Kentucky’s connection to horse racing goes far deeper than the first Saturday in May. While the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs may draw international attention, the Bluegrass State hosts elite thoroughbred action across all four seasons.
Churchill Downs – The Beating Heart of Kentucky Racing
Churchill Downs remains the epicenter of Kentucky horse racing, famous for the Kentucky Derby and its twin jewel, the Kentucky Oaks. However, its spring and fall meets host numerous Grade 1, 2, and 3 races, including the Stephen Foster Stakes (Grade 1), the Fleur de Lis Stakes (Grade 2), and the Lukas Classic Stakes (Grade 3).
The 2025 schedule kicked off in late April and ran through late June for the spring meet, with another set of races in the fall, October through November.
The track also hosts “Thurby,” Kentucky’s own racing party on the Thursday before Derby, now a cultural phenomenon. Purses regularly exceed six figures across multiple stakes days outside of Derby weekend, making it a year-round magnet for top trainers and jockeys.
Keeneland – Where Elegance Meets Equine Excellence
Keeneland, in Lexington, is known for its picturesque grounds and tight racing windows. Its April and October meets span about three weeks each but deliver concentrated, elite-level racing. The 2025 spring meet ran April 4–26, while the fall meet opens October 3 and ends October 25.
Key races include the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (Grade 1) in April, a critical Kentucky Derby prep, and the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (Grade 1) in October for 3-year-old fillies. Keeneland races feature deep fields and high purses, often serving as Breeders’ Cup tune-ups. Reserved seats for Saturdays go quickly—early planning is essential.
Ellis Park – The Summer Sanctuary
Known as “The Pea Patch” because of its soybean field in the infield, Ellis Park has become a summer staple. The 2025 meet spans July 4 through August 25, featuring both stakes and allowance races. Located in Henderson, the track’s marquee events include the Ellis Park Derby (Listed Stakes) and the Groupie Doll Stakes (Listed), both offering six-figure purses.
Ellis Park’s intimate layout makes it ideal for fans seeking a relaxed yet competitive summer racing experience. Over the years, it has attracted top stables for mid-season conditioning before fall campaigns at Churchill or Keeneland.
Turfway Park – The Winter Stronghold
Turfway Park, based in Florence, stands as the year-round bookend to Kentucky’s thoroughbred season. It runs from early December through late March. With its synthetic Polytrack surface, it provides a critical alternative training and racing venue in the colder months. The 2025 season kicked off December 4 and ran through March 30.
The Jeff Ruby Steaks (Grade 3) in late March remains its headline event and a Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifying race. The $700,000 purse in 2024 attracted a field including stakes winner Major Dude. Turfway’s recent $145 million renovation added an 8-story hotel and expanded grandstand, elevating the winter racing experience.
Attending The Races – What You Need to Know
Each Kentucky track has its own traditions and logistics. Churchill Downs offers both general admission and reserved seating with early-bird pricing for major days. Keeneland requires advance planning—Saturdays sell out fast, and a dress code applies in club areas. Ellis Park and Turfway are more flexible, with casual dress acceptable and tickets often available at the gate.
Parking is generally ample at all four tracks, though Churchill Downs restricts access on Derby week. Shuttle services are common during major meets, and mobile ticketing is the new norm across venues. Check each track’s official website for seasonal schedules and policies.
Local Attractions Near Each Track
Lexington’s Keeneland pairs perfectly with the Kentucky Horse Park, home to the Hall of Champions and museums. While in town, the Bourbon Trail offers tastings at Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace, and Four Roses. In Louisville, Churchill Downs sits next to the Kentucky Derby Museum and just 10 minutes from the Muhammad Ali Center.
Ellis Park in Henderson is close to the Audubon State Park and just across the river from Evansville, Indiana, which offers dining and casino gaming. Turfway Park is located near Cincinnati, making it easy to combine races with a Reds game or a visit to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
Talking With the Insiders – Trainers, Jockeys, And Historians
Talking with insiders gives racing texture beyond the finish line. Trainer Kenny McPeek, known for developing stars like Swiss Skydiver, calls Kentucky home and often preps his horses at Keeneland and Churchill. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., a consistent presence at Churchill and Ellis, recently eclipsed 2,300 career wins and is a local fan favorite.
Historians at the Kentucky Derby Museum regularly provide walking tours of the track and insights into Black jockeys like Isaac Murphy and Jimmy Winkfield, both Hall of Fame inductees whose legacies shape the sport to this day.
How to Stay Engaged Between Meets
With more fans turning to digital platforms to stay connected to the action, many are exploring the best betting apps in Kentucky to track odds, watch races live, and follow their favorite horses between meets. TwinSpires and TVG remain popular for live streaming and wagering, while Equibase offers replays, entries, and results.
Daily Racing Form (DRF) newsletters, X accounts of top trainers like Brad Cox, and Reddit forums such as r/horseracing provide year-round content and updates. Many stables now livestream morning workouts and post jockey interviews to maintain fan engagement beyond race days.
Major Dates to Mark for the Rest of 2025
- July 4–August 25 – Ellis Park Summer Meet
- October 3–25 – Keeneland Fall Meet
- October 27–December 1 – Churchill Fall Meet
- December 4–March 30 (2025) – Turfway Winter Meet
- March 29, 2025 – Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway
These anchor dates help plan travel, ticket purchases, and hotel stays. Most meets include at least one stakes-heavy Saturday worth targeting for high-quality action.
Where to Find Quality Racing All Year
Kentucky offers top-level racing 10 months out of the year. January through March belongs to Turfway. April and May are dominated by Keeneland and Churchill Downs. Summer brings Ellis Park into the spotlight, then Churchill and Keeneland again in the fall. November transitions back to Churchill before the cycle restarts in December.
Each month offers a different flavor—from the formal flair of Derby Day to the relaxed crowd at Ellis in July—making it easy to build a calendar around your preferences, travel schedule, and budget.
Building a Deeper Appreciation for the Sport
New fans often fall in love with racing by learning how it all works—claiming tags, condition books, pace figures, and breeding lines. Keeneland offers racing education days each spring. The Horse Country tour program lets you visit breeding farms like Claiborne and WinStar, where champions like Justify and Gun Runner stand at stud.
Workshops at the Kentucky Horse Park dive into equine anatomy and training techniques, while behind-the-scenes tours at Churchill show the paddock, barns, and jockeys’ quarters. Understanding the nuances transforms spectators into lifelong fans.
The Cultural Fabric of Kentucky Racing
Horse racing is woven into Kentucky’s identity. From the time kids attend “Dawn at the Downs” during Derby week to the way stables shape local economies, the sport goes beyond wins and wagers. Many families in places like Versailles, Midway, and Shelbyville have bred, groomed, or trained thoroughbreds for generations.
Racing fuels tourism, supports veterinary science programs at the University of Kentucky, and anchors media coverage with events like “Today at the Races” airing daily during major meets. The love for the horse is at the core—and that passion spans race days and quiet farm mornings alike.
