Keeneland Organizes Lexington to Kentucky Downs Charters

With both the Keeneland September Yearling Sale and the boutique Kentucky Downs race meet going on at the same time and 170 miles apart, Keeneland has arranged charter flights from Lexington to the Franklin, Kentucky racetrack to accommodate owners, trainers and others who are working the yearling sale, but also have horses running at Kentucky Downs.

The 40-minute flights go between Lexington's Blue Grass Airport and the Portland (Tenn.) Municipal Airport seven miles from Kentucky Downs. The roundtrip flights are Sept. 7, 9, 10, and 13–the last four days of the Kentucky Downs meet. The Keeneland yearling sale begins Sept. 11.

The flights depart at noon Eastern from the Triton Airways at the Blue Grass Airport, located at 4170 Aviator Road (not the main terminal), directly across U.S. 60/Versailles Road from Keeneland. They land in Portland Municipal Airport, also known as Douglas Hunter Field. The return flights will leave about 7 p.m. Central/8 p.m. Eastern.

“Keeneland is pleased to offer this service to anyone who is attending the September sale and wants to go racing on a particular day without five hours of driving,” said Tony Lacy, Keeneland's Vice President of Sales. “There are a lot of horses participating at Kentucky Downs that have, not only domestic owners, but international as well. With such a diverse group of people in town for the sale, it's wonderful for them to be able to go enjoy a very unique, very competitive, extremely rich meet for the few days that they are in Kentucky. It's important that we showcase the quality of Kentucky racing as the circuit gets stronger.”

The aircraft will be a King Air B200 with two pilots, WiFi and eight seats. Those seeking a spot should email charter@tritonairways.com. The cost for each seat is $625 per roundtrip.

Kentucky Downs is staging a pair of $250,000 allowance races on its Aug. 31 opening-day card restricted to 2-year-olds who went through the sales ring at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Keeneland is a minority partner with Kentucky Downs' ownership in the new Cumberland Run harness track that opens in Corbin in October and The Mint Gaming Hall Cumberland, its sister historical horse racing and entertainment facility in Williamsburg in southeastern Kentucky.

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The Mint Event Center Opened At Kentucky Downs

The Mint Event Center was officially launched Wednesday morning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by local, regional and state civic leaders and officials, including business representatives from Kentucky and Tennessee, The Mint Gaming and Kentucky Downs said in a release.

The Event Center is Simpson County's largest space for events and conventions, which is positioned as the area's newest location for weddings, parties, conferences, corporate meetings and live entertainment. The space can accommodate groups from 12 to 445 people.

“All the economic development you see here is exactly an example of that,” said co-managing partner of The Mint Gaming Hall Ron Winchell. “From our purchase of the property four years ago, we were committed to continuously improving and bringing more amenities to the area.”

Kentucky Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer added, “It's not just Kentucky Derby week. It's year-round. We have the best year-round racing circuit in the country now, and Kentucky Downs is a big part of that.”

Still under construction is the Summerly Event Lawn, an outdoor, artificial-turf space that can accommodate up to 190 guests. Both the indoor and outdoor areas will be available during the Kentucky Downs meet which will be held Aug. 31 and Sept. 2, 3, 7, 9, 10 and 13.

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Ky Downs Set to Open The Mint Gaming Hall in September

Kentucky Downs will open its Mint Gaming Hall, a new 30,000 square-foot historical horse racing (HHR) in early September, and will coincide with the track’s live six-day racing meet. The hall, which will add more than 600 historical horse racing terminals, will also include a new multi-media Center Bar, entertainment stage and a new high-limit betting area.
The addition of The Mint Gaming Hall is the first of a multi-phase expansion and growth plan that began last year since it was sold in March 2019.
“We are always seeking ways to enhance the guest experience and can’t wait to provide more food and beverage offerings, more live music and more entertainment,” said Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs’ senior vice president and general manager.
“Our growth continues to solidify Kentucky Downs’ role as an economic engine for the Franklin-Simpson area and beyond as both an attraction and an employer.”
For more information, visit www.themintgaming.com

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