2022 Keeneland Spring Meet Schedule, Tickets, Post Times, and Race Preview

Keeneland Spring Meet 20222 Schedule

The 2022 Keeneland Spring Meet Schedule will feature 19 stakes. One of those horse races will be the 98th running of the$1 million Toyota BlueGrass (G1) on opening Saturday. Highlights of the Spring Meet also includethe 85th running of the Central Bank Ashland. The purse of this G1 stakes on opening Friday will be $400,000. That it up $200,000 from last year’s race.

SEE ALSO: 2022 Keeneland Maker’s Mark Bottle Release for Spring Meet

Nonetheless, the races are worth a total of 170 points each on the Road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Road to the Kentucky Oaks (G1), respectively. The total purse of the 2022 Keeneland Spring Meet climbs to $7.7 million combined. That is a record purse, and a huge jump from last year’s purse of $4.1 million. Both of these classic prep thoroughbred races are prominent fixtures on the national level.

What are the dates for Keeneland Spring Meet?

The Keeneland Spring Meet 2022 opens Friday, April 8, and continues through Friday, April 29. No racing will be held on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Easter Sunday, April 17.

Friday, April 8th

• $600,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1)
  • 3YO Fillies, 1 1/16 miles | $100,000 KTDF Contribution
    Nominations | PPs
• $400,000 Kentucky Utilities Transylvania (G3)
  • 3YOs, 1 1/16 miles (turf) | $100,000 KTDF Contribution
    Nominations | PPs
• RETURNING $400,000 Lafayette
  • 3YOs, 7 furlongs | $100,000 KTDF Contribution
    Nominations | PPs

Saturday, April 9th

• $1 Million Toyota Blue Grass (G1)
  • 3YOs, 1 1/8 miles | $150,000 KTDF Contribution
    Nominations | PPs
• $500,000 Madison (G1)
  • 4YOs & up, f&m, 7 furlongs | $100,000 KTDF Contribution
  • Nominations | PPs
• $400,000 Appalachian (G2)
  • Presented by Japan Racing Association
  • 3YO fillies, 1 mile (turf) | $100,000 KTDF Contribution
  • Nominations | PPs
• $350,000 Shakertown (G2)
  • 3YOs & up, 5 ½ furlongs (turf) | $50,000 KTDF Contribution
  • Nominations | PPs
• $300,000 Commonwealth (G3)
  • 4YOs & up, 7 furlongs | $50,000 KTDF Contribution
  • Nominations | PPs

Sunday, April 10th

• $400,000 Beaumont (G3)
  Presented by Keeneland Select
  • 3YO fillies, 7 furlongs & 184’ | $100,000 KTDF Contribution
    Nominations | PPs
• $200,000 Palisades (L)
  • 3YOs, 5 1/2 furlongs (turf) | $50,000 KTDF Contribution
  • Nominations | PPs

Friday, April 15th

• $600,000 Maker’s Mark Mile (G1)
  • 4YOs & up, 1 mile (turf) | $100,000 KTDF Contribution
    Nominations | PPs
• $200,000 TVG Limestone (L)
  • 3YO fillies, 5 ½ furlongs (turf) | $50,000 KTDF Contribution
  • Nominations | PPs

Saturday, April 16th

• $500,000 Jenny Wiley (G1)
  • 4YOs & up, f&m, 1 1/16 miles (turf) | $100,000 KTDF Contribution
    Nominations | PPs
• $400,000 Stonestreet Lexington (G3)
  • 3YOs, 1 1/16 miles | $100,000 KTDF Contribution
    Nominations | PPs
• $200,000 Giant’s Causeway (L)
  • 3YOs & up, f&m, 5 ½ furlongs (turf) | $50,000 KTDF Contribution
    Nominations | PPs

Friday, April 22nd

• $300,000 Baird Doubledogdare (G3)
  • 4YOs & up, f&m, 1 1/6 miles | $50,000 KTDF Contribution
    Nomination Deadline: April 6 | $100

Saturday, April 23rd

• $350,000 Elkhorn (G2)
  • 4YOs & up, 1 ½ miles (turf) | $50,000 KTDF Contribution
    Nomination Deadline: April 6 | $100
• $300,000 Ben Ali (G3)
  • 4YOs & up, 1 1/8 miles | $50,000 KTDF Contribution
    Nomination Deadline: April 6 | $100

Friday, April 29th

• $300,000 Bewitch (G3)
  • 4YOs & up, f&m, 1 ½ miles (turf) | $50,000 KTDF Contribution
    Nomination Deadline: April 13 | $100

Keeneland Post Times

The post time for the first race of the day during the Keeneland Spring Stakes Meet will be 1:00pm ET.

Tickets

Tickets for Spring Meet are available at tickets.keeneland.com.

Ticketing Options:

• General Admission: $7 per person
• Grandstand Seating: $15 per person
• Equestrian Room: Sold Out
• Lexington/Kentucky Room: Sold Out
• Phoenix Room: Sold Out
• General Admission Season Pass: $40

Race Preview

The Keeneland Spring Meet for 2022 will feature 10 stakes on grass, and 9 stakes on dirt. This 15-day meet also features key prep races for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.

Opening Day

Keeneland Opening Day is a fan-favorite regardless of any other details! Many Kentuckians even claim it is the first official day of Spring in the Commonwealth. However, in this instance we’re here to outline the horse racing.

On Friday, April 8th, there will be three stakes races. The Central Bank Ashland (G1), Kentucky Utilities Transylvania (G3), and theLafayette.

Opening Weekend

The following day into Opening Weekend only gains speed as it features a blockbuster card. Saturday April 9th will host five stakes, with one holding significance in May. The Toyota Blue Grass, and the Central Bank Ashland the day prior, are worth 170 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Winners of each stakes look to earn qualifying points in their path towards competing in the first weekend in May.

Also planned for the day are two races for fillies and/or mares, and two races for 3-year-olds and up. These include the $500,000 Madison (G1), $400,000 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association, $350,000 Shakertown (G2), and a $300,000 (G3) Commonwealth for older horses.

Sunday features two more stakes races. The Beaumont is the first with a purse of $400,000. Meanwhile, the Palisades winners will take home $200,000.

April 15th

The remainder of the 2022 Spring Meet is scheduled to take place on Wednesday through Sunday. The Stakes action will pick back up on Friday, April 15th with the $600,000 Maker’s Mark Mile (G1). This will mark the 26th time this race has been held under the sponsorship of the famed Loretto, Kentucky bourbon distiller. Following this race will be the $200,000 TVG Limestone Turf Sprint.

April 16th

April 16th brings two more stakes, including $500,000 Jenny Wiley (G1), and the $400,000 Stonestreet Lexington (G3). The latter of these is one of the final prep races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. This race presents 34 Derby qualifying points up for grabs, with the winner earning 20. The $200,000 Giant’s Causeway (L) conclude that day’s racing.

April 22nd-23rd

Later into this racing season you will see older horses showcased. The $300,000 Baird Doubledogdare (G3) will be ran on April 23rd. This marks the 11th time this stakes has been sponsored by Baird (formerly Hilliard Lyons). On April 17th, the $200,000 Elkhorn (G2) will feature older males on turf.

April 29th – Closing Day

Keeneland Spring 2022 will wind down on an April 29th closing day. The $300,000 Bewitch (G3) for fillies and mares will close out the race meeting.

2022 Keeneland Spring Meet Stakes Schedule

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