Lexington officials are promising a week’s worth of festivities surrounding the 2015 Breeder’s Cup World Championships – set to take over Keeneland this October for the first time in the racetrack’s history.
In its 32 years, the Breeder’s Cup has landed in Los Angeles, Chicago, and other big cities where it’s had to compete for attention, but event COO Bob Elliston says the atmosphere will be different in the heart of horse country.
"Here in Lexington to have a weeklong festival where as many as 10,000 or 15,000 people can come to downtown and enjoy all the pageantry and all the excitement that's affiliated with the Breeder's Cup, that says a lot about this community," he says.
Those events will include free outdoor concerts in Courthouse Plaza and Cheapside Park, a 5K run & walk, horse farm tours, and parties - all of which could be buoyed by excitement over American Pharoah's historic Triple Crown win.
"I think it takes the sport to an audience that we don't get day in day out," he says. "It captures the imagination of a public that isn't necessarily core race fans."
If the celebrated thoroughbred remains healthy and in good racing condition, American Pharoah's owners and trainers have indicated he could make an appearance at the Breeder's Cup.
See a full list of festival activities here.
