Seeking advice for Keeneland trip

[Needing the Wire]

I am heading to Keeneland on Friday Oct 3 and attending the races Friday, Saturday, and Sunday(bankroll permitting). This will be my second visit, but my first was as part of a large charter group out of Bowling Green, KY. in 2002. Up and Back same day, Dropped off, wander around, Drink too much, gamble, back on the charter and home by 9. I will be driving over from Va. early Friday with 2 other friends. They have never been at all. I have the hotels all booked, so I am good there.

I am asking for advice about Parking, Seating, Dining, etc. I know Saturday is Sold Out on basically all Reserved Seating and all of the High Roller locales unless I hit StubHub. I am looking at the "Limestone Café" Seating option for Saturday. Table is $160 for 4 people and there is a lunch served. KEE website says the Cafe is at "Sales Pavilion just down the hill". Can you see the track or is this just a Restaurant with Tellers and Selfies on the property? Would like to get to the rail for a race or two so I don't know if this is a viable seating option. Don't want an OTB experience 500 yards from this track. Anyone know?

We would probably be OK with General Admission on Saturday, but would like suggestions. Any advice welcome and Thanks.

[geeker2]

Take time and go the the Kentucky Horse Park. It is an experience you will never forget.

I was lucky enough to have my picture taken with John Henry

[South Beach Luv]

I always park on the hill for free. Have to walk a little farther but it's not that much farther than the paid lots.
I have no idea how much a seat now would cost for Saturday but if the weather is ok it's going to be brutal without one. My first time there I didn't have one and that was the last time that happened.
I'll be there on that Saturday. Hoping to break the streak I have going of only seeing Wise Dan lose. Have only seen him race three times in person, each of his last three losses.

[Needing the Wire]

Originally Posted by South Beach Luv

I always park on the hill for free. Have to walk a little farther but it's not that much farther than the paid lots.
I have no idea how much a seat now would cost for Saturday but if the weather is ok it's going to be brutal without one. My first time there I didn't have one and that was the last time that happened.
I'll be there on that Saturday. Hoping to break the streak I have going of only seeing Wise Dan lose. Have only seen him race three times in person, each of his last three losses.

Thanks! I was looking at the 8 or 9 reserved seats left on Kee website and Stubhub is asking @$55 -$60 for a seat and I could get 2,3, or 4 together. I don't mind the walk from parking but the knee won't take 7 hours of standing. Figure most of the handicapping will have to be done the night before or morning of if I don't have a seat. Thanks again. Probably heading to StubHub.

[hockey2315]

Originally Posted by Needing the Wire

I am looking at the "Limestone Café" Seating option for Saturday. Table is $160 for 4 people and there is a lunch served. KEE website says the Cafe is at "Sales Pavilion just down the hill". Can you see the track or is this just a Restaurant with Tellers and Selfies on the property? Would like to get to the rail for a race or two so I don't know if this is a viable seating option. Don't want an OTB experience 500 yards from this track. Anyone know?

If it's in the sales pavilion, it's not really part of the track itself--no track view or anything. . . It sounds like it's basically an OTB experience, like you said.

Malone's is a very good and popular dinner option (not at the track). Might be crowded those days, but they have multiple locations.

Blue Grass Tavern has a pretty crazy bourbon menu if you like bourbon.

[Needing the Wire]

Originally Posted by geeker2

Take time and go the the Kentucky Horse Park. It is an experience you will never forget.

I was lucky enough to have my picture taken with John Henry

Thank you. I just researched KHP and it looks great. May be a realistic option for Sunday...unless pockets are too full.

[Needing the Wire]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

If it's in the sales pavilion, it's not really part of the track itself--no track view or anything. . . It sounds like it's basically an OTB experience, like you said.

Malone's is a very good and popular dinner option (not at the track). Might be crowded those days, but they have multiple locations.

Blue Grass Tavern has a pretty crazy bourbon menu if you like bourbon.

Thanks for the info. I have heard of the Tavern before...probably would laugh if I just ordered a Knob Creek. Very much appreciated!

[geeker2]

Originally Posted by Needing the Wire

Thank you. I just researched KHP and it looks great. May be a realistic option for Sunday...unless pockets are too full.

I am envious


HALL OF CHAMPIONS
Be A Bono
Cigar
Da Hoss
Funny Cide
Go For Gin
Mr. Muscleman
Staying Together
Western Dreamer
Won The West

[Mack]

Personally, unless you prefer seats, I wouldn't bother with reserved seating. It's easy to work your way into a good spot on the rail and the action and vibe is much better there. When I sat in the grandstands, it felt too far from the track and there wasn't much buzz. We got into a rhythm of going to paddock, placing bets, getting a beer, going to rail, rinse, repeat. Even on Bluegrass day, the crowd wasn't too bad and that's probably way more than the fall meet.

You can bring in a tailgate chair and set it up in the rail area if you aren't able to secure a bench to sit on. Or have your crew all bring bag chairs and just set them up in a circle where you want to be near the rail. And you can always head to one of the bars under the grandstands and sit down for a bit if you need to. Plenty of betting windows in there as well.

So save the $60 bucks per person and use it to bet!

As for parking, get there a little early and park up close in the paid lots. It's $5! And you have about a 100yd walk to the front gate. I think we entered via Gate 2 and were probably two hours before the first post? Spots were super easy to come by, $5, and again, this was the Bluegrass.

Our first year, we did the Phoenix Room and got dressed up and paid the $40 a person for the fancy buffet. It was nice. Food was delicious, but I could have taken it or left it. Keeneland standard concessions are fantastic and not unreasonably priced. Corned Beef Sandwiches are the bomb! I didn't feel like the sit down meal was worth it. And I definitely wouldn't do it if it was away from the track.

Some cool local places to eat, drink after the race:

Country Boy Brewing - They just made the Keeneland Sale Ale! Cool little microbrewery in town.

Saul Good - Fantastic selection of awesome pizzas and pub grub. Really good.

Tons of good little divey bars in that general area around Short St. And the awesome thing is they've got TVG playing on all the TVs!

Love Keeneland! Have fun!

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Needing the Wire

I am heading to Keeneland on Friday Oct 3 and attending the races Friday, Saturday, and Sunday(bankroll permitting). This will be my second visit, but my first was as part of a large charter group out of Bowling Green, KY. in 2002. Up and Back same day, Dropped off, wander around, Drink too much, gamble, back on the charter and home by 9. I will be driving over from Va. early Friday with 2 other friends. They have never been at all. I have the hotels all booked, so I am good there.

I am asking for advice about Parking, Seating, Dining, etc. I know Saturday is Sold Out on basically all Reserved Seating and all of the High Roller locales unless I hit StubHub. I am looking at the "Limestone Café" Seating option for Saturday. Table is $160 for 4 people and there is a lunch served. KEE website says the Cafe is at "Sales Pavilion just down the hill". Can you see the track or is this just a Restaurant with Tellers and Selfies on the property? Would like to get to the rail for a race or two so I don't know if this is a viable seating option. Don't want an OTB experience 500 yards from this track. Anyone know?

We would probably be OK with General Admission on Saturday, but would like suggestions. Any advice welcome and Thanks.

Dudley's is an excellent restaurant downtown. I strongly recommend it.

[Gate Dancer]

One alternative I took advantage of on my visit was having breakfast at the track kitchen on the backside. Pretty fun to be around the horse folks early in the morning. It's worth getting up for. Priced right and home cooking. Highlight was seeing vintage jockey Bobby Ussery there also.

After the breakfast it was off to the track to watch the morning workouts. Great stuff!!!

[Alabama Stakes]

Originally Posted by Gate Dancer

One alternative I took advantage of on my visit was having breakfast at the track kitchen on the backside. Pretty fun to be around the horse folks early in the morning. It's worth getting up for. Priced right and home cooking. Highlight was seeing vintage jockey Bobby Ussery there also.

After the breakfast it was off to the track to watch the morning workouts. Great stuff!!!

Bobby Ussery is so ugly, he can wrinkle your pants just by walking past you. Possibly the ugliest man in America, still, after all these years

[tanner12oz]

Park on the hill and walk..think they might have a shuttle ( I know I saw them in the spring) if you show up early you can just grab a bench and there you have your seating. I go the reserved route every year but its not really necessary. Malones will be pretty crowded that Saturday...thought the food was okay but nothing special. Go to the liquor barn for all your beverage needs. I'll be there on Saturday and Sunday...usually do fri-sat but work is insane right now. Can't wait to see the new dirt and of course the one and only wise dan

[Gate Dancer]

Originally Posted by Alabama Stakes

Bobby Ussery is so ugly, he can wrinkle your pants just by walking past you. Possibly the ugliest man in America, still, after all these years

He defines the term...........'grizzled veteran' for sure............won't forget it though.

[dellinger63]

I'd recommend if Friday's weather is OK you park in the paid lots and get there early. The free showing of some of Kentucky's finest two legged fillies, at the various tailgate parties, is well worth the price of admission. (I mean parking )

[Benny]

NTW , would love a daily blog posting each day of your trip,now that its your first and with th switch to dirt. It should be a very interesting meet as many trainers and bettors return . Have fun .

[robfla]

Originally Posted by Alabama Stakes

Bobby Ussery is so ugly, he can wrinkle your pants just by walking past you. Possibly the ugliest man in America, still, after all these years

[Alabama Stakes]

[Needing the Wire]

Thanks to everyone responding. We are leaving Virginia at 6 am Friday and should arrive around noon. I am purchasing Gen Adm. for all 3 days tonight. We are thinking "get accustomed to the track" on Friday and we can always hit StubHub Friday night if we want Reserved Seats. They may be gone...may not.

All the Restaurants mentioned here are being listed and we agreed to a blind draw for Friday Night's meal.

I'm really intrigued about going for an early breakfast on the backstretch and then watching them work. Not sure how that works, but I'm not real shy about asking questions once I get there.

Thanks again for all the responses. Further Proof that DT is the best Community on the Web.

I will do my best to recap how things are going and what the experience is like. I can't wait!!! Been to plenty of live racing but nothing nearly this exciting.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Cardus

Second ugliest.

I laughed.