(WKYT) – Keeneland’s spring meet gets underway Friday, and tens of thousands are expected to attend the first weekend at the racecourse, which is unveiling new dining spaces.
Inside the paddock that is less than a year old, five new dining spaces will seat a total of 1,000 people. Each area will have its own dining experience.
Kara Heissenbuttel, senior director of community relations at Keeneland, said the new spaces fit with the venue’s aesthetic.
“And it just gives a really welcoming feel inside this paddock area while it is new it also looks like it’s always been here which is true to the Keeneland way,” Heissenbuttel said.
Close to the action
Guests in the dining areas will be close to the action. Diners could be eating and watch jockeys walk from their quarters through the dining room and out into the paddock. Guests will have a view above the paddock as the horses ready for the track.
Jim and Karen Veditz got a view from the ground level. The couple from Northern Virginia is visiting Keeneland for the first time, taking in the atmosphere even though the horses are not racing.
“You kind of go just wow..all muscle is what you said right..yep,” Karen Veditz said.
Karen Veditz said she was impressed by the facility.
“This is a very impressive facility I’ve never seen anything like it,” she said.
Preparing for opening weekend
Heissenbuttel said the grounds are coming to life ahead of opening weekend.
“The grounds really come alive as we get close to our opening weekend of racing,” Heissenbuttel said.
New seasonal employees were at the facility for orientation. Three hundred more were hired than usual. Tours were going on, and fans and visitors were soaking up the sun and the horseless track.
Mark and Marnie Boehmer, visiting from Michigan, said they were impressed by what they saw.
“It looks like it would be a great place to watch a race in fact we were just looking at the schedule of racing and seeing when the races start and maybe we’ll have to come down for a race,” Mark Boehmer said.
“I feel like we are going to have to come back one day and catch a race so its a beautiful facility,” Marnie Boehmer said.
Keeneland said Friday and Saturday races have been sold out, but there may be some tickets returned. Tailgating on the Hill is also an option.