Keeneland is one of the most beautiful racetracks in the world — a low limestone grandstand, white-fenced paddocks, dogwoods in spring, sugar maples in autumn. Live racing runs over three weeks in April and three weeks in October; the rest of the year the track is open for morning workouts (free, with coffee and pastries served at the Track Kitchen) and four major horse sales that account for a huge share of the global thoroughbred trade. National Historic Landmark since 1986. Six miles west of downtown — 12 minutes by car.
Keeneland
A story
When Keeneland opened in 1936 the founders deliberately built it without a public address system or commercial track sponsorship — they wanted a racetrack that worked the way racing did before electric amplification. The PA system was finally added in 1997, the longest holdout of any major US track. Mick Jagger and Jeff Beck both own racehorses that run here.