On Thursday, Keeneland announced that it will continue its scheduled Spring Meet season starting April 2nd with no spectators. Additionally, the 2 year old sale taking place on April 7th has also been cancelled.
What Does Keeneland with No Spectators Look Like?
Due to the coronavirus concerns, Keeneland is taking extra precautions. A limited number of people will be provided access (ex. those that are directly connected to horses running the races.) The Keeneland Track Administration will do a review with government officials and health authorities to re-consider opening after April 15th.
The decision for Keeneland to continue with no spectators was solely to protect fans, staff, and horse personnel .
Keeneland with No Spectators – Can I get a refund?
Those who have already purchased tickets from April 2-11 will automatically be refunded, while tickets purchased from April 15-April 24th give fans the option to receive a refund if they wish.
Message from the CEO:
“While our horsemen and fans are certainly disappointed about us having to take these measures, it is critical to protect the health and safety of our patrons, employees and participants from the spread of COVID-19,” “We take our responsibility to the community and the horse industry seriously and we will continue to work in partnership with government authorities.”
Bill Thomason- Keeneland CEO
Economic Impact:
Keeneland is one of countless experiencing a huge loss in revenue, alongside several other companies in Kentucky and beyond. According to the Thoroughbred Daily News, the Keeneland spring meet tends to be 3-4% bigger. All together, the impact of racing on Fayette County is roughly $200 million.
March Has Officially Turned into “March Sadness” for Kentucky
Earlier this week, the Kentucky Wildcats also ended their journey as a basketball team. The SEC Tournament cancellation resulted in several fans cancelling their tournament plans. See Coach John Calipari’s response to the seasons end. No basketball, no Keeneland, but at least there’s still plenty of bourbon in the state for all to drink!
