Special day of racing on the eve of World Championships
LEXINGTON, KY (Oct. 28, 2015) – Fans have the opportunity to see Keeneland outfitted in Breeders’ Cup purple on Prelude to the Cup, Thursday, Oct. 29, a special day of racing on the eve of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, to be held Oct. 30-31.
Keeneland has carded nine races for Prelude Day, with the afternoon highlighted by the $100,000 Lafayette Presented by Keeneland Select for 3-year-olds and older at seven furlongs on the main track.
On Prelude Day, fans will experience a unique day of racing and have a chance to see a number of Breeders’ Cup contenders while they school in the Saddling Paddock between races. A schedule of schooling times will be available at Keeneland.com.
Gates open at 11 a.m. ET; post time for the first race is 12:30 p.m.
Tickets are available for Prelude Day and may be purchased online at www.keeneland.com/prelude until midnight tonight. On Thursday, tickets are available on site at the Keeneland Ticket Office. Fans may choose from a variety of venue options, including dining in the Clubhouse and trackside Lexington/Kentucky Rooms; Grandstand Loge Boxes, which offer commanding views of the racing near the finish line; reserved Grandstand seating and more.
General Admission tickets, which do not include a seat, are $5 and will be available for purchase at any Keeneland gate on Prelude Day. Children 12 and under will receive free General Admission with a paid adult. General admission also includes a souvenir race-day program.
“Prelude to the Cup is Keeneland’s dress rehearsal for the Breeders’ Cup,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason. “Giving fans the opportunity to see Championship competitors within this festive Breeders’ Cup setting will provide a truly memorable day at the races.”
Parking and transportation also will operated like the Breeders’ Cup with on-site parking limited to those with a pre-paid parking pass. For Thursday only, parking is also available on The Hill, Keeneland’s designated tailgating area, for $5.
For fans’ convenience, Park-and-Ride shuttles will be offered to and from Keeneland on Prelude Day. Officially designated Park-and-Ride locations will be available at the Kentucky Horse Park and Rupp Arena. Parking passes may be purchased online in advance for $15 per vehicle. Day-of parking passes may only be purchased at the Kentucky Horse Park and are $20 per vehicle. “Walk-up” shuttle service from Rupp Arena is available for $5. Your parking pass includes complimentary shuttle service to and from Keeneland for you and those in your vehicle along with a free Prelude to the Cup program for each person.
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For more than 75 years, the Keeneland Association has devoted itself to the health and vibrancy of the Thoroughbred industry. As the world’s largest Thoroughbred auction company, Keeneland conducts sales every January, September and November. Its sales graduates dominate racing across the globe at every level. In April and October, Keeneland offers some of the highest caliber and richest Thoroughbred racing in the world. In 2015, Keeneland will host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Oct. 30-31. Uniquely structured, Keeneland is a private, for-profit corporation that returns its earnings to the industry and the community in the form of higher purses, and it has donated millions of dollars in charitable contributions for education, research and health and human services throughout Central Kentucky. To learn more about Keeneland, visit Keeneland.com.