RACING Bank Ashland. She joins such standouts as Bank Ashland. She joinssuchstandoutsas ,whowasthird in theCentral start in the Ashland, including 2016 winner a fillieshavewonthe Oaksoff Thirty-three in the $1 million Oaks (G1). forfillieswithaspirationsof competing prep (1991). (1993)andStriketheGold (1990), SeaHero (2007), ThunderGulch(1995), Sense victory intheDerby,includingStreet used the Blue Grass as a steppingstone to Blue Grass(G2).Since1937,18horseshave the across nation compete in the Toyota ascontendersfrom apparent Derby feverare horses trainedhere. andanadditional10 five horsesracedhere, either racedorworkedatKeeneland.Thirty- who Cup competed in the 2015 Breeders’ facilities andlucrativeracingprogram. many horsementothetrack’sworld-class andintroduced enthusiasm forracinghere Meets. Thesuccessoftheeventheightened duringtheSpringandFall horses racinghere Cup was toenhance the quality of Breeders’ • • • of racing.Recentnotableeventsinclude of purse money,fieldsizeandquality terms ranks among the nation’s best perennially in which excellence initsracingprogram, hascontinuedtostrivefor racing.” fine traditionsofThoroughbred that isintendedtoserveasasymbolofthe acourse thesportandtoprovide improve amodelracetracktoperpetuateand create was“to in thetrack’soriginalprospectus, Central Kentucky.Theirvision,asoutlined aspecialracetrackin set abouttocreate 28 The CentralBankAshlandis a premier Each April,earlysymptomsofKentucky During the2016SpringMeet,45horses One ofKeeneland’s goals inhostingthe Championships (seepage127). Cup first timehosted theBreeders’ World On Oct.30-31,2015,Keenelandforthe day ofracing. ablockbuster otherstakestocreate three $500,000 CentralBankAshland(G1)and Saturday oftheSpringMeet,joining The stakesalsowasmovedtoopening Grass, becameamillion-dollarrace. the ToyotaBrands (G1) prep, Blue byYum!Kentucky DerbyPresented April 4,2015:Keeneland’ssignature Dan. based two-timeHorseoftheYear Wise Mile (G1).ThewinnerwasKeeneland- million-dollar race,theShadwellTurf itsfirst Oct. 4,2014:Keenelandpresented Since itsfirstmeetinginOctober1936, In theearly1930s,Keeneland’sfounders Spring Excitement Spring Excitement

Keeneland/Photos by Z in thefallof2006. from 2003-2006.Hewasnamedracingsecretary anddirector ofracingatChurchill Downs coordinator attheFairGrounds from 2002-2003,andracingsecretary anddirector ofracing Park. Healsohasservedasassistantracingsecretary atTurfway Park.Huffman wasstakes racing secretary atKeenelandin1994.At30,Huffman was namedracingsecretary atEllis secretary atSaratogain1996and1997.HebecamethelateHoward Battle’s assistant 2017 Keeneland MediaGuide|Racing Ben resides inCrestwood, Ky., withhiswife,Christi,anddaughters,AbbeyAnnie. Bob Elliston| Racing coordinator andplacingjudgebefore becomingco-assistantracing Keeneland wasalsoasaclaimsclerk. Ellis Parkin1990whenheworkedastheclaimsclerk.Hisfirstjobat three yearswashisassistant.Hisfirstjobinaracingofficeat father, G.(Blackie)Huffman, asateenagerandfor trainerWilliam University andtheofLouisville.Hebeganworkingforhis as Keeneland’s RacingSecretary, whichhehasheldsince2002. Biography canbefoundonpage10. Ben Huffman|RacingSecretary Huffman workedasapaddockjudge,patrol judge, stakes A native of Louisville, Ky., Huffman attended Western Kentucky Ben Huffman bringsawealthofracingexperiencetohisposition Vice PresidentofRacingandSales Rev. 8/1/17 ® , , Princess Rooney, Blush With Pride, Optimistic Gal and Real Katherine McKee | Delight. In 2015, became the latest Director of Racing Administration and Horsemen’s Relations Central Bank Ashland winner to take the As Director of Racing Administration and Horsemen’s Relations, Oaks. Katherine McKee supports Keeneland’s racing program through such The Toyota Blue Grass and the Central responsibilities as completing the annual license renewal process Bank Ashland are 100 points each to required by the Kentucky Commission; compiling the winners on the Road to the Kentucky necessary materials for the National Racing Association Derby and Road to the , Safety and Integrity Alliance accreditation; ensuring Keeneland adheres respectively. to Alliance standards; coordinating horsemen’s relations and overseeing In 2017, Keeneland will present a $4.325 the program. million stakes schedule for its Spring Meet RACING McKee, who is from Henderson, Ky., is a graduate of Transylvania that offers 16 stakes, led by the Toyota University in and has an MBA from the . Blue Grass and Central Bank Ashland and introduces Stonestreet as sponsor of the She has worked at Keeneland since 2006. Lexington (G3). The Stonestreet Lexington Katherine has two children, Ava Katherine and Walker. is one of the final Derby preps. Other Grade 1 stakes during the Spring Meet are the $300,000 Madison on opening Saturday; $300,000 Maker’s 46 Mile, one of Javier Barajas | Track Superintendent the sport’s key turf stakes early in the year; Named Keeneland’s Track Superintendent on Aug. 5, 2014, Javier and the Coolmore Jenny Wiley, a 1 1/16- Barajas supervises maintenance of the 1 1/16-mile dirt track, along mile race for fillies and mares on the turf – with the seven-furlong turf course and the five-furlong Polytrack won in 2016 by champion . Last year, training track. Miss Temple City became the first filly to Barajas has nearly four decades of expertise in international race run in and win the Maker’s 46 Mile. track installation and maintenance. He began working on track and Fall Excellence turf course crews at Arlington Park in 1976. In 1996, he was promoted to track superintendent, a position he held for 13 years. During In October, Keeneland’s signature Fall that time, he managed the dirt track and turf course, and oversaw Stars Weekend offers an exciting kick-off installation of the synthetic Polytrack surface. to the Fall Meet, when nine graded stakes In 2009, Barajas became track superintendent for the Dubai Racing Club, overseeing are contested opening weekend. Five of those races are Grade 1 events: the Darley the care of Meydan Racecourse, home of the $10 million Dubai World Cup (G1), and its Alcibiades, Shadwell Turf Mile, Claiborne associated training facilities. He also was the track superintendent for Canterbury Park, Breeders’ Futurity, First Lady and which features a dirt track and turf course. Spinster. Javier and his wife, Sylvia, have a son, Roberto, and a daughter, Elizabeth. A sixth Grade 1 stakes, the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Lane’s End, is an internationally renowned invitational for 3-year-old fillies Tourist took the Breeders’ Cup Mile. required much work. Headley, Beard and at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. earned the 2016 Eclipse others worked feverishly around the clock, Fans see many Breeders’ Cup-bound Award as champion 2-year-old male. and a mere 15 months later, Keeneland stars prep at Keeneland as a prelude to opened its gates. It was managed by the the World Championships. Eight Breeders’ Historic Vision Keeneland Association, which consisted of Cup Challenge stakes are run Fall Stars That Keeneland is such a special place is a team of volunteers under the direction Weekend: Darley Alcibiades (a Challenge no accident. Grand thinking by Jack Keene, of Beard and Headley, Keeneland’s first race for the Juvenile Fillies-G1) and Stoll coupled with the shared aspirations of a President. Keenon Ogden Phoenix-G2 (Sprint-G1) group of prominent horsemen, most notably On opening day, more than 8,000 fans on Oct. 6; Shadwell Turf Mile (Mile-G1), Hal Price Headley and Maj. Louie Beard, came to the races — ranging from locals Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (Sentient Jet and the careful stewardship of subsequent who simply wanted to see racing in their Juvenile-G1), First Lady (Filly and Mare management led to Keeneland’s creation. hometown for the first time in years to Turf-G1) and Thoroughbred Club of With the demise of the Kentucky titans of business who brought their best America (Filly and Mare Sprint-G1) on Oct. Association track near downtown Lexington bloodstock to compete. By the end of the 7; and Juddmonte Spinster (Distaff-G1) and in 1933, horsemen faced a dilemma: For the nine-day meet, Keeneland had scraped by, Dixiana Bourbon-G3 (Juvenile Turf-G1) on first time in more than 100 years the city losing just $3.47 in its first year. Lexington, Oct. 8. was without a race track. Concerned citizens a town of 46,000, had supported racing’s The ninth Breeders’ Cup Challenge race began meeting in 1934 after determining comeback as the meet posted attendance of is the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G3), it wasn’t feasible to reopen the shuttered 25,337. And even with 15 million Americans which awards the winner a berth in the track. From among 20 locations, they out of work, those fans had taken a gamble Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). selected Jack Keene’s property, primarily or two, wagering more than $500,000. Forty-two horses that have won 45 because Keene was willing to part with the As Headley said, “We want a place Breeders’ Cup races made their final start property for much less than its fair market where those who love horses can come and before the World Championships during value. Plus, the site included a mile-and- picnic with us and thrill to the sport of the Keeneland’s Fall Meet. In 2016, horses that a-furlong private track, combination stone Bluegrass. We are not running a race plant prepped at Keeneland in October won two castle and barn, a 100,000-gallon water to hear the click of the mutuel machines. Breeders’ Cup races: Claiborne Breeders’ tank, a roadway and land for future stables We want them to come out here to enjoy Futurity winner Classic Empire captured and parking. God’s sunshine, fresh air and to watch the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, The facility, while a good start, still horses race.” and Shadwell Turf Mile third-place finisher

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