Races at Kentucky Downs in Franklin are run exclusively on grass.
THE KENTUCKY DERBY
THE KENTUCKY DERBY ON THE FIRST SATURDAY IN MAY IS THE WORLD'S MOST CELEBRATED HORSE RACE, BUT THE SPORT CAN BE ENJOYED YEAR-ROUND IN THE COMMONWEALTH. IN FACT, WITH CUMBERLAND RUN HARNESS TRACK OPENING IN CORBIN THIS FALL, NEARLY ALL KENTUCKIANS WILL BE WITHIN 135 MILES OF A RACETRACK, WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION LESS THAN AN HOUR AND A HALF AWAY. EVEN IF YOU DON'T BET THE PONIES, AN AFTERNOON OR EVENING AT THE RACES CAN BE A DELIGHTFUL FAMILY OUTING.
KENTUCKY BOASTS FIVE THOUROUGHBRED RACETRACKS AND CUMBERLAND RUN WILL BE ITS THIRD HARNESS TRACK. EACH HAS A DISTINCTIVE PERONALITY.
OPEN FOR BUSINESS EVEN WHEN NOT RACING
KENTUCKY'S LIVE RACE MEETS RUN FROM ABOUT FOUR MONTHS (TURFWAY PARK'S DECEMBER - MARCH IN FLORENCE) TO ONLY SEVEN DAYS (KENTUCKY DOWNS IN FRANKLIN). BUT MOST OF THOSE FACILITIES ARE OPEN YEAR-ROUND FOR BETTING ON OTHER RACETRACKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ALONG WITH HISTORICAL HORSE RACING (HHR). THAT'S THE INNOVATIVE ELECTRONIC GAMING TECHNOLOGY THAT MIMICS SLOT MACHINES, BUT IS BASED ON THE RESULTS OF PREVIOUSLY RUN HORSE RACES AD IS PARIMUTUEL -- THAT IS, PLAYERS BET AGAINST ONE ANOTHER INSTEAD OF THE HOUSE.
EXCEPTIONS: ALL HHR AND MOST SIMULCAST WAGERING IN LEXINGTON ARE HELD AT THE RED MILE HARNESS TRACK. HHR AND SIMULCASTING IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY ARE AT TURFWAY'S NEW GRANDSTAND AND HHR FACILITY. WHILE CHURCHILL DOWNS IS OPEN YEAR-ROUND FOR SIMULCASTING, ITS HHR OPERATION IS 6 MILES AWAY AT DERBY CITY GAMING.
ANOTHER SATELLITE HHR FACILITY RECENTLY OPENED AND THERE ARE MORE TO COME. KENTUCKY DOWNS IN LATE DECEMBER OPENED THE MINT GAMING HALL IN BOWLING GREEN, AND THE CUMBERLAND MINT IN WILLIAMSBURG IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN THIS JULY, A SHORT DRIVE FROM THE NEW CORBIN HARNESS TRACK. DERBY CITY GAMING IN LOUISVILLE AND ELLIS ENTERTAINMENT OWENSBORO SHOULD BE OPERATING NEXT YEAR.
********************
SOME OF THESE VENUES OFFER LIVE MUSIC IN THE EVENINGS. ADMISSION IS FREE, BUT GUESTS MUST BE AT LEAST 21.
**************************************************************************
PLAN A FAMILY TRIP TO THE TRACK NEAREST YOU.
KENTUCKY'S THOROUGHBRED TRACKS
Churchill Downs
700 Central Ave. , Louisville
(502) 636-4400
2022 racing:
April 30, may 3-6 (Kentucky Oaks) and 7 (Kentucky Derby).
May 12-July 4, Thursdays - Sundays, plus Memorial Day, May 30 and Monday, July 4. September 15-October 2, Thursdays - Sundays,
Oct 30 - November 27, Wednesday - Sundays except November 4-5 (Breeders' Cup at Keenland).
Ellis Park
2200 U.S. Hwy 41 N. Henderson
(812) 425-1456
2022 racing: July 8 - Aug 28, Fridays - Sundays
Keeneland
4201 Versailles Road, Lexington
(859) 254-3412
2022 racing: April 8-29, Wednesdays - Sundays. (No racing Easter, April 17).
October 7-29 (Wednesdays - Sundays),
plus Breeders Cup Nov 4-5
Kentucky Downs
5629 Nashville Rd. Franklin
(270) 586-7778
2022 racing:
Sept. 1, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, and 14
Turfway Park
7500 Turfway Rd. Florence
(869) 371-0200
2022 racing:
Dec 1 - 31, Thursdays - Sundays
Check the website for 2023 winter-spring meet dates.
HARNESS RACING
Oak Grove
777 Winners Way (across from Fort Campbell), Oak Grove
(270) 984-4200
2022 racing:
May 8 - July 5 Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays
Sept. 30 - Oct 9 (Grand Circuit meet), Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
The Red Mile
1200 Red Mile Road, Lexington
(859) 255-0752
2022 racing:
July 31 - Sept 20, Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays
Sept. 30 - Oct. 9 (Grand Circuit Meet) Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
Cumberland Run (new in 2022)
75 Buchanan Blvd. (off the Corbin Bypass), Corbin
2022 dates:
Oct 16 - Nov 8 (Sundays - Tuesdays)
**************************************************************************
Courtesy of this month's issue of - (April 2022)
SKRECC Kentucky Living Magazine
A partial article in this magazine and the dates of the races this year in the state of Ky.
For more - pick up the magazine or click on the web links above for more info on the horse races for the year 2022.