who declined to make a commitment of financial support to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

In that response is a lack of understanding about the purpose of the TAA. While the “goal” of the TAA is to assure that Thoroughbreds exiting racing receive a soft landing with a new owner who promises to assume responsibility of care, thereby relieving the racing industry of its responsibility. The “purpose” of the TAA is to protect the sport of horse racing and thereby assure its future. The goal and purpose are very different things.

It makes little difference to the TAA if you believe that horses are just livestock or that horses are a revered companion animal worthy of better treatment. These are individual values, a debate about which the TAA need not engage. What is incontestable, however, is that if we want Thoroughbred horse racing to survive, all of us must commit to a broad scope of aftercare, more than just “taking care of my own.”

Racing participants understand that Thoroughbred racing is essentially a pyramid with graded stakes at the top, descending through a myriad of classes to a very broad base of claiming ranks at the lowest end of performance. While owners and breeders of every ilk aspire to the pyramid's peak, the reality is that everyone who has owned, trained or bred horses for very long has had their share of disappointments. These disappointments work through the system and generally depart the sport through these bottom claiming ranks. All know this and rely upon the broad base to hold up the value of those special horses at the top of the pyramid. Without this base the economics of the sport will not function.

It is wonderful that so many top breeders, trainers and owners have special outlets or their own field of equine pensioners that they take care of post racing. But not all Thoroughbreds are so lucky and with the mobility and breath of our sport, keeping track of a horse you bred, raced or trained is an effort. And besides, people say, isn't that someone else's responsibility once ownership of the horse was transferred?

In a perfect world, it is the transferees' responsibility, but this is not a perfect world. Those “special equines” who earn private pensioner status rely on a healthy sport with its broad base of the less talented through which they rise to earn that “special” pensioned treatment. To be clear, the TAA vigorously pursues all sectors and all levels, including the most modest of our sport, to help finance their on-the-ground partners who do the work of retraining, rehoming and sanctuary. These efforts most certainly include education and fundraising at the very base of the pyramid. But efforts at the base of the pyramid, while financially helpful, burn a lot of oxygen and are more long-term approaches at a time when the public demands immediate results.

John Phillips

This sport is a privilege. Those of us who have enjoyed its thrills and love its culture, however experienced, must do more than just “take care of our own.” We must take care of the future of the sport and if that means we must do more than our share of aftercare, then so be it. To whom much is given, much is also required.

The TAA, with an ever-increasing number of partners (the total is now estimated to be at 83) with 175 retraining, rehoming or retirement facilities, is desperately trying to defend the sport by answering the public's clear demand for a soft landing of our athletes as they exit racing competition. TAA is a well thought-out, practical and effective answer to the public's concern. Our “first exit from racing” philosophy is getting closer every year to assuring that all horses exiting racing get this soft landing from the sport.

Whether you're an owner, breeder, buyer or seller, a stallion farm or trainer, when the TAA seeks your support, keep in mind that our “purpose” is to protect the sport. And now with COVID-19 negatively impacting TAA's income, we need those who “take care of their own” for which the TAA is most appreciative, to take one further step and help the TAA take care of the sport.

John Phillips is a third-generation horseman, owner of Darby Dan Farm near Lexington, Ky., and manager of Phillips Racing Partnership. Phillips has served on a number of board positions in the racing industry and has previously been a director of the board of the Bluegrass Conservancy, Thoroughbred Club of America, and Breeders' Cup, and is currently a director of The Jockey Club Information Systems and is on TOBA's executive committee. Phillips also served two terms as a racing commissioner in Kentucky. He is the immediate past president of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and serves on its board and executive committee.

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NYTB Awards To Honor Generazios, Ellen Bongard, Jeffrey Cannizzo

The New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) is pleased to announce Thoroughbred breeders and owners Patricia Generazio and her late husband Frank Generazio, in addition to the recently deceased Ellen Bongard, will each receive a Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in the New York-bred program.

Former NYTB executive director Jeffrey Cannizzo will also receive a special award for his exemplary service.

The honorees will be recognized at the NYTB's Annual Awards event, held in a special virtual format on Monday, April 5 at NYTBAwards.com. The 2020 New York-bred divisional champions and New York-bred Horse of the Year will also be unveiled during the event sponsored by the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund.

“On behalf of our board of directors we are proud to honor each of these noteworthy individuals for their contributions and service to the New York racing and breeding industry,” said NYTB president Tom Gallo. “Each one of them has made significant efforts as owners, breeders and administratively helping to make New York the best and most lucrative state-bred program in the country.”

Patricia Generazio and her husband Frank Generazio, Jr., who passed last November at the age of 91, campaigned a number of homebred multiple graded stakes winners. Mr. Generazio, who owned New England Sand and Gravel company, first got his start in the Thoroughbred industry in his native New England and was a trainer at Rockingham Park and Suffolk Downs before he and his wife built a successful breeding operation that notably made an impact in New York, New Jersey and Florida.

Outstanding New York homebreds campaigned by the Generazios include multiple graded stakes winners Discreet Marq and Disco Partner. Subsequent homebred standouts include multiple graded stakes winner Pure Sensation, Precious Passion, Dowse's Beach and Saratoga Treasure.

“We've always been big supporters of the New York-bred program and will continue to breed in New York year-round,” said Patricia Generazio. “Frank always selected our breedings, and he loved the New York-bred program. I'm very thankful and appreciative to receive this award on behalf of both of us. His loss still hurts and our stable will be reduced substantially, but we already have many Disco Partner babies and we will continue to have a presence in New York.”

Ellen Bongard, who passed away at the age of 77 last December, was a pioneer in the New York Thoroughbred industry and her family owned one of the oldest active breeding farms in the state.

The daughter of the late attorney Bertram F. Bongard, who played a key role in the formation of the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund and New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc., Ellen and her sister Barbara Bongard owned Rojan Farm in Pine Plains, a flagship New York farm and a staple to the New York breeding industry for many years before moving to the Town of Northumberland near Saratoga Springs.

The Bongards stood many successful stallions at their Rojan Farm including Santa Anita Derby winner An Act, Northern Dancer's son Kick, Rare Earth, Back Bay Barrister and many others. Ellen was also credited with the creation of The Bongard Room at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. The room is used for conferences and honors pioneers and legends of the state's breeding industry.

“She would definitely appreciate this,” said Barbara Bongard. “She's certainly done a lot for the New York-bred program. I like to say our father started our family's influential success in the industry and Ellen took the reins and continued on. We're thankful she's receiving this recognition.”

Jeffrey Cannizzo served as executive director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. for nearly 13 years before leaving to join the New York Racing Association, Inc. as senior director of government affairs in January. During his tenure, the New York-bred program gained significant exposure, stability and continued development and success. He elevated the position of executive director to one of leadership and national recognition for the New York Thoroughbred breeding program.

“New York's breeding industry has flourished in recent times and I feel very fortunate to have played a small role in that success story,” said Cannizzo. “I'd like to thank the NYTB board of directors for their commitment to those working every single day on the 250 farms throughout New York. The success of the state-bred program comes with the tireless efforts of so many stakeholders. Being able to represent so many wonderful people and speak on their behalf for over a decade is something I will always cherish. The many relationships formed during my time with NYTB will always be important to me. The New York-bred program will always hold a special place.”

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