America's Best Racing. The Jockey Club.

The 17-day fall meeting at Keeneland Race Course is jam-packed with special events from opening day on Oct. 5 through its inaugural Fashions on the Field event on closing day, Oct. 27.

Fittingly, the meet kicks off with a barrage of graded stakes sure to draw many of the top horses from around the world to Keeneland for Fall Stars Weekend Oct. 5-7.

Keeneland will offer nine graded stakes during Fall Stars weekend, including five Grade 1 races and seven Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series races.

Graded Stakes on Fall Stars Weekend

In keeping with the “Fall Stars” theme throughout the meet, Keeneland will spotlight a new star each week.

Oct. 5-7 – Fall Stars Weekend – The Racing is the Star

Oct. 10-13 – The Community is the Star

• Make-A-Wish Day (Oct. 10) – Local Thoroughbred farms team up with Keeneland to grant wishes for nine deserving children. The children and their families are treated to a VIP day of racing. Come out to Keeneland to support the Make-A-Wish foundation and cheer on these children as they present the trophies for all nine races.
• College Scholarship Day (Oct. 12) – Full-time college students receive free general admission and the chance to win one of ten $1,000 scholarships awarded after each race.  Registration will take place in Keeneland’s College Zone in the North Terrace, which features music, free snacks and prize drawings.  The first 1,000 students to register for a scholarship receive a Keeneland College Scholarship Day t-shirt courtesy of Kennedy Book Store and a hat from Vineyard Vines.
• Bucky Sallee Salute (Oct. 13) – Come out and celebrate one of the community’s most beloved and iconic figures, Keeneland bugler Bucky Sallee. Bucky will be on hand to sign a specially designed program and other memorabilia before the races, and take pictures with fans in the paddock area.

Oct. 14-21 – Athletes and the Military are the Stars

• Keeneland Salutes Two Track Stars (October 14) – Help us give Olympic track star Tyson Gay a warm central Kentucky homecoming with a salute to his great accomplishments. Also on the same day, we will salute another great track star – 2011 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Plum Pretty.
• Jockey Autograph Session (October 18) – Fans can meet retired and current jockeys during an autograph signing adjacent to the Paddock. Proceeds benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockey’s Fund
• See Blue Day (October 19) – Kick off the University of Kentucky’s football homecoming weekend at Keeneland.  Free general admission for UK students, alumni and faculty; activities for all Wildcat fans! Enjoy fan fun on the North Terrace from Noon-3 p.m. with special UK alumni autograph signings, UK cheerleaders and more.
• Military Family Day (October 21) – All active and inactive members of the military and their families receive free general admission with a military ID at any pass gate.  The North Terrace will be transformed into the Military Family Zone with free food and activities.

Oct. 24-Oct. 27 – Fans and Fashion are the Stars

• Fan Appreciation Day (October 26)—Fans will be treated to a free serving of bread pudding in Keeneland’s North Terrace
• Fashions on the Field (October 27) – Stylish patrons are encouraged to enter Keeneland’s inaugural Fashions on the Field event. Patrons can have some fun and strut their stuff in their race-day outfits before a panel of celebrity judges. The competition will begin in a heat format with a final competition to name the top dressed male and female.

In addition to these great events, fans can experience the sights and sounds of Keeneland even before the gates open for the race day at Sunrise Trackside every Saturday during the meet. It’s a morning filled with hours of activities tailor-made for family or out-of-town guests, featuring Breakfast with the Works, Kids Club activities, tours of the racetrack, pictures taken with Bucky the Bugler, handicapping seminars, jockey Q&A, and more!

On Fridays, the fun doesn’t end with the last race. Start the weekend with live music and simulcast racing during Happy Hour in the Paddock.