Keeneland kicks off a blockbuster 2026 on Friday, April 3 with the opening of the Spring Meet, 15 days of spectacular Thoroughbred racing featuring the public opening of the Paddock Building along with an offering of popular special events and exciting wagering action. The first Saturday of the meet is Toyota Blue Grass Day, an 11-race card featuring five stakes worth a combined $3.15 million and led by the 102nd running of the $1.25 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) -- which will be broadcast live on NBCSN and Peacock. The entire season will present 19 stakes worth a Spring Meet record $9.55 million.
"Keeneland is incredibly excited to kick off what is sure to be a landmark year," Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. "The Spring Meet is just the start of the excitement, which will carry through the Fall with more world-class racing and the return of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, framed by our banner September and November Sales that have launched so many of racing's biggest stars."
The Toyota Blue Grass and the 89th running of the opening-day Central Bank Ashland, the year's first Grade 1 event for fillies, are key springtime races on the dirt for 3-year-olds. Both stakes are worth 200 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Road to the Kentucky Oaks, respectively, with the winners of each stakes earning 100 qualifying points to the respective classic.
Racing during the Spring Meet will be conducted Wednesdays through Sundays with post time for the first race at 1 p.m. ET each day. Keeneland will be closed for racing on Easter Sunday, April 5. Closing day, April 24, will feature 10 races followed by the April Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale, scheduled to begin at approximately 6:30 p.m.
As always, all tickets must be purchased in advance via Keeneland's Official Online Ticket Office at tickets.Keeneland.com/racing. Cash and walk-up purchases are not available at the main entrance gates on race days. Season passes, which offer General Admission throughout the meet, are available for purchase at $50 apiece through April 2.
Keeneland offers a return policy of up to 48 hours in advance of race day. Because ticket inventory is updated automatically and available for purchase at tickets.Keeneland.com, fans should check this site regularly and sign up to be notified when tickets become available.
Complimentary digital programs with Equibase past performances Powered by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) are available to download by clicking here.
Information about attending the races during the Spring Meet is available on the Patron Experience Guide at Keeneland.com/welcome.
Paddock Building opens to public
The Spring Meet marks the public debut of the new Paddock Building, which introduces more than 1,000 dining tickets each race day and offers guests a range of distinctive options. Designed for year-round use, the Paddock Building will serve as a premier setting for sales and private events in addition to enhancing the race-day experience.
Last October, fans and horsemen at the Fall Meet were the first to experience the initial phase of Keeneland's construction enhancements led by centrally located saddling stalls repositioned along the east side of the Saddling Paddock; a new Jockeys Quarters located beneath the Paddock Building that enables riders to enter the Saddling Paddock through a centralized location from the Paddock Building; and a Stakes Winner's Circle (formerly the Walking Ring) where the horse and jockey return after winning a stakes to join connections for photographs in an area where fans can share in the thrill of victory.
Watch races on TV and online
Fans can watch all Spring Meet races live and at no charge thanks to the Keeneland Livestream on Keeneland.com, Keeneland Race Day App, Keeneland Select and Keeneland's YouTube channel.
Other coverage of Keeneland racing includes:
- "Today at Keeneland," a 30-minute race-day preview show with handicapping picks and discussion of horses of interest. Racing analysts Gabby Gaudet, Keeneland's Director of Communications, and Scott Hazelton will host the program, which streams live on Keeneland.com, Keeneland Select, Keeneland's YouTube channel, WKYT.com and FanDuel TV+. Airs live on The CW Lexington.
- FanDuel TV, which will present extensive live coverage of every race beginning at noon.
- Live coverage of the April 4 Toyota Blue Grass on NBCSN and Peacock from 6-8 p.m.
- Live coverage of the April 11 Jenny Wiley (G1) and the Stonestreet Lexington (G2) on FS1 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Parking for the races
Free parking: Available at The Hill and The Meadow with no reservation required. Patrons will have access to complimentary shuttling to the track.
Green Lot parking: Patrons may purchase a Green Lot pass to reserve a spot in the paved parking rows. (Spaces are offered first come, first served and are only for car parking.) Click here to purchase a Green Lot pass.
To reach the Green Lot, enter Gate 2 and follow signage to the right. Green Lot parking will open at 8 a.m. and close 60 minutes after the final race.
Accessible parking: Enter Gate 1 to reach complimentary accessible parking in Rows 21-25. No reservation or permit is required, and all spaces are located in the semipaved lot. Complimentary golf cart shuttles from the parking lot to the South Entrance are available.
RideShare: Uber/Lyft/taxis, personal pickups/drop-offs and private car services (sedans and SUVs) will be directed to RideShare, located adjacent to the Shuttle Depot. There is no vehicular access to the North, East or South Entrances for drop-off/pickup.
Bus Lot: A permit is required for vehicles such as charter buses, RVs (no overnight parking), school buses, etc. Click here for more information and to purchase.
Track Kitchen: Most parking is limited to horsemen and barn staff. For those coming to eat at the Track Kitchen, limited parking spots are available to the public directly in front of the building.
Click here for the grounds map with the parking options.
Also visit Parking FAQ: Keeneland.com/racing/parking-frequently-asked-questions
The Hill is for tailgaters
The place for tailgating at Keeneland is The Hill, which is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the meet, weather permitting. The area is accessible via Gate 1 (at Man o' War Blvd.) or Gate 4 (off Van Meter Road on the east side of Keeneland).
Two levels of accommodations are available:
1. Free tailgating. No tickets or reservations are required for fans, who can watch Keeneland racing action via a jumbo TV and place their bets in a wagering tent while they enjoy live music presented by The Burl, food trucks and handicapping assistance from BETologists. Complimentary shuttles to the track are offered for those with paid tickets. The Hill is open from 8 a.m. to 60 minutes after the last race. Amenities are available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
2. Premium tailgating. Tailgate packages for groups of any size are available from RevelXP, which will furnish a designated tent, catering, amenities and more.
Click here for full details.
