A packed house gathered at Keeneland Oct. 29 as the 2022 Fall Meet drew to a close. The meet leaders in the owner, trainer, and jockey categories of the 17-day season were so close that it took the final two races on the card to determine the winners.
Gary and Mary West won their first leading owner title at the Lexington track, coming from behind to capture two races on closing day—led by the Hagyard Fayette Stakes (G2) with West Will Power—for a total of four wins.
West Will Power's victory also wrapped up leading training honors for Brad Cox, who with 11 wins earned his third consecutive fall training title and fourth Keeneland title overall. In addition to the Fayette, Cox registered stakes wins with Caravel in the Franklin Stakes (G3T) and Key of Life in the Myrtlewood Stakes.
"These trainer titles when they come down to the last few days can be stressful," Cox said. "You just want to get them over with. You just hope the horses run the races you know their capable of running and they can win. What the other barns do and their results is completely out of your hands.
"I'm proud of our team. They do a fantastic job from each division. We've got a big team but we've obviously got great people and that's what it comes down to."
Todd Pletcher and Wesley Ward finished in a tie for second with 10 wins each. Pletcher enjoyed a monumental Keeneland meet, landing three grade 1 races opening weekend with Forte in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1), Annapolis in the Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes (G1T), and Malathaat in the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1).
The jockeys' title race turned into a dramatic battle between Tyler Gaffalione and Luis Saez. Winner of three races on closing day, Saez won the final race aboard Miner's Queen to edge Gaffalione 21-20 and clinch his second Keeneland riding title.
Saez recorded a graded stakes victory aboard Delight in the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes (G2T) opening weekend. Gaffalione tallied six stakes wins, one shy of Pat Day's single-season record of seven stakes wins: the Darley Alcibiades (G1) with Wonder Wheel, the Franklin on Caravel, the Perryville on Gunite , the Lexus Raven Run (G2) on Wicked Halo, the Rood & Riddle Dowager Stakes (G3T) on Temple City Terror, and the Bryan Station (G3T) on Balnikhov.
Fall Meet Wraps With Records
The meet concluded with a season record all-sources handle of $208.9 million. All-sources wagering (not including whole-card simulcasting at Keeneland) this fall totaled $208,907,655, up 15.41% over last year's fall meet record of $181,009,626. On-track wagering for the fall meet totaled $15,351,232, up slightly from last year's $15,162,221.
"This fall meet embodied everything our founders envisioned for Keeneland—a place where families and friends could gather and enjoy great horse racing—all heightened by anticipation for the Breeders' Cup," Keeneland president and CEO Shannon Arvin said. "The race meet was special in every way: idyllic weather, terrific racing, and special events like Make-A-Wish Day, Heroes Day, and Teacher Appreciation Day that celebrated many deserving people. We thank everyone involved in making the fall meet a success and look forward to the fun continuing as we host the World Championships next weekend."
Wagering was boosted when on Fall Stars Saturday, Oct. 8, Keeneland set records for fall meet single-day all-sources and Pick 5 wagering, besting previous records set on Fall Stars Saturday in 2021. All-sources handle on Fall Stars Saturday, which featured five graded stakes on the 11-race card, was $21,695,896, surpassing the $20,926,640 on Oct. 9, 2021. Wagering on the All-Stakes Pick 5 totaled $1,431,736 to exceed last year's $1,255,080.
The average daily purses at Keeneland climbed to a record $1,168,120, up 32.66% from $880,511 per day during the 2021 fall meet. Average starters per race was 9.2.
“Fans were treated to thrilling performances from start to finish this fall, and our sincere thanks go to the owners, trainers, and jockeys who always bring their very best to Keeneland,” said Keeneland vice president of racing Gatewood Bell. “We are proud of our elevated racing program, which when coupled with the excitement surrounding Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland, produced a fall meet unmatched in competition and quality.”
