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#1
03-20-2007, 05:26 PM
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Keeneland was originally built as a training track on the Keene farm, so it faces west; no sun in eyes of observers on the clubhouse lawn during morning works. Well, when it was turned into a racetrack, the stands were put on the same side as the clubhouse, so in late afternoon, you are trying to watch races looking into the sun; it beats onto the apron and parts of the stands, too. Bring shades and a hat if you don't like squinting hard.
Keeneland originally had a capacity of about 14-15K max and although improvements have increased space, it still gets very crowded on weekends, when it can attract 20K+. The crowd tends to be a bit younger than average, since a lot of UK students cut classes to come out whenever the weather is anywhere near decent. Coed watching a frequent male pursuit. Keeneland must be about the only track left that has an open barn area - no sign in or security gates. Because the area has to be open for sales, I suppose. Go early and wander around some. Look for stable logos and who knows? you may see some stars. (There are plently of grooms and such around, so ask if you want know if that is 'somebody'; but don't annoy anybody obviously busy.) If your arteries can take it, come real early and eat breakfast in the track kitchen; you never know who will be at the next table. "I had breakfast with Nick Zito, you know." Civilians welcome. 
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#2
03-20-2007, 05:35 PM
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#4
03-20-2007, 05:41 PM
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You and the rest of Lexington.
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#5
03-20-2007, 05:45 PM
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__________________
 Seek respect, not attention.
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#6
03-20-2007, 05:46 PM
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#8
03-20-2007, 09:45 PM
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Lexington Herald-Leader, Thursday, April 12, 2007 .... Lexington Police and Keeneland Security are investigating a series of incidents which occured at historic Keeneland Race Course yesterday.
"We don't know if any of these events are related", said Rogers Beasley, Keeneland Director of Racing, " and fortunately our guests never experienced any interruption to their enjoyable day at the track. But we're interested in finding any connections." Reports of odd occurrences began to filter in to Keeneland Security starting around 9:00am. Chuck Simon, a local horse trainer, was reportedly stalked from the training track back to the barn area by a group of people, estimated to be from 20-40 in number, chanting, "Some one loves you, some one loves you". Simon could not be reached for comment. Backstretch workers reported later finding peppermint wrappers and bits of organic carrots strewn about paths near the barns. An unnamed groom in Barn 16 swears he saw this group himself. "They warn't makin' no trouble, warn't botherin' the horses none. They was just wanderin' around, happy, silly and grinnin like fools' ", lending credence to speculation that animal pacifist organizations are attempting to infiltrate Keeneland's backstretch area. Keeneland Security investigated several reports that the smell of grilling bar-b-que, combined with thickening hickory smoke, was wafting from one of the end stone saddling stalls within the Keeneland paddock about two hours prior to start of the first race. All the saddling stalls were found empty, save for some used navy blue and lime green swizzle sticks spilling out into the grass paddock area. "We don't believe there was ever any real threat of fire", Keeneland Security reported. There were several unconfirmed reports that local news anchors, broadcasting live prior to the first race from the paddock, repeatedly had to quell groups of spectators interrupting TV transmissions. "Every time I would start to say, 'This is Mark Brown, for WLEX-TV, live from Keeneland', these bozos would shout over my signout, "Props to DeeTeeeee, man! DeeTeeee rules! ". When Keeneland Security arrived, instigators had apparently escaped into the crowd. "They were reportedly wearing denim, so should have been easy to spot, but we couldn't find anybody". The Kentucky Racing Authority also reported that they are investigating a possible wagering irregularity which occured immediately prior to the ninth race on Wednesday's card, where unusually large numbers of individual $2 win wagers were placed on a 20-1 entrant.
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#9
03-20-2007, 05:47 PM
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I wear a tux so I standout from the rest of the $10,000 millionaires.
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#10
03-20-2007, 05:50 PM
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Trust me, the Kentucky gentry weren't too pleased with me being there, but one of my best friends is from Lexington and can get me in- and that year I went Bluegrass weekend, and it was a godssend. My two friends were unprepared for the clothing issue, though, and had to buy ties and "rent" kelly green sports coats... and one of them, who is Greek, turned at one point to say "I am the closest thing to a person of color in this entire place."
But that's a whole other conversation.
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#11
03-20-2007, 05:51 PM
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#13
03-20-2007, 05:52 PM
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that is however, the one drawback to KEE...they take themselves VERY seriously.
__________________
Seek respect, not attention.
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#14
03-20-2007, 05:59 PM
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#15
03-20-2007, 06:10 PM
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That's not entirely true. The clubhourse restaurants encompass the entire top floor. There is a great room to have lunch in that is pretty much right above the finish line.
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#16
03-20-2007, 06:05 PM
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Hybrid Mode
