Keeneland has announced a revamped stakes schedule for its 15-day 2022 Spring Meet, which will be held from Apr. 8-29. A total of 19 stakes will be run, and all have received purse increases for a total of $7.7 million in total stakes purses. Among notable changes are that the Apr. 9 GII Toyota Blue Grass S., Keeneland's main GI Kentucky Derby prep, will once again offer a $1-million purse (it was $800,000 last year); and the $600,000 GI Central Bank Ashland ($400,000 in 2021) will be contested on opening day.
Contributing to the purse increases is $1.5 million from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF), pending approval from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. Purses for several stakes have doubled for 2022–including the Apr. 15 GI Maker's Mark Mile ($300,000 to $600,000); Apr. 16 GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. ($200,000 to $400,000); and Apr. 23 GIII Ben Ali S. ($150,000 to $300,000).
“Keeneland is thrilled to offer such a lucrative Spring Meet stakes schedule for horsemen, horseplayers and racing fans,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “Keeneland is coming off a record-breaking 2021 in terms of wagering, which we are reinvesting in purse money to further elevate our racing program. We look forward to world-class racing this April setting the stage for a huge racing year that will continue with the Fall Meet in October and the return of the Breeders' Cup World Championships on Nov. 4-5.”
Post time for the Spring Meet will be 1:00 p.m. each day. The track will be dark on Easter Sunday, Apr. 17.
“Keeneland in the spring is about 3-year-olds blossoming into talented runners, and we have focused on enhancing those stakes in particular to attract the best sophomores in the country,” Vice President of Racing Gatewood Bell said. “Moving the Central Bank Ashland to opening day makes the start of the Spring Meet extra special and provides a showcase for this historic Grade I event, which is the division's first Grade I race of the year. And the fact that Easter Sunday falls on the second Sunday of the meet–when Keeneland is closed for racing–allows us to present a blockbuster opening weekend with 10 stakes worth a total of $4.55 million.”
Visit www.keeneland.com for more information.
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