By ART PARKER
There is always much ado about opening day in baseball. It is always on or about April 1st. That is the logical time to start an outdoors sport that consumes almost half of the days in the year. The opening day of baseball season also signals the opening of Keeneland.
Racing at Keeneland in the spring is unbeatable. There are many important graded stakes events to highlight the high quality of everyday racing. It is a beautiful place that makes one appreciate the opportunity to be at the track. But if opening day of baseball signals the time for Keeneland’s spring meeting, then the opening of Keeneland signals the soon-to-begin meetings at many tracks in the country that lead us into the prime racing months of summer. In other words, it begins the time when being at the track beats being anywhere else in the world. It begins the time of the Triple Crown series, when racing excitement reaches its peak.
Like baseball season, many tracks open for extended periods of time. Some are open only a couple of months before giving way to other top meets in the same state or in the same circuit.
I always tell my wife that the spring meeting at Keeneland, “gets me in the mood.” Of course she only shakes her head and laughs because she knows I’m talking about racing. But it is true, Keeneland sets the stage for the balance of spring and the heat of summer. While we are just now settling in for the spring meeting at Keeneland, let’s go ahead and mark the opening day of many tracks that will be running within a month or so.
Evangeline Downs – April 8
Lone Star – April 9
Woodbine – April 11
Emerald Downs – April 18
Prairie Meadows –April 18
Indiana Grand – April 21
Churchill Downs -April 25
Hastings Park – April 25
ThistleDown – April 27
Belmont Park – April 29
Arlington Park – May 1
Louisiana Downs – May 1
Belterra Downs – May 1
Delaware Park – May 16
Presque Isle Downs – May 17
There you have it. Opening days everywhere. Have fun, and remember, if you go to a track take a rookie with you. While you’re at the track help any rookie that needs help. The guy you help today is just one more we need to make sure that opening days are not a thing of the past.
— Art is the author of “Keeneland Winning Trainers” newly revamped for the 2015 spring meet. Check it out before we take it down for good.
